EU Blue Card (Niebieska karta UE) in Poland in 2025: a complete guide for Ukrainians

If you are a professional with experience, education and a desire to work legally in a stable European country, the Blue Card in Poland in 2025 is one of the most convenient options. It not only allows you to legalise your status on the basis of employment, but also gives you access to many rights previously available only to Polish citizens or EU residents. Find out more about how to apply for an EU Blue Card in Poland, who is eligible, and other important details

Legal assistance on migration issues for Ukrainians in Ukraine and abroad

GET

In 2025, Poland updated the rules for issuing the EU Blue Card, a special type of residence permit for highly qualified foreigners who wish to work in the country. Thanks to these changes, the procedure has become simpler and the opportunities have increased. If you are Ukrainian and plan to build a career in Poland, you should pay attention to this option for legalisation.

In this article, we have compiled all the relevant requirements, innovations and tips so that you can confidently navigate the process from preparing documents to obtaining a permit.

Need help with migration issues?

Contact the professional lawyers at Visit Ukraine for advice!

What is an EU Blue Card and how does it differ from a regular residence permit?

The EU Blue Card is a temporary residence permit issued to third-country nationals (i.e. non-EU citizens) to work in a highly skilled profession. This status was first introduced at the EU level in 2009, but each country adapts it to its own legal conditions.

In Poland, the Blue Card was introduced in 2012, and on 1 June 2025, important updates came into force aimed at improving access to this permit and extending the rights of its holders.

The main difference between the Blue Card and a standard residence permit is greater stability, faster integration, expanded opportunities for employment, family legalisation and further obtaining a permanent residence permit or EU resident status.

Who is eligible for a Blue Card in Poland?

The main target group for this permit is professionals with higher education who have proven qualifications, work experience and have signed a contract with a Polish employer. To apply for a card in 2025, a person must have a signed employment contract or other civil law contract with a company in Poland for at least six months. This is a new rule, as previously a minimum one-year contract was required.

Another mandatory requirement is the level of salary. In 2025, it cannot be lower than PLN 12,272.58 gross per month, which is 150% of the average salary in the country's economy for the previous year. This protects workers from exploitation and at the same time guarantees that the state will attract truly sought-after personnel.

Professional experience also plays an important role. The standard requirement is at least five years of work in the relevant field. However, in 2025, the Polish government published a separate list of professions for which three years of experience gained no later than seven years prior

to application is sufficient.

This list includes:

– Programmers, mobile application developers.

– Analysts and database administrators.

– Cybersecurity, network engineers.

– IT department managers.

– AR/VR and forensic IT specialists.

– Medical IT specialists.

– Other ICT-related professions.

A complete list of professions can be found at the link.

What documents do I need to prepare for a Blue Card?

To apply for a Blue Card in Poland, you must compile a complete set of documents. Below is a list of the main documents required in 2025:

– Completed application for temporary residence. A standard form that must be submitted for all types of residence cards. It must be submitted in person and signed by the applicant.

– Appendix No. 1. To be completed by the employer. Contains information about the company, employment conditions, type of contract, salary and employee responsibilities.

– Appendix No. 2. Completed by the applicant together with the main application. Contains personal data, information about qualifications, place of residence, plans for the stay.

– Valid foreign passport. Copies of all pages with visas, stamps and personal data must be provided. The original must be presented upon submission.

– Photographs. Four colour photographs, 3.5×4.5 cm in size, taken no more than six months prior to submission, in accordance with visa photo requirements.

– Employment contract or agreement. It must be concluded for a period of at least 6 months. The document must clearly state the salary (not less than 150% of the national average), the scope of duties and the work schedule.

– Documents confirming education or professional experience. This can be a higher education diploma (with a certified translation into Polish) or a certificate from previous employers confirming experience in the relevant field (minimum 5 years or 3 years for IT professions).

– Documents confirming residence in Poland. For example, a rental agreement, registration (meldunek), a confirmation letter from the landlord, etc.

– Medical insurance. Confirmation of participation in state insurance (ZUS) or a private health insurance policy covering all basic services.

– Confirmation of payment of state fees. The fee is PLN 440 for the application and PLN 50 for the plastic card. Receipts should be included in the application package.

– Opinia starosty (if necessary). If required by law, a statement from the mayor confirming that there are no candidates on the labour market must also be submitted. However, in most cases, this requirement has been waived or does not apply to the Blue Card.

Please note! The office may request additional documents depending on the specific case. It is always a good idea to have the originals of all submitted documents with you for verification.

Preparing documents is the most important stage, and it is here that mistakes are most often made, which can result in your application being rejected or delayed for months. If you don't want to take any risks, it is worth seeking help from specialists.

Visit Ukraine lawyers specialise in migration procedures for Ukrainians in Poland and know all the nuances of applying for a Blue Card under the new 2025 rules. They will check your documents, help you fill out the application correctly, prepare it for submission to the office and accompany you until you receive your permit.

Where and how to apply for a Blue Card?

The application for a Blue Card must be submitted in person to the office for foreigners (voivodship office) at the place of work, residence or location of the employer. Registration is usually done online, through the website of the relevant voivodeship.

After submitting the application, you must undergo a biometric data collection procedure, after which the applicant may receive a stamp in their passport or a certificate, which legalises their stay in Poland for the duration of the application process.

According to the law, the application process should take at least one month, but in practice it usually takes several months. At the same time, experience shows that Blue Card applications are often processed faster than applications for other types of residence permits.

Don't want to miss important updates and useful articles? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter!

How long is the Blue Card valid and when does it need to be renewed?

The validity of the Blue Card depends on the duration of the contract. If it is concluded for a minimum of 6 months, the card will be valid for 9 months (contract + three additional months). The maximum validity period is three years. After that, the permit can be extended by submitting a new application without waiting for the previous card to expire.

What should you do if your employer or working conditions change?

According to the new rules, after two years of working on the basis of a Blue Card, it is permitted to change your employer, position or even industry without having to obtain a new permit. The only requirement is to notify the authorities within 15 days. Before the end of the two-year period, any changes must be agreed with the provincial governor.

It is also important to know that the card may be revoked if the person is not working in their field, has significant breaches of contract, or if the new employer has tax or social security debts. After dismissal, if you have already worked on the card for two years, you are entitled to six months to find a new job. This is twice as long as was previously allowed.

What does the Blue Card give the applicant's family?

One of the biggest advantages of the Blue Card is the extended possibilities for legalising the family. The spouse can obtain a temporary residence permit with access to the labour market — i.e. without the need for a separate work permit.

The cardholder's children are entitled to attend public schools in Poland under the same conditions as Polish citizens.

If the cardholder moves to Poland from another EU country, family members can also legalise their stay in Poland within 30 days of arrival. This rule greatly simplifies family reunification and integration.

What has changed in 2025: new rules for the Blue Card

On 1 June 2025, major changes came into force in Poland affecting both new applicants for the EU Blue Card and those who already have this status. These innovations are part of the process of harmonising Polish legislation with European standards and are intended to make the stay of highly qualified foreigners in the country more stable, convenient and flexible.

– Reduction of the minimum contract term. Now, a contract for only six months is sufficient to obtain a Blue Card, whereas previously a minimum of one year was required. This significantly facilitates entry into the system for those who receive an offer for a trial period or project work.

– Simplification of professional experience requirements. For some specialities, particularly in the field of information technology, three years of proven experience gained within the last seven years is sufficient. The Polish government has published a separate list of such professions, which has significantly expanded the pool of potential candidates.

– The opportunity to start your own business as a Blue Card holder. Foreigners can now register as sole traders in Poland, which was previously restricted. However, it remains a prerequisite to fulfil the main employment contract on the basis of which the card was issued. It is not yet possible to switch to self-employment entirely.

– Mobility within the EU. Two new concepts have been introduced into the law: short-term and long-term mobility. This means that a Blue Card holder issued in Poland or another EU country can work in another EU country for up to 90 days without having to obtain a new permit. The activity must be related to the profession, e.g. participation in conferences, negotiations, training, marketing or educational work, etc.

– The mandatory linking of the card to a specific employer, position or salary has been abolished. This information is no longer recorded in the permit itself, which makes it easier to change jobs, especially after the first two years of residence. The cardholder must inform the voivode of any changes, but is not required to go through the re-permit procedure.

– Extension of the period for finding new employment after dismissal. Now, up to six months are allowed for this (for those who already have two years of experience under the Blue Card). A simplified mechanism for obtaining a Polish residence permit has also been introduced for those who previously had a Blue Card in another EU country. The consideration of such applications should take no more than 30 days, and in case of refusal, the applicant has the right to appeal within 60 days.

Thanks to these innovations, in 2025, the Blue Card has become not only a means of legal employment, but also a tool for mobility, stability and development for Ukrainians who plan to build a life in Poland or the EU as a whole.

Need help with applying for a Blue Card?

If you are unsure of your abilities or do not want to waste time on minor mistakes, it is better to consult with specialists. On the Visit Ukraine portal, you can book a consultation with experienced migration lawyers who will help you assess your chances, prepare a package of documents, submit your application correctly the first time, and accompany you at every stage of the process.

Book a consultation and start a new chapter in your life in Europe with confidence — with the support of professionals!

Reminder! The waiting time for a residence card in Poland depends on the region, the type of document and the workload of the provinces. How long to wait for a residence card in Poland in 2025, current deadlines by province and tips for applicants — follow the link.

Photo: Dreamstime.com

Want to know more? Read the latest news and useful materials about Ukraine and the world in the News section.

Our recommendation for a safe and comfortable trip: 

Visit Ukraine Insurance - insurance for a safe stay abroad without unnecessary expenses;

Green Card - compulsory car insurance for traveling abroad;

Visit Ukraine Tickets - book tickets for buses, trains, and airplanes to/from Ukraine and between cities around the world;

Private Lawyer service - professional legal support on visa and migration issues;

Visit Ukraine Merch - buy patriotic clothing and accessories with worldwide delivery.

© 2018-2025, Visit Ukraine. Use, copying or reprinting of materials on this site is permitted only with a link (hyperlink for online publications) to Visit Ukraine.

All rights reserved.