Europe is increasingly valuing highly skilled professionals from Albania by granting them EU Blue Cards, which are work and residence permits for non-EU specialists. According to data from Eurostat, a total of 5,405 Blue Cards have been issued to Albanian citizens since 2014, with a sharp increase starting in 2019, when a wave of large-scale emigration of highly qualified professionals began.
In 2023, 825 Blue Cards were issued, while in 2024 this figure declined to 592. Nevertheless, the number remains significantly higher than in earlier years. By comparison, only 15 Blue Cards were issued in 2012, while the record for a single year so far was 882 cards in 2021.
Germany remains the main destination for Albanian professionals, issuing the vast majority of these permits. In 2021, Germany granted 823 Blue Cards to Albanians, accounting for around 93% of the EU total, while in 2023 it issued 716 such permits, or approximately 87% of the total. Professionals working in Germany under a Blue Card benefit from a minimum annual salary of around €43,000.
After Germany, the countries issuing Blue Cards to Albanian citizens include Italy, Austria, and Poland, but at much lower levels. The increase in Blue Cards for Albanians reflects growing demand in the European labor market for highly skilled workers, particularly in sectors such as information technology and healthcare.
What Is the Blue Card?
The EU Blue Card is a work and residence permit granted to highly qualified non-European Union nationals, allowing them to work in an EU member state. It aims to attract foreign specialists in high-demand professions by offering favorable working conditions, including family reunification rights, mobility within the EU, and opportunities for long-term residence.
The Blue Card is issued on the basis of an employment contract with a defined minimum salary and recognized university-level qualifications. To qualify for an EU Blue Card, applicants must meet a minimum salary threshold, which varies by member state and employment sector. These thresholds are set by national authorities and typically represent a percentage of the average gross salary in the respective country.
For example, in Germany in 2025, the minimum annual gross salary required for an EU Blue Card is €48,300 for general professions and €43,759.80 for shortage occupations, such as IT, engineering, and healthcare.
High-priority professions for the EU Blue Card include Information and Communication Technology (ICT), engineering, medicine and healthcare, natural sciences and mathematics, higher education and scientific research, as well as finance and accounting.
