Reviewed on March 3, 2026
Transfer EU Blue Card to a New Passport
New passport, old card? Get your EU Blue Card transferred quickly and easily.
At a glance
What do you do when you need a new EU Blue Card for your new passport?
You got a new passport? Then your plastic EU Blue Card is no longer valid. It still references your old passport. Your residence title — the EU Blue Card itself — remains valid, though. You have to get the card transferred to your new passport.
The transfer is only possible with an appointment. You must appear in person. Your main residence must be in Berlin. You can have the transfer done at any Berlin Bürgeramt (citizens' office). This works if certain requirements are met. You must still have your old passport. The EU Blue Card must have been issued by the Berlin State Office for Immigration (Landesamt für Einwanderung) or last transferred by a Berlin Bürgeramt. Your old passport must be complete. No more than 12 months may lie between the expiry date of the old passport and the issue of the new one. In addition, you must not have left Germany continuously for more than 12 months.
If any of these requirements doesn't apply, the State Office for Immigration is responsible. That's the case, for example, if you no longer have your old passport.
Note: If your EU Blue Card is valid for at most 6 more months, transferring it doesn't make sense. Go straight to the State Office for Immigration to extend it instead. That saves you fees and time.
Note: Want to travel abroad and can't get a short-notice appointment? That's no problem. Re-entry to Germany is possible as long as your EU Blue Card is still valid. Take both your old and new passports along with your EU Blue Card. But check the entry requirements of the destination country in advance, for example with its embassy.
Requirements
Who qualifies?
- You can have the transfer done at a Berlin Bürgeramt if your main residence is in Berlin, your EU Blue Card is still valid and was issued by the Berlin immigration authority or a Berlin Bürgeramt, your old passport is complete and on hand, no more than 12 months lie between the expiry date of the old passport and the issue of the new one, and you haven't left Germany for more than 12 months in a row.
- You must have the transfer done at the State Office for Immigration if any of the Bürgeramt requirements isn't met — for example if your old passport is no longer available or the EU Blue Card was not issued in Berlin.
Additional requirements
- You must appear in person with an appointment — at a Berlin Bürgeramt or at the State Office for Immigration.
How to apply
First check whether you need to go to the Bürgeramt or the State Office for Immigration — for example: do you still have your old passport? Was your EU Blue Card issued in Berlin?
Also check: is your EU Blue Card still valid for more than 6 months? If not, go straight to the State Office for Immigration to extend it.
Book an appointment at the responsible authority — the transfer is only possible with an appointment.
Gather all the documents: new passport, old passport, EU Blue Card with supplementary sheet, and a current biometric passport photo — from 1 May 2025, the photo must be created digitally at an authority or photo studio and submitted electronically. If your passport was stolen, also bring the police report.
Attend the appointment in person and bring all the documents with you.
Done! You receive a new EU Blue Card transferred to your new passport.
Since 01.05.2025 only digital photos are accepted. Learn more
Transfer EU Blue Card to a new passport
- Transfer EU Blue Card to a new passport — Turkish nationals up to age 2427,60 EUR
- Transfer EU Blue Card to a new passport — Turkish nationals from age 2446,00 EUR
- Creation of a digital passport photo at the self-service terminal on site6,00 EUR
Good to know
You may change your employer without needing permission. However, you must notify the immigration authority of the change. No approval is needed for this.
Der Arbeitsplatzwechsel eines Inhabers einer Blauen Karte EU ist mitteilungs-, aber nicht erlaubnispflichtig.
VAB A.18i/A.18g/A.19f/A.18c/A.18h, S. 196-238
If the salary threshold is raised, your existing EU Blue Card remains valid. The new threshold only applies upon extension. Your current employment is therefore not affected.
Eine Anhebung der Gehaltsgrenzen nach § 18g Abs. 7 zu Beginn eines Jahres hat keine Auswirkungen auf den Bestand einer bereits erteilten Blauen Karte EU.
VAB A.18i/A.18g/A.19f/A.18c/A.18h, S. 196-238
As an EU Blue Card holder, you can receive a settlement permit with shorter waiting periods. You are privileged compared to other skilled workers. This will be noted on your eAT.
Inhaber einer Blauen Karte EU können bei der Erteilung einer Niederlassungserlaubnis gegenüber anderen Fachkräften oder Forschern hinsichtlich bestimmter Fristen noch weiter privilegiert sein.
VAB A.18i/A.18g/A.19f/A.18c/A.18h, S. 196-238
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Transfer EU Blue Card to a New Passport
After the appointment, it takes approximately 4 weeks until the EU Blue Card is issued as an electronic residence title and can be collected.