# Germany EU Blue Card for Indians: Categories, Fee and Steps

> How Indians apply for a German EU Blue Card visa through the Consular Services Portal, which of the three Blue Card categories fits, fees in INR, and where to confirm the salary threshold.

_Published: 2026-11-03 · Reading time: 5 min · Words: 1135_

## TL;DR

The EU Blue Card is applied for from India as a German national (D) visa through the Consular Services Portal, followed by an on-site appointment at the German mission for your place of residence. There are three Blue Card categories, the fee is 75 EUR / 8300 INR for adults, and the current salary threshold must be checked on the German Missions national visa page.

## Key takeaways

- The Blue Card is a national (D) visa applied for through the Consular Services Portal.
- Three categories: Blue Card (EU) with a university degree, with a tertiary education qualification, and for IT specialists.
- The on-site appointment is with the German mission responsible for your place of residence, not any VFS centre.
- National visa fee: 75 EUR / 8300 INR for adults, 37,50 EUR / 4200 INR for under-18s; not reimbursed if refused.
- Salary threshold from 1 January 2026: EUR 50,700 a year, or EUR 45,934.20 for MINT and other shortage professions.

**Indians apply for the EU Blue Card as a German national (D) visa: create an application on the Consular Services Portal, choose your Blue Card category (university degree, tertiary education qualification, or IT specialist), upload documents, then attend an on-site appointment at the German mission for your place of residence. The fee is 75 EUR / 8300 INR.**

## Article

The Blue Card sits in a different system from the Schengen tourist and business visas most Indians know. Schengen files go through VFS centres and can be lodged anywhere in India; national visas, including the Blue Card, start online on the Consular Services Portal (CSP) and end at an appointment with the mission covering where you live. Fees and process details below are as published by the German Missions in India and VFS Global, checked on 2026-10-10.

### Three Blue Card categories on the Consular Services Portal
The CSP lists the Blue Card as three separate national visa categories. Pick the one that matches your qualification, because the document checklist follows the category. The same portal also handles study, vocational training and family reunion visas, so make sure you start in a Blue Card category rather than one of those.

CSP categoryMatches you ifChecklist to followBlue Card (EU) with a university degreeYour highest qualification is a university degreeEmbassy Employment checklist, uploaded via CSPBlue Card (EU) with a tertiary education qualificationYour qualification is a tertiary education qualification other than a university degreeEmbassy Employment checklist, uploaded via CSPBlue Card (EU) for IT specialistYou are applying as an IT specialistEmbassy Employment checklist, uploaded via CSPWhichever category you choose, keep your original degree certificate or final convocation certificate for your highest qualification ready. VFS Bangalore notes that student and employment applicants present it, and it is returned after verification.

### The salary threshold: where to find the current figure
The Blue Card is tied to a minimum gross salary in your German job offer. From 1 January 2026, German Missions in India set it at EUR 50,700 a year for most professions and EUR 45,934.20 a year for MINT and other shortage professions (for example natural scientists, mathematicians, engineers, doctors and IT professionals). Figures repeated on blogs and forums can be out of date.

To check it yourself:

- open the German Missions national visa page and its Blue Card information;
- compare the threshold with the gross annual salary stated in your employment contract, not your take-home pay;
- check whether any different condition applies to the IT specialist category, which the CSP lists separately.
If your offer falls short, look at the other employment categories listed further down rather than applying under the Blue Card.

### Step-by-step application from India
- Confirm the category from the three above and check the salary condition on the official page.
- Register on the Consular Services Portal and start a national visa application in the matching Blue Card category.
- Upload your documents through the CSP, following the embassy's Employment checklist.
- Book the on-site appointment with the German mission responsible for your place of residence. Unlike Schengen visas, you cannot pick any centre in India.
- Attend in person with your passport and originals, including your degree certificate, and pay the fee in INR.
- Wait for the decision and plan your joining date around it. There is no online tracking for national visas; German Missions publish no fixed processing time, say it may take several months, and do not answer status inquiries in the first three months.

### National visa fees for you and your family
ApplicantFee (German Missions)NoteOver 1875 EUR / 8300 INRVFS lists EUR 75.21 / INR 7600Under 1837,50 EUR / 4200 INRApplicants under 18The fee is payable in INR at the exchange rate on the day of your on-site appointment. It is a processing fee, so it is not reimbursed if the visa is refused. Family members apply in their own CSP categories: Family reunion - joining a spouse, and Family reunion - children joining parents.

### Blue Card or another German work route?
The CSP lists several employment categories next to the Blue Card. If the Blue Card does not fit, one of these may:

- Taking up employment as a skilled worker with professional training;
- Taking up employment with work experience;
- Taking up employment as an academic;
- Conducting a qualification analysis;
- Taking up employment as part of a placement agreement;
- Opportunity card, a separate category in the CSP list.
Each has its own checklist on the German Missions site, so read the one for your category before uploading.

### Mistakes that slow a Blue Card application
- Booking a Schengen slot at VFS. The VFS service charge of INR 1933 is pre-paid when booking a Schengen appointment; a Blue Card needs a national visa appointment for the mission responsible for your place of residence.
- Choosing the wrong Blue Card category, for example the university degree category when your qualification is a tertiary education qualification of another type.
- Leaving originals at home. The degree certificate is verified in person.
- Relying on a salary figure from an old article instead of the official page.
- Budgeting with the Schengen fee. A Schengen visa costs adults 90 EUR / 9,900 INR, while the national visa fee for a Blue Card is 75 EUR / 8300 INR, paid in INR at the on-site appointment.
- Booking non-refundable flights or resigning before the visa is issued.
For Schengen visit visas, fees and VFS centres in Germany's Indian network, see our Germany visa guide for Indian citizens.

If you need to travel to Germany for interviews or meetings before relocating, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, travel itineraries and cover letters for Schengen visa files, with packages from INR 1,000 for a flight reservation to INR 3,000 for reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter. WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or use our contact page.

### Frequently asked questions

#### How long does a German Blue Card visa take from India?
German Missions in India publish no fixed time: their FAQ says national visas may take several months depending on the category, and status inquiries are not answered within the first three months. If your employer obtains a fast-track pre-approval, the mission offers an appointment within three weeks and as a rule decides within three weeks of a complete application.

#### Is the German national visa fee refunded if I am refused?
No. The 75 EUR / 8300 INR fee for adults is a processing fee and is not reimbursed if the visa is refused. It is paid in INR at the exchange rate on the day of the on-site appointment.

#### Can I submit my Blue Card application at any VFS centre in India?
No. The any-centre rule applies to Schengen short-stay visas. National visas, including the Blue Card, are submitted at an on-site appointment with the German mission responsible for your place of residence.

#### Do I need an airport transit visa if I fly via Germany?
No. Since June 2026 Indian nationals no longer need an airport transit visa for a layover at a German airport.

## Steps

1. **Choose your Blue Card category** — Pick university degree, tertiary education qualification or IT specialist, matching your highest qualification.
2. **Check the salary condition** — Confirm the current Blue Card salary threshold on the German Missions national visa page and compare it with the gross annual salary in your contract.
3. **Apply on the Consular Services Portal** — Register on the CSP and start a national visa application in the matching Blue Card category.
4. **Upload documents** — Upload the documents on the embassy's Employment checklist through the CSP.
5. **Book the on-site appointment** — Book with the German mission responsible for your place of residence; unlike Schengen visas, you cannot choose any centre in India.
6. **Attend and pay** — Bring your passport and original degree certificate, and pay 75 EUR / 8300 INR in INR at the day's exchange rate.

## FAQ

### How long does a German Blue Card visa take from India?

German Missions in India publish no fixed time: their FAQ says national visas may take several months depending on the category, and status inquiries are not answered within the first three months. If your employer obtains a fast-track pre-approval, the mission offers an appointment within three weeks and as a rule decides within three weeks of a complete application.

### Is the German national visa fee refunded if I am refused?

No. The 75 EUR / 8300 INR fee for adults is a processing fee and is not reimbursed if the visa is refused. It is paid in INR at the exchange rate on the day of the on-site appointment.

### Can I submit my Blue Card application at any VFS centre in India?

No. The any-centre rule applies to Schengen short-stay visas. National visas, including the Blue Card, are submitted at an on-site appointment with the German mission responsible for your place of residence.

### Do I need an airport transit visa if I fly via Germany?

No. Since June 2026 Indian nationals no longer need an airport transit visa for a layover at a German airport.

## Sources

1. [German Missions in India - National Visa](https://india.diplo.de/in-en/service/2755482-2755482) — German Missions in India
2. [German Missions in India - Visa services](https://india.diplo.de/in-en/service/2633540-2633540) — German Missions in India
3. [VFS Global - Apply for VISA to Germany In Bengaluru](https://www.vfsglobal.com/one-pager/germany/india/bangalore/english/) — VFS Global