EU Blue Card: conditions, salary threshold and procedure

The EU Blue Card is a temporary residence and work permit for specialists from outside the EU. Instead of examining the labour market, the office checks two thresholds: an annual salary from the contract of at least 150% of the average salary in the national economy, and higher education or documented professional experience.

What conditions must be met for the EU Blue Card

Both conditions must be met at the same time:

• Salary. The annual gross salary resulting from the contract cannot be lower than 150% of the average salary in the national economy, announced by the President of the Central Statistical Office (GUS) for the year preceding the application.
• Qualifications. Higher education or, instead of a diploma, professional experience at a comparable level.
• Contract. The application is based on a contract with an employer in Poland, since it determines the salary and the period of employment.

The threshold is not a fixed amount. It changes every year together with the average salary, so before signing the contract check the value announced by GUS for the previous year and multiply it by 1.5.

Experience instead of a diploma: how many years

When the foreigner does not have higher education, the regulations allow for documented professional experience:

The experience must be documented, for example with certificates from previous employers. Gathering these documents usually takes the longest, so start with them.

How it differs from a standard work permit

The holder of an EU Blue Card does not need a separate work permit or a declaration. The card combines residence and work in a single document, and the proceedings are conducted by the voivode, as with other permits described in the article on legalizing a foreigner's stay in Poland.

In the past, the advantage of this path was the lack of a labour market test. Since 1 June 2025, the starost's opinion is no longer required for work permits either, as described in the article on the labour market test. What remains different, then, are the thresholds: the card makes sense where salary and qualifications exceed them. For production and warehouse positions, the single permit for residence and work or a type A work permit is usually the right choice.

Who applies and how

The foreigner applies in person, not the employer. The procedure looks like this:

1. The employer and the foreigner sign a contract with a salary above the threshold.
2. The foreigner gathers documents confirming qualifications: a diploma or certificates of experience.
3. The foreigner submits the application electronically, in the manner indicated by the voivodeship office, no later than on the last day of legal stay in Poland.
4. After a positive decision, they collect the residence card.

Submitting the application from abroad is not possible, so the foreigner must be legally staying in Poland on the day of submission. The employer prepares the contract and the documents concerning the company, so agree on the division of tasks before recruitment.

How long it takes and how long it is issued for

The deadline for issuing the decision runs from the submission of a complete application, and the voivodeship office confirms the current status. In practice, the wait is often long and can reach several months, depending on the workload of the voivodeship office and the completeness of the documents.

The card is issued for the period of employment from the contract extended by 3 months, but not for more than 3 years. A 2-year contract therefore gives a card for 2 years and 3 months, and a 5-year contract gives a card for 3 years.

Frequently asked questions

Can the employer submit the application on behalf of the employee?

No. The foreigner submits the application in person. The employer is responsible for the contract and the documents concerning the company that go into the application.

Is a document from the employer needed for the application?

Yes. The basis is the contract with the employer in Poland, since it is from this that the office reads the salary and the period of employment on which the card's validity depends.

What happens if the salary drops below the threshold?

The salary threshold is a condition for issuing the card, so a reduction below 150% of the average salary undermines the basis for the permit. Before changing the contract, consult the voivodeship office that issued the decision.

Can you easily change employer with an EU Blue Card?

The card is based on a specific contract, so changing employer is not a formality. Before the employee starts work at a new company, the conditions of the change are confirmed individually by the voivodeship office.

Can the application be submitted before arriving in Poland?

No. The application is submitted in Poland, no later than on the last day of legal stay. The foreigner must first enter on another basis, for example a visa.

The rules on residence and employment of foreign nationals change often, and much depends on citizenship, the basis of stay and the situation of the particular person. This text describes the general course of the procedure. Before filing documents, confirm the current state of affairs at the voivodeship office.