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EU Blue Card

Europe · highly qualified workers

Blue Cards granted, 2024
77,875
Member states issuing
24
Data as at 24 Oct 2026
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Blue Cards granted by year

First grants, all member states.

Blue Cards granted

44k89k20122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
44k89k201220152018202120242025
Data table
20123,649
201312,845
201413,762
201516,977
201620,885
201724,170
201832,525
201951,906
202049,990
202167,415
202281,495
202388,688
202477,875
202571,809
By member state, 2024
  1. Germany56,041
  2. Poland5,852
  3. Hungary2,942
  4. France2,768
  5. Spain1,924
  6. Lithuania1,476
  7. Croatia1,190
  8. Austria880
  9. Luxembourg820
  10. Italy633
  11. Bulgaria628
  12. Czechia620
  13. Latvia484
  14. Netherlands442
  15. Romania345
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2025

Who receives them

2024. Occupation is reported for 11.7% of cards; member states that report it as unknown (including Germany) are not in the occupation chart.

By citizenship
  1. India16,267
  2. Russia6,658
  3. Türkiye5,645
  4. China4,551
  5. Belarus3,533
  6. Ukraine3,524
  7. Iran3,503
  8. Syria1,955
  9. Tunisia1,887
  10. United States1,884
  11. Pakistan1,870
  12. Brazil1,809
  13. Egypt1,762
  14. Morocco1,263
  15. United Kingdom1,257
  16. Mexico1,198
  17. Colombia1,118
  18. Azerbaijan855
  19. South Korea850
  20. Jordan740
By occupation (ISCO-08 sub-major group)
  1. Legal, social and cultural professionals2,552
  2. Information and communications technology professionals2,133
  3. Business and administration professionals1,962
  4. Science and engineering professionals1,018
  5. Administrative and commercial managers457
  6. Production and specialised services managers301
  7. Health professionals226
  8. Teaching professionals173
  9. Business and administration associate professionals94
  10. Hospitality, retail and other services managers82
  11. Chief executives, senior officials and legislators56
  12. Science and engineering associate professionals47
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2025

Occupation groups

ISCO-08 sub-major groups with at least 100 cards in 2024.

Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2025

Economic sectors

Sector of the employer (NACE Rev. 2), 2024; member states that report the sector.

Blue Cards granted by sector, 2024
  1. Information and communication2,584
  2. Professional, scientific and technical activities1,881
  3. Manufacturing1,106
  4. Wholesale and retail trade820
  5. Health and social work571
  6. Finance and insurance482
  7. Administrative and support services443
  8. Construction357
  9. Other services337
  10. Education241
  11. Transport and storage192
  12. Accommodation and food services48
  13. Mining and quarrying43
  14. Real estate39
  15. Arts, entertainment and recreation37
  16. Electricity and gas31
  17. Public administration25
  18. Agriculture, forestry and fishing13
  19. Extraterritorial organisations9
  20. Water supply and waste8
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2025

Member states

Member state201920202021202220232024
Austria3362223125011,132880
Belgium110117113124144136
Bulgaria268299323922705628
Croatia195982254404001,190
Cyprus000000
Czechia570366671636505620
Estonia241525362541
Finland12894200390216208
France2,0352,0321,8633,8643,9252,768
Germany43,97742,98657,36362,90168,99756,041
Greece12312222894
Hungary651018172,942
Italy418211409572747633
Latvia21769226357419484
Lithuania2232891,2663,9241,7101,476
Luxembourg6774646941,011824820
Malta2214262031122
Netherlands190205214304304442
Poland2,1022,2512,9804,9297,4015,852
Portugal25823272616
Romania212113236211405345
Slovakia12610142432
Slovenia405296131228119
Spain795164583691,924
Sweden2820548310662
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2025

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more