EU Blue Card in Poland: complete guide for specialists 2025

Since November 2023, Poland has new rules for issuing Blue Card – they’ve become much simpler and more accessible. The minimum salary was lowered, the list of professions expanded, and processing times reduced. If you’re an IT specialist, engineer, or high-level manager – Blue Card Poland can be your fast track to European permanent residence.

According to the Office for Foreigners, in 2024 the number of issued Blue Cards Poland increased by 340% compared to 2022. Main recipients are specialists from Ukraine, Belarus, and India.

What is Blue Card and who needs it

EU Blue Card (Niebieska Karta UE) is a special residence permit for highly qualified specialists from outside the European Union. It’s like a VIP pass to Europe for professionals.

Main features of Blue Card:

• Valid in all EU countries (except Denmark and Ireland)
• Issued immediately for 3 years (regular card – for 1-2 years)
• Can move to another EU country after 12 months
• Family receives cards automatically
• Fast track to permanent residence – after 5 years

Real case: Maxim, Senior Java Developer from Kyiv, received an offer for 12,000 PLN gross. “I was thinking about a regular residence card, but HR suggested Blue Card Poland. We processed it in 2 months, my wife got a card without work restrictions. Next year we plan to move to Germany through simplified procedure” – he shares.

Who can apply?

According to the new EU Directive 2021/1883, which came into force in Poland on November 27, 2023, criteria became softer:

Important point: now IT specialists can get EU Blue Card even without higher education! 3 years of confirmed experience is enough.

Requirements for candidates in 2025

To get Blue Card Poland, you need to meet several criteria. Let’s analyze each in detail.

1. Education or experience

Option A: Higher education

• Minimum bachelor’s degree (3 years of study)
• Diploma must be recognized in Poland
• Or have apostille + notarized translation

Option B: Professional experience (IT only)

• Minimum 3 years of IT work in the last 7 years
• Confirmation: work books, contracts, certificates
• LinkedIn and GitHub can be additional confirmation

From practice: Andrew, DevOps without diploma, collected portfolio from 5 projects, certificates from 3 employers and recommendations from clients. “Voivode accepted documents without questions, main thing – clearly show experience” – he shares.

2. Employment contract

• Umowa o pracę for full-time
• Minimum for 1 year (better indefinite)
• Position must require high qualifications
• Match with education or experience

Common mistake: some companies offer umowa zlecenie or B2B. For Blue Card only umowa o pracę works!

3. Salary level

This is the key point. Salary must be not lower than established threshold (see next section).

4. Health insurance

Automatically included with umowa o pracę. Employer pays ZUS, which includes health insurance.

5. Place of residence

Need address in Poland: rental agreement or property ownership. Temporary registration (meldunek) mandatory.

Minimum salary for blue card

The most important criterion for Blue Card Poland – salary level. In 2025 the following thresholds apply:

*List of shortage occupations is approved by voivode annually

Important! These are minimum gross rates. You’ll receive about 70-75% net after taxes and ZUS deductions.

What counts as salary?

Only basic salary (wynagrodzenie zasadnicze) counts. NOT counted:

• Bonuses and premiums
• Overtime pay
• Expense compensation
• 13th and 14th salaries
• Benefits (car, apartment, gym memberships)

Real example: Victoria, Product Manager, received offer: 8500 base + 2000 monthly bonus. For Blue Card only 8500 counts – enough for standard category.

How do they verify salary?

Voivode requests from employer:

• Employment contract with stated salary
• PIT-11 for previous year (if worked)
• ZUS RCA certificate about contributions
• Salary account statements for 3 months

Specialists recommend: ask to state exact gross amount in contract, not “according to salary regulations”. This speeds up verification.

Application process: from A to Z

Getting Blue Card Poland goes through several stages. Here’s step-by-step instruction:

Stage 1: Preparation (2-4 weeks)

1. Get job offer
   • Offer must meet salary requirements
   • Position must require high qualifications
2. Check education documents
   • Do nostrification or apostille
   • Translate by sworn translator
3. Collect experience confirmations
   • Certificates from employers on company letterhead
   • Employment contracts with translation

Stage 2: Application submission (1 day)

Documents submitted to voivodeship office at place of residence:

• Warsaw: Mazowiecki Urząd Wojewódzki, ul. Marszałkowska 3/5
• Krakow: Małopolski Urząd Wojewódzki, ul. Basztowa 22
• Wrocław: Dolnośląski Urząd Wojewódzki, pl. Powstańców Warszawy 1

Online registration mandatory! In Warsaw – kolejka.mazowieckie.pl, queue usually 2-3 weeks.

Stage 3: Processing (30-60 days)

After document submission:

1. Get stamp in passport (allows working)
2. Voivode checks documents
3. May request additional certificates
4. Checks employer in ZUS and tax office
5. Makes decision

Life hack: you can track status online by case number on voivodeship website.

Stage 4: Card collection (14 days)

After positive decision:

1. SMS arrives about readiness
2. Book appointment for collection
3. Bring photo and 75 PLN payment
4. Receive card for 3 years

Case from practice: Dmitry, Data Scientist, submitted documents January 15, received decision March 10, collected card March 25. “Total 2.5 months from submission to card in hand – faster than regular residence card” – he notes.

Complete list of documents

To get EU Blue Card prepare the following package:

Basic documents:

1. Application (wniosek) – 4 copies, filled by hand or printed
2. Passport – original + copies of all pages with stamps
3. Photos – 4 pieces 35×45 mm, white background
4. Payment – 440 PLN at submission + 75 for card

Education documents:

• Diploma – original + copy
• Diploma supplement – with grades and hours
• Apostille or nostrification
• Sworn translation to Polish

Work documents:

• Employment contract – original in Polish
• Employer’s statement – about inability to find Polish specialist
• Starost information – foreigner work permit
• Employer’s KRS – extract not older than 3 months

Additional documents:

• Apartment rental agreement or property ownership
• Meldunek – temporary registration
• Health insurance – if not working yet
• Criminal record certificate – from country of origin

Important warning: all foreign documents must be either apostilled or legalized through consulate. Simple copies not accepted!

From work experience: most common reason for document return – missing starost information. Many think it’s not needed for Blue Card, but voivodes require it. Takes 7-14 days, costs 100 PLN.

Advantages over regular residence card

Many ask: why pay more taxes from high salary when you can get regular card? Here are real advantages of Blue Card Poland:

Mobility within EU

Main advantage of EU Blue Card – possibility to move to another European Union country. After 12 months in Poland you can:

• Apply for Blue Card in Germany, France, Netherlands
• Simplified procedure – without labor market test
• Family moves automatically
• Period in Poland counts for permanent residence in new country

Real example: Alexander worked in Warsaw 18 months with Blue Card. Got offer from Berlin for 85k euro. “Applied for documents in Berlin, got German Blue Card in a month. If I had regular Polish card – would have to start from scratch” – he shares.

Family reunification with Blue Card

One of main advantages of Blue Card Poland – simplified procedure for family.

Who can come?

• Spouse (official marriage)
• Minor children (under 18)
• Adult dependent children (students, disabled)

Family members’ rights:

• Work without restrictions – no separate permit needed
• Run business – can open JDG
• Education – same conditions as Poles
• Medicine – full access to NFZ

Procedure for family:

1. Submit documents together with main applicant or later
2. No financial proof required (main applicant’s salary enough)
3. Cards issued for same period – 3 years
4. Cost – 440 PLN per application + 75 PLN per card for each person

From practice: Petrov family – husband got Blue Card as Senior Developer. “Wife submitted documents a month after me. Got card with open labor market access. Now works as marketer without any additional permits” – Igor shares experience.

Renewal and path to permanent residence

After getting Blue Card Poland it’s important to understand further perspectives.

Blue Card renewal

30 days before expiry submit renewal application:

• If same job – renew for 3 years automatically
• If changed job – check new salary
• Fewer documents – no need for diploma and apostille
• Processing time – 30 days

Path to permanent residence (EU long-term resident card)

After 5 years with Blue Card can apply for permanent residence. Specifics:

• Total EU period counts (Poland + other countries)
• Breaks up to 12 consecutive months and 18 months total allowed
• No Polish language exam needed (for regular card – need B1)
• Permanent residence valid indefinitely

Experts advise: keep exact record of all departures from Poland. For permanent residence need to prove absence less than allowed period.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I get Blue Card for remote work?

Yes, if employer is registered in Poland and pays Polish taxes. Many IT companies establish Polish branches specifically for this. Important: contract must have Polish employer address.

What to do if fired from job?

You have 3 months to find new job. Must notify voivode within 15 days of dismissal. New job must meet Blue Card requirements for salary and qualifications.

Can I work two jobs with Blue Card?

Yes, but main job must meet Blue Card conditions. Second job can be anything – freelance, umowa zlecenie, even own business. Main thing – keep main job.

Does work experience in Poland count for pension in Ukraine?

Yes, Poland and Ukraine have social security agreement. Experience adds up, but you’ll receive pension from country where you worked. Keep all ZUS documents!

Can I change Blue Card to regular residence card?

Technically yes, but it’s pointless – you’ll lose all advantages. If salary falls below Blue Card minimum, voivode may change card type at renewal.

Do I need to pay double taxes?

No, if you’re Polish tax resident (stay more than 183 days per year). Poland has agreements to avoid double taxation with most countries. In Ukraine, Polish income is not taxed.