KEY facts about the EU Blue Card

Sweden's government recently decided to lower the monthly salary requirement for the EU Blue Card, cutting it by around 10,000 kronor per month to align with the updated EU Blue Card Directive. The revised regulation, which is expected to ease entry for highly skilled workers from outside the EEA, is currently under review by Sweden’s Council on Legislation. The new EU Blue Card directive will come into effect on January 1st, 2025.

What is the EU Blue Card?

An EU Blue Card that has been issued in Sweden gives you the right to live and work in Sweden; it serves as both a residence and work permit for highly qualified professionals from outside the EEA. If you are a citizen of a non-EU country and have received an offer of employment for highly qualified work, you can apply for an EU Blue Card.

When you have had an EU Blue Card in Sweden or other countries in EU for five years, you can apply for the status of long-term resident in the country where you are living, on condition that you have been living in that country for the last two years. The status of long-term resident means you have some of the rights that an EU citizen has, and you have greater opportunities to work, study or start up your own business in another EU country.

What are the requirements for an EU Blue Card?

To get an EU Blue Card, you must:

• have a valid passport (if your passport is about to expire, you should extend it because you are not able to get a permit for longer than your passport is valid)
• have the equivalent of 180 credits of tertiary education or five years of relevant professional experience
• have or have applied for comprehensive health insurance that is valid for care in Sweden (the health insurance should cover the first three months in Sweden, before you get registered)
• have been offered a highly qualified work that lasts for at least one year
• have a salary that is at least one and a half times bigger than an average salary in Sweden.

Your employer must:

• have advertised the position in Sweden and the EU/EEA and Switzerland for at least ten days
• provide information about the employment and give the relevant trade union the opportunity to comment on the conditions of employment
• offer conditions of employment that are at least at the same level as Swedish collective agreements or what is customary in the profession or industry.
• have agreed with you on a salary that is at least on par with those set by Swedish collective agreements or which is customary within the occupation or industry.

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What is the the reason for the new Blue Card Directive??

The EU's new Blue Card Directive was passed by the European Council and EU Parliament back in November 2021, replacing the earlier 2009 directive. It should have been transposed into national law by November 18th, 2023 -- meaning that Sweden is already nine months late.?

The aim of the new directive is to simplify the procedures and qualifying criteria for getting a Blue Card, hopefully making it more popular and as a result making it easier for the EU to attract high-skilled labour.?

How will the new rules change the requirements??

The new rules will lower the salary threshold for EU Blue Card eligibility from 1.5 to 1.25 times the average monthly salary in Sweden. With current averages, this adjustment reduces the required salary from 59,850 kronor (€5,200) to a more attainable 49,875 kronor (€4,300).

The EU directive permits member states to set this threshold anywhere from 1 to 1.6 times the average salary, making Sweden’s choice accessible. However, the new Blue Card salary requirement still stands well above the 28,480 kronor threshold (80% of Sweden's median salary) required for a standard work permit.

Additionally, the directive eases the process for those already holding Swedish residency and work permits to transition to the EU Blue Card. It also allows Blue Card holders who switch jobs in Sweden to do so without reapplying for a new Blue Card.

Further flexibility includes provisions for Blue Card holders from other EU countries, enabling them to work in Sweden for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. Finally, the new rules streamline the application process for individuals who have held an EU Blue Card in another EU country for more than 12 months, facilitating their move to Sweden.

When will the new law come into force??

The new law to come into force on January 1st, 2025. This means it will come into force one year and one month after the EU's deadline. The delay is due to the Swedish government’s focus on broader migration reforms, intensified by recent geopolitical events such as Russia’s war in Ukraine.

More information here:

Government

European Commission

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