France EU Blue Card changes have been introduced to make it easier for highly qualified foreign workers to come and work in the country. These new rules, effective from May 2, 2025, aim to address labour shortages in several sectors by expanding eligibility and reducing minimum work contract durations.
Before these new rules, only applicants with a three-year higher education degree or five years of relevant professional experience qualified for the EU Blue Card. Now, those with at least three years of professional experience in specific roles can apply. This change opens doors for many skilled workers who did not meet the previous education requirements.
Another key update is the reduction in the minimum work contract length required to apply for the card. Instead of a 12-month contract, applicants now need only a six-month employment contract. However, the overall impact may be limited because most highly skilled workers in France are usually hired with permanent contracts, experts at Fragomen point out.
France EU Blue Card Changes Include Relaxed Intra-EU Mobility Rules
The new rules also benefit people who already hold an EU Blue Card from another EU country. Previously, these cardholders needed to have lived in that other country for 18 months before moving to France without a separate visa. Now, the requirement is lowered to 12 months. This update makes it easier for skilled workers to move within the EU and continue working in France.
Longer Visa Duration for Short-Term Contract Workers
France now offers longer visa validity for EU Blue Card holders with short-term contracts. If the employment contract lasts less than two years, the visa will be valid for three months longer than the contract itself. This extra time helps workers maintain their right to live and work in France while they renew contracts or find new jobs.
Easier Path to EU Long-Term Residence Permit
Another important change is how the time spent in other EU countries counts toward the five years needed to apply for the ten-year EU Long-Term Residence Permit. Earlier, time spent on other types of residence permits did not count unless it was on an EU Blue Card. Now, all legal residence time, regardless of permit type, will add up. This makes it easier for Blue Card holders to qualify for long-term residency in France.
France remains one of the leading countries issuing EU Blue Cards. In 2023, it granted around 4,000 Blue Cards, accounting for four percent of all EU Blue Cards issued that year.
