Transposition of the new EU Blue Card Directive

The European Parliament and Council Directive 2021/1883 of 20 October 2021 on the conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals for the purposes of highly qualified employment was transposed by the Act of 4 June 2024 amending the amended Act of 29 August 2008 on the free movement of persons and immigration. This law came into force today.

"Luxembourg needs cutting-edge skills and highly qualified workers in a large number of sectors of the economy, particularly in terms of digital and environmental transition," said the Minister for Home Affairs, Léon Gloden, welcoming the transposition of the new EU Blue Card Directive into national law.

The aim of the new legal framework is to make the EU Blue Card more attractive to highly qualified third-country nationals wishing to work both in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and in a Member State of the European Union. By taking into account the demands of Luxembourg's economic players, the legislative changes aim to simplify the procedure for obtaining an EU Blue Card and to strengthen the attraction and retention of talent in Luxembourg.

In terms of scope, beneficiaries of international protection[1] now have the right to apply for an EU Blue Card provided they meet all the required conditions. With regard to admission conditions, applicants must now present a valid work contract of at least 6 months (previously one year) and receive a salary equivalent to the average gross annual salary, which is currently equivalent to 58,968 euros.

In addition, the system applies a single salary threshold for all sectors, i.e. once the average gross annual salary[2], in order to simplify administration.

Finally, Blue Card holders will have free access to the labour market after 12 months instead of 2 years previously, and the possibility of short- and long-term mobility in other Member States.

Details of the applicable rules and the steps to be taken can be found by following the link below: Salaried work for third-country highly qualified workers (EU Blue Card) – Guichet.Lu – Luxembourg (public.lu).

[1] This does not apply to applicants for international protection who are still in the procedure.

[2] Previously there were 2 thresholds of 1.2 and 1.5 x the average gross annual salary.

Press release by the Ministry of Home Affairs