The EU Blue Card is Europe's answer to the US Green Card

By: H. Priority Trusts Services Ltd

The Republic of Cyprus will issue a Blue Card to highly skilled workers from third countries coming to Cyprus for employment, according to the law approved by the Council of Ministers on the 17th of January 2024.

An EU Blue Card is a residence permit for qualified non-EU foreign nationals to work in an EU country. It permits its holder to enter and remain in a particular EU country for employment.

The card facilitates the admission of non-EU highly skilled professionals into the EU. It intends to simplify the procedures and improve the legal status of those already in the EU. The permit authorizes its holder to enter, re-enter, and stay in the country that has issued it. Their family members can accompany them. The EU Blue Card holder and their family members are entitled to freedom of movement within the EU.

The EU Blue card holder enjoys equal treatment with the nationals of the Member State where they have settled. Yet, they can only work in the sector they are concerned about.

The main advantages of Blue Card:

1. Legal employment in a sought-after profession. At the same time, the salary for employees from the EU and other countries in the same position should be the same.
2. Possibility to move at once with the whole family. After a specialist receives a blue card, his family (wife/husband and children up to 18 years old) is issued a residence permit, which allows them to immediately reunite and live together.
3. Simplified process for obtaining a residence permit and citizenship. Provided you know the language and pay into the pension fund, you can apply for a residence permit faster - in 33 months, and after 5 years you can get citizenship.
4. Social and economic protection. The cardholder receives health insurance and is entitled to unemployment benefits and paid vacation. Children can study for free, and a wife or husband can enroll in a university.
5. Visa-free travel. This means that it is possible to travel throughout the European Union as a tourist and not worry about a visa.

According to an official announcement, these changes align with the government’s strategy of encouraging legal migration as a measure for managing immigration and supplanting irregular migration.

The card applies to all EU countries apart from Denmark and Ireland.

Are you a non-EU citizen wishing to work as a highly-skilled employee in Cyprus? You can contact us at info@prioritytrustservices.com   and our team of highly qualified professionals is here to assist you. We will guide you through all the conditions to fulfill and procedures to follow, as well as the rights you can enjoy during your stay.

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