Luxembourg has decided to change the minimum salary requirement for third-country nationals who want to obtain its EU Blue Card.
As Fragomen explains, effective March 18, 2025, the minimum salary level to be eligible for Luxembourg’s EU Blue Card has increased from €58,968 to €63,408, Schengen.News reports.
This represents a 7.53 per cent hike compared to the previous requirement level and means that the salary requirement has increased by €4,440.
Third-country nationals must be offered a salary at least equal to the amount set by Grand-Ducal regulation (EUR 63,408).
In line with the new rules, all applications submitted for Luxembourg’s EU Blue Card from March 18, 2025, must meet the new salary level in order to be eligible for the scheme.
On the other hand, applications that have been submitted before March 18, 2025, will be processed under the previous salary level.
Luxembourg sees a high number of EU Blue Card applications and approvals each year.
Data from the Ministry of Interior of Luxembourg show that in 2024 the country issued 825 EU Blue Cards, of which 302 were issued in the first half of 2024 and 523 EU Blue Cards were issued in the second half of the year.
During the July-December 2024 period, the highest number of EU Blue Cards was issued in October, with 118 third-country nationals benefiting from the scheme.
In contrast, the lowest number was issued in September, with the number of beneficiaries of the EU Blue Card standing at 70.
Applicants Need to Meet Several Other Criteria to Be Eligible for Luxembourg’s EU Blue Card
In addition to the salary level, third-country nationals who want to obtain the EU Blue Card of Luxembourg need to also meet several other criteria.
As Luxembourg’s Official Administrative Portal explains, to be eligible for the document, third-country nationals must hold a valid passport and check if they need to obtain a visa to enter the Schengen Area.
EU Blue Card applicants must also satisfy the conditions of higher professional qualifications, which means that they need to have an employment contract of at least six months for highly qualified work and show a document proving their possession of high professional qualifications for the activity or sector that is mentioned in the employment contract.
Some other EU member states have also increased their EU Blue Card Salary requirementincluding Austria, Germany, and Hungary.
These three countries decided to hike the salary level despite dealing with labour shortages in an effort to better control migration to their territory and attract only those who meet the rules.