Have you ever dreamed of living and working in Paris or Prague, Milan or Munich? Well, now there’s a way to make it happen.
To entice new blood into their workforce, the European Union (EU) started introducing the “blue card” program in 2011. Like the American green card, it allows foreign nationals to secure employment in the EU (so you can make your favorite city your long-term residence). Plus, the blue card is recognized in all member countries within the EU (excluding the U.K., Ireland, and Denmark), which allows the bearer to move throughout Europe with relative ease.
The card is still new, so adoption and application has been an evolving process. Currently, most cards are issued for IT and engineering jobs at international companies, but the program is open to all educated talent and labor, including in fields like marketing or teaching. Continuing expansion will target skills of all sorts (like creative work) while encouraging smaller entrepreneurial companies’ participation. The main goal is to simplify the immigration process and allow for quicker, easier attraction of talent.
Here’s the catch: the card is only issued to people with a binding job offer. To make it easier for employees and employers to find one another, the EU has launched a database where jobseekers can upload their searchable CVs (Curriculum Vitae). And to further help the process, the blue card office in Belgium recommends applicants create a standard format Europass CV, the template preferred by European employers, at europass.cedefop.europa.eu/en/documents/curriculum-vitae.
For more information on the blue card and to submit your application, visit apply.eu. While getting the go-ahead may require some hard work and perseverance on your part (doesn’t anything worthwhile?) the ultimate payoff can be a dream come true. –tamara rosenberg
By Tamara Rosenberg
Illustrated by Sara Franklin
This article originally appeared in the print edition of BUST Magazine. Subscribe today!
