Want to move to Germany? What you need to get ASAP - the Blue Card

Hey guys. So I wanted to make my first post about the FIRST thing you should consider when you decide you want to move to Germany. How are you going to make money there? Depending on what you will be doing and how much time you have, you may be eligible for the EU Blue Card.

The EU Blue Card is a work and residence permit for non-EU/EEA nationals (meaning you won't have to deal with all of the intertwined craziness later on; trust me, it sucks.) The EU Blue Card was designed to make Europe a more attractive destination for professionals outside the EU. All EU member states, except the UK, Denmark and Ireland, participate in the EU Blue Card.

Now I think most large companies should be able to help you with your relocation and should know about the Blue Card, but things worked a bit differently for my husband at his first post-doctorate position at the lab here. I don't know if they weren't helpful or if he just didn't ask for help, but he didn't find out about the EU Blue Card until too late.

So this is for the people who don't have somebody in Germany to help them relocate from the US!
***If you're not from the US, please look into your country's reciprocity laws with Germany! Your job hunting process could be different depending on what country you're from. For ex: I am a South Korean citizen so my work permit process is different from my husband who's a US citizen.***

1. You will be needing about a year in advance (We were told 6 months to a year, but you know how bureaucracy can be. Plan ahead!)

2. You will be needing a job contract if you already found a job. Easy to get, just ask your company/lab to write you one (If you are about to graduate like my husband was, hopefully you found a post-doc position ahead of time and your defense date is more concrete so that your new lab can write you a job contract with a start date.) If you're self employed/an entrepreneur, I believe you can still apply as long as you meet some qualifications about the demand in the EU and your previous experience.

3. If/once you have these, ask your nearest German Consulate about the application process and what you will be needing (such as your passport).


*This is simply what I learned from my personal experiences/research. Please always make sure to consult with the proper authorities such as your Consulates.