European nations issued approximately 78,100 EU Blue Cards in 2024, permits designed to attract highly-skilled workers from outside the European Union. The largest number of these cards were granted to Indian nationals, with Germany remaining the dominant destination for these workers, according to data released by Eurostat and reported on .
In total, 16,300 EU Blue Cards were issued to Indian citizens in 2024, representing approximately 20.8 percent of all cards issued. This figure surpasses the number granted to citizens of Russia (6,700, a decrease from 9,500 in 2023), Türkiye (5,600), and China (4,600). The trend of Indian nationals receiving the largest share of these permits is expected to continue, bolstered by a recently adopted EU-India free trade agreement that includes a framework for facilitating the mobility of skilled workers.
The EU Blue Card program, modeled after the US Green Card system, is available in all EU member states except Denmark and Ireland. To qualify, applicants must possess a university degree or equivalent qualification, a job offer, and meet a salary threshold set by the host country. Beyond work and residency rights, the card allows holders to travel freely within the EU for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
Germany significantly outpaced other EU nations in issuing Blue Cards, granting 56,300 permits in 2024 – although this represents a decline from the 69,300 issued in 2023. Poland followed distantly with 5,900, while Hungary (2,900), France (2,800), and Spain (2,000) completed the top five. Austria issued 1,100, Italy 600, and Sweden 62, all experiencing declines compared to the previous year.
The German government’s dominance in issuing Blue Cards is linked to the implementation of the Skilled Immigration Act in 2023. This legislation expanded the regulations surrounding the EU Blue Card, making it easier for qualified professionals from non-EU countries to immigrate and address critical skill shortages within the German economy. In 2024, Germany issued 13,300 Blue Cards to Indian citizens, alongside 4,500 to Turkish, 3,800 to Chinese, and 3,700 to Russian nationals.
Beyond the Blue Card program, EU countries also issued 475,000 visas for study and research purposes in 2024. Germany again led in this category, issuing 131,000 visas, followed by France (118,000) and Spain (59,000). Sweden issued 16,000, Austria 8,200, and Italy 2,100.
Indian nationals were the primary recipients of these study and research visas, with 53,000 granted in 2024. Chinese citizens followed with 44,000, then Moroccans (23,000) and Americans (22,000). A significant portion of Indian students and researchers – 26,400 – chose Germany as their destination, with France (7,300), Sweden (2,500), and the Netherlands (2,300) also attracting substantial numbers. The United States saw 7,400 of its citizens granted student and researcher permits in France, 5,400 in Spain, 3,400 in Germany, and 2,400 in the Netherlands.
The data also reveals a smaller number of visas issued for intra-corporate transferees – employees temporarily transferred from a non-EU company to a branch within the EU. Approximately 10,200 such visas were issued in 2024, with the Netherlands (2,400), Luxembourg (2,000), France (1,800), and Germany (1,500) being the primary issuing countries. Indian and Chinese nationals comprised the majority of these recipients, with 3,300 and 2,200 visas granted respectively.
Germany’s consistent position as the leading destination for both EU Blue Card holders and international students and researchers underscores its critical role in attracting skilled labor to address its economic needs. The country currently requires an estimated 400,000 workers annually to meet current demands, particularly in sectors such as healthcare and technology. The German government is actively working to centralize the immigration process and reduce visa processing times by 40 percent, further streamlining the recruitment of skilled foreign workers.
