More People Applying for Luxembourg’s EU Blue Card After Relaxation of Requirements

The number of foreign nationals applying for Luxembourg’s EU Blue Card has increased following the easing of the criteria at the beggining of the second half of 2024.

Since July 1, 2024, non-EU citizens have been able to obtain the document more easily as the authorities decided to shorten the employment contract validity period and lower the salary requirement, Schengen.News reports. 

Under the new rules, applicants now need to present an employment contract with a validity period of six months instead of the previous 12 months and the annual income requirement was lowered to around €58,900, which represents a difference of around €30,000 compared to the previous requirement. 

This relaxation of the rules has pushed more non-EU nationals to apply for an EU Blue Card and relocate to Luxembourg. 

Luxembourg Granted 523 EU Blue Cards Since Relaxation of Rules 
According to data provided by the Ministry of Interior of Luxembourg, from the beginning of July, when eased rules became effective, until the end of December 2024, Luxembourg granted a total of 523 EU Blue Cards to foreign nationals. 

During all months of the second half of 2024, a large number of EU Blue Cards were granted, but the peak was reached in October, with 118 EU Blue Cards issued, Luxembourg Times explains. 

In contrast, the lowest number was issued during September, with the number of granted EU Blue Cards standing at 70.

The other months of the second half of 2024 also saw a high number of issued EU Blue Cards. Luxembourg granted 72 EU Blue Cards in July, 77 in August, 88 in November, and 98 in December.

On the other hand, in the first half of 2024, from the beginning of January until the end of June 2024, Luxembourg granted 302 EU Blue Cards. 

This means that in total, in 2024, Luxembourg issued 825 EU Blue Cards, representing a 4.83 per cent increase compared to 2023, when the country granted 787 EU Blue Cards. 

Luxembourg Working to Digitalise Immigration Procedures 
As part of its measures to simplify access to the labour market for non-EU nationals, the Luxembourg government coalition is working to facilitate and speed up the procedures for issuing visas for foreign workers, Luxembourg Times notes. 

At the same time, the Ministry of Interior of Luxembourg has said that steps to digitalise the procedures are underway.

Source: https://schengen.news/more-people-applying-for-luxembourgs-eu-blue-card-after-relaxation-of-requirements/