Estonia has introduced more relaxed EU Blue Card rules for all nationals of third countries in an attempt to facilitate employment and fill in shortages in different sectors.
Effective April 15, 2024, applicants are eligible to apply for an EU Blue Card for the purpose of working in Estonia if they have five years of professional experience in a relevant field, regardless of whether they have any educational qualifications, SchengenVisaInfo reports.
Previously, only those who had university qualifications were eligible to apply for the Card.
In addition, Estonia has also decided to lower job offer durations. In line with the new rules, foreigners will now be eligible for the EU Blue Card provided that they have entered into an employment contract for at least six months instead of the current one year.
The unemployment period during which an EU Blue Card holder is permitted to stay in Estonia has also been changed.
According to the Parliament of Estonia, foreigners can remain in Estonia unemployed for up to three months if they hold a Blue Card for less than two years and for up to six months if they hold a Blue Card for over two years.
More favourable conditions for family reunification will also be implemented for EU Blue Card holders.
Last but not least, Estonia has also decided to make it easier for Blue Card holders to change their employers.
Holders of the EU Blue Card who have worked in any member state of the EU are now eligible to change their employer in Estonia without being subject to the labour market testing criteria.
However, EU Blue Card holders are still required to inform their employers that they plan on changing their workplace.
After a year has passed, the Member State may require only that a change of employer be communicated, and no check of the labour market situation may be carried out. Under the earlier directive, a check could be carried out for up to two years.
New Rules Aim to Increase Attractiveness of EU Blue Card, Estonian Parliament Says
Commenting on the changes, the Estonian Parliament said that the new relaxed rules aim to harmonise the entry and residence conditions for highly qualified workers and ultimately increase the attractiveness of the EU Blue Card.
The same authority noted that the new rules come along with several provisions to ensure that holders of the EU Blue Card, as well as their family members, do not find themselves in a more disadvantageous situation than those who hold national permits.
The new rules will introduce several provisions to ensure that Blue Card holders and their family members would not find themselves in a more disadvantaged situation than holders of national permits.
The EU issued a directive in 2021 requiring the member states to update the EU Blue Card scheme. The aim behind such a request was to establish an attractive immigration option for workers needed in the bloc.
