89 000 EU Blue Cards issued for skilled workers in 2023

In 2023, around 89 000 highly qualified non-EU workers received an EU Blue Card, a work and residence permit for highly qualified people from outside the EU.

Germany issued the largest number (69 000 or 78% of all EU Blue Cards), followed by Poland (7 000 or 8%) and France (4 000 or 4%).

Citizens of India were granted the most EU Blue Cards in 2023 (21 000 or 24% of all Blue Cards issued in the EU), ahead of citizens of Russia (9 000 or 11%), Türkiye (6 000 or 7%) and Belarus (5 000 or 6%).

451 000 permits for researchers and students

Regarding authorisations to non-EU citizens who wish to study and do research, in 2023, the EU countries issued 451 000 authorisations. 

Germany issued most such authorisations (144 000 or 32% of all permits in the EU), followed by France (117 000 or 26%) and Spain (55 000 or 12%).

The main recipients were citizens of India (50 000 or 11% of all permits in the EU), China (47 000 or 10%), Morocco (22 000 or 5%) and the United States (21 000 or 5%).

10 800 intra-corporate transferee permits

In 2023, the EU members issued in total 10 800 intra-corporate transferee permits which allow non-EU citizens to be posted from a company operating outside the EU to a branch in one of the EU countries. 

The largest numbers of such permits were issued in the Netherlands (2 700 or 25% of all permits), Germany and Hungary (both 1 900 or 18%), France (1 500 or 14%) and Spain (1 100 or 10%).

Most of these permits were given to citizens of India (3 900 or 36% of all permits), China (1 600 or 14%) and South Korea (1 300 or 12%).

This news article marks EU Diversity Month 2025, which raises awareness about the importance of diversity and inclusion in the workplace and across our societies.