EU Blue Card 2026: Required Salary and How to Calculate It Correctly

The EU Blue Card is a key residence permit for highly qualified workers from non-EU countries. One of the main conditions for obtaining it is the minimum salary stated in the employment contract (or a future employment agreement). This is where many companies and employees make mistakes. The required salary changes every year, so it’s important to keep track of its development.

How the minimum salary for the Blue Card is calculated

The salary must be at least 1.5 times the average gross salary in the Czech Republic. This average wage is determined annually by a decree of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.

The newly set minimum salary for Blue Card holders is always valid:

- from May 1st of the given year

- for a period of 12 months

What is the minimum salary for Blue Card holders in 2026?

For the period from May 1st 2026 to April 30th 2027, the calculation is as follows:

- Average gross monthly salary in the Czech Republic (2025): CZK 49,215

- Coefficient: 1.5

- Minimum salary for the Blue Card: CZK 73,823 gross per month

Important!

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For Blue Card purposes, the minimum salary refers to the basic gross salary stated in the contract, excluding any bonuses or allowances.

It’s equally important to remember that Blue Card holders must meet this minimum salary throughout their entire stay in the Czech Republic. Not even for a single day can their salary fall below the legal threshold.

For comparison, in the previous period the threshold was CZK 69,247 gross per month. This shows a year-on-year increase, which has been a consistent trend.

What this means for employers

The increase is not just a formality. In practice, you should immediately check:

- Do Blue Card holders’ salaries meet the new minimum?

- Are employment contracts set correctly?

- Are you accounting for the new threshold in recruitment?

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If the salary does not meet the requirement, you essentially have two options:

- Increase the salary to the required level

- Change the type of residence permit (most commonly to an Employee Card)

What to watch out for

Failure to meet the salary requirement can lead to unpleasant consequences:

- Rejection of a Blue Card application or its extension

- Legal and financial penalties for both employer and employee

Summary

From May 2026, the new minimum salary for the Blue Card is CZK 73,823 per month.
This limit will be valid until April 30th 2027.

If you employ foreign workers or plan to recruit from abroad, it’s worth keeping these figures under control and ideally planning ahead.

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