Transfer EU Blue Card to New Passport
You have a new passport? Then have your EU Blue Card transferred to the new passport.
At a glance
How do you transfer your EU Blue Card to a new passport?
You have an EU Blue Card and received a new passport? Then the plastic card of your residence title is no longer valid because it refers to your old passport. However, your EU Blue Card residence title itself remains valid.
Important: Is your EU Blue Card valid for only 6 months or less? Then a transfer is no longer advisable. Please come for the extension instead. This saves you fees and time.
Would you like to travel before the new card is ready? Re-entry into Germany is possible without any problems as long as your residence title is still valid and you still have the old passport. Take both the old and the new passport and the EU Blue Card with you. However, check the entry and exit conditions of your destination country beforehand.
Requirements
Who qualifies?
- You hold an EU Blue Card and have received a new passport. Your EU Blue Card must be valid for more than 6 months.
Additional requirements
- You need your main residence in Berlin and a personal appointment.
- The transfer can be done at a citizens' office if all of the following apply: you have the expired passport with the valid EU Blue Card, the EU Blue Card was issued by the State Office for Immigration Berlin or last transferred by a Berlin citizens' office, your old passport is complete, no more than 12 months have passed between the expiry of the old passport and the issuance of the new one, and you have not left Germany for more than 12 consecutive months.
- If any of these requirements is not met (e.g. old passport no longer available or EU Blue Card not issued in Berlin), the State Office for Immigration is responsible.
How to apply
Check whether your EU Blue Card is valid for more than 6 months. If not, apply for an extension instead.
Check whether you can have the transfer done at a citizens'' office or at the State Office for Immigration.
Book an appointment at the citizens'' office or at the State Office for Immigration.
Bring your new passport, old passport, EU Blue Card with supplementary sheet and a biometric passport photo.
Done! After about 4 weeks, your new EU Blue Card will be issued as an electronic residence title and you can pick it up.
Since 01.05.2025 only digital photos are accepted. Learn more
Transfer
- Digital passport photo at self-service terminal6,00 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 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.