Employer Change under the Blue Card – Notification and Approval by the Employment Agency

Changing Employer (Arbeitgeberwechsel) for EU Blue Card Holders: Rules and Procedures

The EU Blue Card (Blue Card EU) is one of the most important tools Germany uses to attract qualified foreign professionals. It grants its holders more favourable residence rights compared to many other types of residence permits.
However, when a Blue Card holder wants to change employer (Arbeitgeberwechsel), a number of conditions and requirements come into play. These vary depending on the length of stay and the competent authorities involved, and mistakes in the process can lead to legal complications.

In this article, we explain the legal steps for changing employer as an EU Blue Card holder, when the authorities must be informed, and what is required from the new employer.

Can you change employer while your Blue Card is still valid?

Yes, it is possible to change employer during the validity of the Blue Card, but:

During the first two years after the Blue Card is issued: you must obtain prior approval from the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) and notify the immigration office (Ausländerbehörde).
After 24 months with the same type of residence permit (Blue Card): prior approval from the Federal Employment Agency is no longer required, but you are still obliged to inform the immigration office and update your residence data.

First: Changing employer within the first two years – what are the procedures?

According to § 18g paragraph 4 of the Residence Act (Aufenthaltsgesetz):

The legal steps are:

Notify the immigration office (Ausländerbehörde)
Inform the immigration office about your intention to change employer before signing a new employment contract.
Submit the following documents:
- the new employment contract (or an official job offer),
- a description of the new position (Tätigkeitsbeschreibung),
- recent payslips (if available).
The immigration office forwards the case to the Federal Employment Agency
The Federal Employment Agency will review, in particular:
- whether the salary meets the required minimum salary for the Blue Card,
- whether your academic qualification still matches the new position,
- whether your professional field remains essentially the same.

What should you expect?

A decision is usually made within 2 to 6 weeks.
You are not allowed to start the new job before receiving written approval.

Second: After two years of residence

If you have spent 24 consecutive months with the same residence type (Blue Card), you may change employer without prior approval from the Federal Employment Agency. However, you are still obliged to inform the immigration office.

You will typically need to:

submit the new employment contract to the immigration office,
update your residence data (especially if your place of residence or your job role has changed),
ensure that there are no drastic changes in salary or job type that could raise concerns.

Note: If you move into a professional field that has no clear connection to your recognised university degree, additional approval or review may be required.

Can you lose your Blue Card because of the change?

Yes, the Blue Card can be lost in certain situations, for example:

if your salary is reduced below the minimum threshold required for the Blue Card (minimum salary for the Blue Card – 2025: around €45,300 per year, or a lower threshold for shortage occupations such as doctors and engineers),
if your new job is in a field that has no real relation to your recognised academic qualification,
if you start the new job before official approval has been granted during the first two years.

What if you move to a company in another federal state?

If you change to a company located in a different federal state (Bundesland):

you must register your new address within two weeks (Anmeldung),
you must then contact the competent immigration office in the new federal state and present all relevant documents,
in some cases, a new review procedure may be carried out to check your employment and social insurance data.

Conclusion

Changing employer while holding an EU Blue Card is legally possible, but subject to a number of administrative conditions that differ depending on the length of your stay.
The golden rule is: do not start the new job before informing the competent authorities, and always make sure that your salary level and professional field continue to meet the requirements of the Blue Card.

In this way, you maintain your lawful residence status and ensure professional stability in Germany without unnecessary risk.

Disclaimer about the information provided

The editorial team of this website strives to provide accurate information based on intensive research and the consultation of multiple sources. Nevertheless, errors may occur or certain information may not be fully verified. For this reason, please regard the information in these articles as an initial point of reference only and always consult the competent authorities or official bodies for confirmed and legally binding information.