EU Blue Card extension: What advantages do you have as a newcomer to the job market?

Anyone working in Germany as a highly qualified professional with an EU Blue Card will at some point face the question: How does the Blue Card extension work? And, more importantly, what requirements must be met – especially regarding salary? In this article, you'll learn under what conditions your Blue Card can be extended and what special features apply to new entrants to the job market.

Principle: Extension according to the same rules as granting

As a general rule, the following applies to the extension of residence permits under German Residence Act: The same requirements that applied to the original grant must also be met for the extension ( Section 8 (1) of the Residence Act ). However, the legislature has introduced an important special regulation for the EU Blue Card : If you were classified as a so-called "career entrant" at the start of your employment, relaxed salary requirements may apply for the extension – even if you have already been working for several years (see Section 18g (6) of the Residence Act ).

When does the relaxed salary threshold apply?

A lower salary threshold may be taken into account when renewing your Blue Card if one of these two cases applies:

1. Your university degree (or equivalent tertiary education program) was completed less than three years ago at the time of application for extension, or

2. You have held your first EU Blue Card for less than 24 months.

   
   

In both of these cases, an annual salary of at least 45.3% of the pension insurance contribution assessment ceiling is sufficient.

Does the exception apply to everyone?

No. The salary relief applies exclusively to new entrants to the job market whose first Blue Card was issued under the special regulation of Section 18g Paragraph 1 Sentence 2 No. 2 of the Residence Act. This particularly affects individuals with little professional experience. However, Blue Card holders who entered the job market through the regulations for shortage occupations or normal highly qualified individuals (without entry-level status) are not eligible for the extension.

This means for you as an EU Blue Card holder:

• Plan your renewal early , especially if you are about to leave the privileged entry phase.

• Pay close attention to the salary level that must be proven with your application.

• If in doubt, seek legal advice in good time to avoid disadvantages – for example, if the extension is refused because the salary is insufficient.

Conclusion

While the extension of the EU Blue Card is generally subject to the same conditions as the original issue, new entrants to the workforce enjoy a legal salary advantage for a limited period . This special regulation is an important tool to facilitate young skilled workers' entry into the German labor market and to secure their residency even with temporary contracts or lower starting salaries.

Legal advice: Determining precisely whether and for how long you qualify for the exemption can be complex in individual cases. The authorities base their decisions on statutory provisions, case law, and administrative practice. Therefore, if in doubt, seek advice from a specialist visa law firm such as VISAGUARD before submitting your application for an extension.