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Transferring an EU Blue Card to a New Passport in Germany: A Guide for HR Team
As an HR professional in Germany, you may need to support employees holding an EU Blue Card (Blaue Karte EU) when their passport expires. The EU Blue Card, typically valid for four years, is often linked to the passport’s expiry date. When an employee gets a new passport, transferring the EU Blue Card is essential to ensure compliance and uninterrupted work authorization. This guide covers eligibility, the process, requirements, where to apply, appointment details, salary considerations, processing times, fees, and key tips to streamline the process for your team.
Eligibility for Transferring an EU Blue Card (Blaue Karte EU Übertragung)
To transfer an EU Blue Card to a new passport, your employee must meet these criteria:
- Old Passport Availability: The old passport must still be presentable. If it’s lost or stolen, a police report (Polizeibericht) is required instead.
- Time Gap: The period between the old passport’s expiry date and the new passport’s issuance must not exceed 12 months.
- Travel History: The employee must not have stayed abroad with their EU Blue Card for more than 12 consecutive months.
This is important to avoid delays or complications for your employee.
Documents required for the process:
Based on German regulations, the following documents are required for the transfer:
- Old Passport: Must be submitted unless lost or stolen. If you lost your old passport or it had been stolen, please provide a report to the police instead
- Police Report: Required if the old passport is missing (Polizeibericht bei Verlust).
- EU Blue Card: The current card linked to the old passport.
- Addendum (Zusatzblatt): An accompanying document to the Blue Card.
- New Passport: The newly issued passport.
- Biometric Passport Photo: biometrisches Passfoto
Ensure your employee has these ready to avoid unnecessary back-and-forth with authorities.
Application Process :
The application process for transferring the EU Blue Card to a new passport involves several steps:
- Determine the Responsible Authority: The transfer can be handled by either the town hall (Bürgeramt) or the local immigration office (Ausländerbehöre), depending on the type of process (e.g., lost/stolen passport) and the location. For instance, in Berlin, the Berlin Immigration Office may be responsible if the old passport is not present or the EU Blue Card was issued there.
- Book an Appointment: Appointments are typically required and can be booked online through the local authority's portal or by phone. The specific process may vary by region, so HR should guide employees to check the local immigration office's website, such as Service Berlin.
- Submit Documents: At the appointment, all required documents must be presented for review and processing.
- Wait for Processing: After submission, the new residence permit card is issued, with a typical processing time of 5-6 weeks.
This structured process helps HR professionals ensure that employees follow the correct steps, minimizing delays.
Where to Apply (Zuständige Behörden)
The application should be made to the local immigration office or town hall, depending on the specific circumstances and location. For example:
- In Berlin, if the EU Blue Card was issued there and the old passport is complete, the Citizens Registration Office (Bürgeramt) may handle the transfer, otherwise, the Berlin Immigration Office is responsible.
- HR professionals should direct employees to their local authority, such as checking with the nearest Ausländerbehöre for precise instructions.
This flexibility by location ensures that the process is accessible, but HR must be aware of regional variations.
Appointment Details (Terminvereinbarung)
Most German authorities require an appointment (Termin) for residence permit matters. HR can assist by:
- Booking Process: Visiting the local immigration office’s Appointments can generally be booked online through the local immigration office's portal/website (Ausländerbehörde Website) or by phone. For example, Service Berlin offers online booking for such services. Booking online or via phone, using terms like “Blaue Karte Übertragung” or “Residence Permit Update.”
- Preparation: HR should ensure that employees have all documents ready and meet eligibility criteria before booking to avoid delays. The specific steps for booking may vary, so checking the local authority's website is recommended. Some offices may offer English support, but German proficiency (Deutschkenntnisse) is a plus.
- Wait Times: While not explicitly stated, some regions may have wait times for appointments, especially during peak periods. HR can advise employees to book early to secure a slot.
Appointments can fill up quickly, so plan ahead, especially if travel is imminent.
Salary Levels
An important note for HR is that salary levels, which are a key requirement for the initial issuance of the EU Blue Card (e.g., at least €43,759.80 gross annual salary for 2025, as per Make it in Germany), are not rechecked during the transfer process. This means that as long as the employee met the salary threshold at the time of initial issuance, no further salary verification is needed for the passport update.
Processing Time (Bearbeitungszeit)
The processing time for issuing the new residence permit card is typically 5-6 weeks (Bearbeitungszeit: 5-6 Wochen), based on the provided information. This timeline allows HR to plan for potential delays in employee documentation, ensuring continuity of work authorization.
Fees (Gebühren)
The fee for transferring the EU Blue Card to a new passport is approximately 67 euros, as indicated by Service Berlin. However, fees may vary by location, and special rates apply for certain nationalities, such as Turkish citizens (22.80 euros until age 24, 37.00 euros from age 24). Please confirm the exact fee with local immigration office to avoid surprises.
Important to know about Travel During Processing
Key points: Transfer EU Blue Card to new passport (Download )
Conclusion
This comprehensive guide equips HR professionals with the necessary information to manage the transfer of an EU Blue Card to a new passport for their employees in Germany. By understanding eligibility, required documents, application processes, and additional considerations, HR can ensure compliance and support employee mobility effectively. For the most current and location-specific details, always refer to official sources like BAMF or local immigration office websites.
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