Etymology

blue card

Today it means: An EU-wide work permit allowing high-skilled non-EU citizens to work and live in any country within the European Union, excluding Denmark and Ireland, which are not subject to the proposal. Full definition →

First used 2009
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The story

The name of the EU work permit has been inspired by the United States' green card, blue making reference to the main colour of the EU flag. The current card design is not based on blue, however.

First known use, by meaning

  • from 2009 An EU-wide work permit allowing high-skilled non-EU citizens to work and live in any country within the European Union, excluding Denmark and Ireland, which are not subject to the proposal.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.