Meridian Migration

The EU Blue Card in Eastern Europe

The EU Blue Card is a work and residence permit for highly qualified people with a well-paid job offer. All ten countries issue it, each with its own salary floor. In Lithuania it is the only work route that can be filed from India today.

Checked on

What is the EU Blue Card salary in each country?

As published in the official or cited sources. Where a figure conflicts or is not confirmed, we say so.

EU Blue Card minimum pay and who applies
CountryMinimum payWho applies
PolandAt least 150% of the previous year's average wage: PLN 13,355.34 gross a month for applications filed in 2026 (2025 average PLN 8,903.56 per GUS) (secondary source).You apply
Latvia1.5 times the previous year's average gross monthly wage: EUR 2,723 a month; 1.2 times (EUR 2,178) for professions on the Cabinet's list of expected significant labour shortages (PMLP, from 1 April 2026).Your employer, then you
RomaniaNot confirmed: sources conflict. KPMG (secondary) says that since 8 March 2024 (Law 28/2024) the minimum is the average gross salary (previously two average gross salaries). The EU Immigration Portal page (updated 1 Apr 2025) says at least four times the national average gross wage. Confirm with IGI before publishing a figure.Your employer, then you
CroatiaNot confirmed: not stated on the MUP page.You apply
SlovakiaAt least 1.2 times the average wage in the Slovak economy; the average wage itself if the degree was obtained in the last 3 years (IOM, Jul 2026). The Ministry of Labour page still says 1.5 times — see not confirmed. 2026 EUR amount: not confirmed.You apply
CzechiaAt least 1.5 times the average gross annual wage (MPSV, IPC). The average used from 1 May 2026 to 30 Apr 2027 is CZK 590,580 a year (CZK 49,215 a month), which law firms put at CZK 73,823 gross a month.You apply
BulgariaAt least 1.5 times the average gross salary in Bulgaria, based on the 12 months before the contract (EU Immigration Portal). Secondary estimate: about EUR 2,071 gross a month using July 2025 to June 2026 data (Innovires); the figure changes with each quarterly statistics release.Your employer applies
EstoniaAt least 1.5x the annual average gross monthly wage: EUR 3,138 from 5 March 2026; 1.24x (EUR 2,594) for listed top-specialist professions (science, technology, health, teaching, business, IT, law, culture).Your employer, then you
LithuaniaAt least 1.5 times the most recently announced average gross monthly earnings (EU Immigration Portal). Using the EUR 2,411.40 average quoted by Work in Lithuania in 2026, that is about EUR 3,617 gross a month (our arithmetic; confirm the current average before publishing).Your employer, then you
HungaryHUF 1,001,048 gross a month in 2026 (HUF 800,838 for listed occupations such as general practitioners and pharmacists); HUF 883,671 in 2025.You apply

Who qualifies for an EU Blue Card?

  • PolandGraduates or experienced professionals with a high-salary job offer in Poland.
  • LatviaHighly qualified workers: degree from a 3+ year programme, or at least 5 years of professional experience in the field.
  • RomaniaHighly qualified workers. Under the 2026 system the worker enters on a D/AM1 visa and then applies to IGI for the EU Blue Card.
  • CroatiaGraduates with a job at an employer registered in Croatia.
  • SlovakiaUniversity graduates, or ICT managers and specialists with advanced professional skills, with a high-salary job.
  • CzechiaGraduates (at least 3 years of higher education) with a well-paid job; ICT specialists may qualify on experience (secondary).
  • BulgariaHighly qualified workers with a higher-education degree (programme of at least 3 years).
  • EstoniaHighly qualified workers: degree from a 3+ year programme or at least 5 years of professional experience; job needs higher qualification; contract or binding offer of at least 1 year.
  • LithuaniaHighly qualified workers with higher education (or at least 5 years of equivalent professional experience where the law allows). Can be filed in India.
  • HungaryHolders of a degree or higher vocational qualification with a qualifying salary; ICT managers and specialists may qualify on 3 years' experience in the last 7 years.

How long does the Blue Card last, and can family come?

CountryValidityFamily
PolandPre-reform rule: employment period plus 3 months, at most 3 years. Since 1 June 2025 the contract can be as short as 6 months (secondary); current maximum validity not confirmed.Family members can move with the holder; family applications are handled together with the main one (secondary sources).
LatviaEU Immigration Portal: up to 5 years; if the contract is one year or less, contract plus 3 months. Cobalt (secondary) describes the current Blue Card term as up to 2 years, unchanged by the 2027 law. Sources conflict.Spouse and minor or dependent children may enter with the applicant, with proof of kinship.
RomaniaContract plus 3 months, up to 3 years for highly qualified workers (WorkinRomania, 2026). The older EU Immigration Portal page still says a maximum of two years.Family reunification can be applied for even if the Blue Card is valid for less than one year (EU Immigration Portal); since 2024 the family application can be filed at the same time as the Blue Card application (KPMG, secondary).
CroatiaNot confirmed: not stated on the MUP page.Family members can get temporary stay for family reunification for the same period as the Blue Card.
Slovakia5 years, or the validity of the vacancy confirmation plus 90 days if shorter (IOM).Not confirmed in the sources checked.
CzechiaContract length plus 3 months, at most 3 years.Family members apply within one month of entering; family reunification from abroad has a shortened 90-day limit.
BulgariaContract length plus 3 months, up to 4 years; renewable (EU Immigration Portal).Spouse and unmarried children under 18 can join at any time while the Blue Card is valid.
EstoniaContract length plus 3 months, up to 2 years and 3 months at first; renewable up to 4 years and 3 months.Family members can join the Blue Card holder in Estonia.
Lithuania3 years; if the contract is shorter, contract length plus 3 months.Family reunification immediately, no two-year wait; family members can apply for TRPs straight away.
HungaryUp to 4 years per permit and per extension, not beyond passport validity. In the first year the holder may work only in the authorised job.Not confirmed: not covered on the OIF Blue Card page.

Questions

Can I get an EU Blue Card without a degree?

In some countries, yes, on professional experience. For example, Latvia and Estonia accept at least 5 years of professional experience instead of a degree, and Hungary and Slovakia have experience routes for ICT specialists. Each country page has the exact rule.

Do I need a job offer for an EU Blue Card?

Yes. Every Blue Card route in these ten countries needs a contract or binding job offer at or above the country’s salary floor.

Can I apply for a Blue Card from Canada, the US or the UK?

It depends on the country’s consulate rules. Lithuania’s visa centres abroad generally accept only citizens of that country; Czechia requires long-term residence and at least 2 years of legal stay there. See the living-abroad pages for each country.

Applying from Canada, the US, the UK, Australia, Ireland or New Zealand

Sources

  1. 1.Nowy próg wynagrodzenia dla Niebieskiej Karty UE w 2026 roku (Grant Thornton) (secondary) grantthornton.pl, checked 24 Oct 2026
  2. 2.Poland's Changes to the EU Blue Card (EIG Law) (secondary) eiglaw.com, checked 24 Oct 2026
  3. 3.Poland relaxes EU Blue Card rules (AGS Movers, 10 Sep 2025) (secondary) agsmovers.com, checked 24 Oct 2026
  4. 4.Temporary residence permit for high qualified workers (EU Blue Card) (Opolski Urząd Wojewódzki, updated 25.10.2024) cudzoziemcy.e-wojewoda.pl, checked 24 Oct 2026
  5. 5.Opłaty za załatwienie sprawy (Lubuski Urząd Wojewódzki BIP, updated 07.05.2026) bip.lubuskie.uw.gov.pl, checked 24 Oct 2026
  6. 6.Residence permit for a long-term resident of the EU (Opolski Urząd Wojewódzki, updated 25.02.2026) cudzoziemcy.e-wojewoda.pl, checked 24 Oct 2026
  7. 7.EU Immigration Portal — Highly-qualified worker in Latvia (EU Blue Card, last updated 1 Apr 2025) home-affairs.ec.europa.eu, checked 24 Oct 2026
  8. 8.PMLP — Necessary subsistence / salary amounts from 1 April 2026 pmlp.gov.lv, checked 24 Oct 2026
  9. 9.PMLP — State fee for issuing a residence permit (older table citing Cabinet Regulation 557 of 2017) pmlp.gov.lv, checked 24 Oct 2026
  10. 10.Cobalt — New Immigration Law in Latvia: what employers, investors and temporary residence holders need to know (secondary) cobalt.legal, checked 24 Oct 2026
  11. 11.WorkinRomania.gov.ro — Visas and residence (D/AM1, D/AM2, single application) workinromania.gov.ro, checked 24 Oct 2026
  12. 12.WorkinRomania.gov.ro — Information for foreign workers (rights, steps, documents, warning signs) workinromania.gov.ro, checked 24 Oct 2026
  13. 13.EU Immigration Portal — Highly-qualified worker in Romania (last updated 1 Apr 2025) home-affairs.ec.europa.eu, checked 24 Oct 2026
  14. 14.KPMG Romania — New rules for foreign workers and work permits (Law 28/2024, from 8 March 2024) (secondary) assets.kpmg.com, checked 24 Oct 2026
  15. 15.KPMG Romania — Tax News Flash on GEO 32/2026 (immigration) (secondary) assets.kpmg.com, checked 24 Oct 2026
  16. 16.Stay and work of highly-qualified third-country nationals (MUP) mup.gov.hr, checked 24 Oct 2026
  17. 17.Work of third-country nationals (Ministry of the Interior, MUP) mup.gov.hr, checked 24 Oct 2026
  18. 18.Radne dozvole – work permits (Ministry of the Interior, MUP) mup.gov.hr, checked 24 Oct 2026
  19. 19.EU Blue Card (IOM Migration Information Centre Slovakia, updated 15 Jul 2026) (secondary) mic.iom.sk, checked 24 Oct 2026
  20. 20.Employment of foreigners (Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family of the Slovak Republic) mpsvr.sk, checked 24 Oct 2026
  21. 21.Permanent residence (IOM Migration Information Centre Slovakia, updated 2 Sep 2026) (secondary) mic.iom.sk, checked 24 Oct 2026
  22. 22.EU Blue Card (ipc.gov.cz, Ministry of the Interior information portal) ipc.gov.cz, checked 24 Oct 2026
  23. 23.Postup zaměstnavatele při zaměstnávání zaměstnanců ze zahraničí (Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs) mpsv.gov.cz, checked 24 Oct 2026
  24. 24.Communication No. 44/2026 Coll. on the 2025 average gross annual wage for Blue Card purposes (MPSV) — text via epravo.cz (secondary) epravo.cz, checked 24 Oct 2026
  25. 25.Employing non-EU specialists in Czechia: Blue card rules and risks (ARROWS law firm, updated 11 Aug 2026) (secondary) arws.cz, checked 24 Oct 2026
  26. 26.EU Immigration Portal — Highly-qualified worker in Bulgaria (EU Blue Card, last updated 1 Apr 2025) home-affairs.ec.europa.eu, checked 24 Oct 2026
  27. 27.Innovires — Work permit in Bulgaria for non-EU citizens, complete guide (law as at 8 Oct 2026) (secondary) innovires.com, checked 24 Oct 2026
  28. 28.EU Immigration Portal — Highly-qualified worker in Estonia (EU Blue Card, last updated 1 Apr 2025) home-affairs.ec.europa.eu, checked 24 Oct 2026
  29. 29.PBGB — Elamisluba töötamiseks (Estonian version, salary-criterion table 2025-2027) politsei.ee, checked 24 Oct 2026
  30. 30.PBGB — Processing of residence permit applications (up to 90 days) politsei.ee, checked 24 Oct 2026
  31. 31.EU Immigration Portal — Highly-qualified worker in Lithuania (EU Blue Card, last updated 1 Apr 2025) home-affairs.ec.europa.eu, checked 24 Oct 2026
  32. 32.Work in Lithuania (Invest Lithuania state programme) — Quota Q&A 2026 (updated 10 June 2026) workinlithuania.com, checked 24 Oct 2026
  33. 33.Migration Department of Lithuania — From 1 March 2024: no TRP applications in Lebanon, Jordan, Sri Lanka; India only for listed grounds (29 Jan 2024) migracija.lrv.lt, checked 24 Oct 2026
  34. 34.Migration Department of Lithuania — Temporary residence permit and national visa services: Republic of India (last updated 16 Jan 2026) migracija.lrv.lt, checked 24 Oct 2026
  35. 35.Ecovis Lithuania — Employing foreign nationals: new rules 2026 (secondary) ecovis.lt, checked 24 Oct 2026
  36. 36.Az EU Kék Kártya – EU Blue Card (OIF, edited 2026.03.02) oif.gov.hu, checked 24 Oct 2026
  37. 37.Eljárási díjak – procedure fees (OIF, edited 2026.03.03) oif.gov.hu, checked 24 Oct 2026
  38. 38.EU tartózkodási kártya – EU long-term residence card (OIF, edited 2026.03.03) oif.gov.hu, checked 24 Oct 2026
  39. 39.Magyar kulturális ismereti vizsga – Hungarian cultural knowledge exam (OIF, edited 2026.09.24) oif.gov.hu, checked 24 Oct 2026
  40. 40.Munkavállalás felsőfokú/egyetemi végzettséggel – work with a degree (OIF, edited 2025.02.26) oif.gov.hu, checked 24 Oct 2026