More Than 89,000 EU Blue Cards Issued to Highly Skilled Foreign Nationals in 2023
Key Points
1. Over 89,000 EU Blue Cards were issued in 2023, marking a record high.
2. Germany issued the most cards, with Indian nationals being the largest group of recipients.
3. Cyprus issued no Blue Cards, while Hungary granted just 17, making them the countries with the lowest issuance rates.
In 2023, EU countries issued a total of 89,037 Blue Cards to non-EU citizens, facilitating the entry of highly skilled professionals into the European Union's workforce.
This represents an 8.8% increase compared to the previous year, and the highest number recorded since the scheme’s launch in 2013, apart from pandemic-affected years (2020-2021).
Indians Account for Nearly 25% of Blue Cards Issued in 2023
Of the 89,037 Blue Cards issued, 21,228 (23.8%) went to Indian nationals, making them the largest group of beneficiaries. Russian and Turkish citizens followed, receiving 9,488 and 5,803 Blue Cards respectively. Other notable recipients included citizens of Belarus, Iraq, China, Ukraine, Tunisia, Egypt, and Pakistan.
Germany Leads in EU Blue Card Issuance
Germany led the EU in Blue Card issuance, granting 69,353 cards, representing 77.9% of the total. Poland was the second-largest issuer, with 7,402 cards (9.2%), followed by France and Lithuania, issuing 3,912 and 1,710 cards, respectively.
Meanwhile, Hungary issued the fewest EU Blue Cards in 2023, with only 17, while Cyprus issued none. Other countries with lower issuance rates included Malta (31), Greece (28), Portugal (26), Estonia (25), and Slovakia (24).
To attract more highly qualified professionals, some EU countries have streamlined their Blue Card processes. Greece now allows third-country nationals under a visa-free regime or short-stay visas to apply, and Estonia has expanded eligibility to include candidates with professional experience. Croatia has doubled the card's validity from two to four years.