EU Blue Card: Conditions and Duration of Authorization

In Poland, the term „EU Blue Card” refers to a temporary residence permit issued for the purpose of working in a highly skilled profession. This is a colloquial term: in the Act on Foreigners, the permit is described in Articles 127–129. Below you will find what the regulations say about the conditions, the duration for which the permit is issued, and the situations in which one of the conditions does not apply. More information about the permit itself is available on the page about Blue Card.

Remember: the provincial governor decides whether to grant a permit, and the text of the regulations alone does not determine the outcome of any case.

Who is this permit intended for?

The permit under Article 127 of the Act on Foreigners applies to situations where the purpose of a foreigner’s stay in Poland is to work in a profession requiring high qualifications. That alone is not enough: the provision lists several conditions and states that they must be met in total. This means that fulfilling one or two of them does not replace the others.

Condition 1: A contract for at least 6 months

A foreign national must have a contract for a period of at least 6 months. The provision lists three types of contracts: an employment contract, a contract for specific work, and a civil law contract under which a foreign national performs work by providing services or remaining in a service relationship (Article 127(1)(a) of the Act on Foreigners). So be sure to check the duration of your contract before you start preparing your documents.

Condition Two: Qualifications

Here, the provision distinguishes between two situations, depending on whether the profession is regulated.

Regulated profession: The foreign national possesses the formal qualifications and meets the other requirements necessary to practice such a profession. This reference pertains to Article 5(4) of the Act of December 22, 2015, on the Principles of Recognition of Professional Qualifications Acquired in European Union Member States (Article 127(1)(b)).
A profession that is not a regulated profession: The foreign national possesses higher professional qualifications necessary to perform work in this occupation (Article 127, point 1, subparagraph c).

Which of these points applies to you depends on whether your profession is a regulated profession.

Condition 3: Health Insurance

A foreign national must have health insurance as defined by the Act of August 27, 2004, on Health Care Services Financed from Public Funds, or a confirmation that the insurer covers the costs of medical treatment in Poland (Article 127(1)(d)). The provision thus offers two options, connected by the word „or.”.

Condition 4: A profession not included on the list

A foreign national is to perform work in an occupation that is not included on the list of occupations referred to in Article 31(3) of the Act of March 20, 2025, on the Conditions for Authorizing the Employment of Foreign Nationals in the Territory of the Republic of Poland (Article 127(2)). If your occupation is on this list, this condition is not met, unless one of the situations described below in Article 129 applies.

Condition 5: Compensation

The annual gross salary, which is calculated based on the monthly or annual salary specified in the contract, may not be less than the equivalent of 150% the amount of the average wage in the national economy. This refers to the amount from the year preceding the submission of the permit application, as announced by the President of the Central Statistical Office (GUS) (Article 127, point 3). We do not specify a particular amount in zlotys. Please note that the provision refers to the salary specified in the contract.

For what period is the permit issued?

Article 128 of the Act states that a permit is granted for a period that is longer by 3 months from the start of employment, but not longer than 3 years. There are two limits here: the permit extends beyond the period of employment by 3 months, but it cannot exceed 3 years. The permit period is therefore linked to the period of employment.

When the requirement for an occupation not on the list does not apply

Article 129 specifies the situations in which Article 127(2)—that is, the condition regarding the list of professions—does not apply. This applies exclusively to that one condition; the others remain in effect. The provision lists three cases connected by the word „or,” so any one of them is sufficient:

The foreign national, immediately prior to submitting the application, held a work permit, a temporary residence and work permit, or a permit under Article 127, with the same employer and in the same position (Article 129(1)),
the foreign national had already been legally employed in Poland for a period of 2 years under a permit issued pursuant to Article 127 (Article 129(2)),
A foreign national meets the conditions for exemption from the requirement to hold a work permit, as specified in separate regulations (Article 129(3)).

What You Can Check First

Before speaking with an employer or preparing your documents, review the conditions listed in Article 127 one by one: contract duration, type of qualifications, health insurance, occupation as listed, and salary level. Employers can find information about assigning work on the page at work permits for foreign nationals and about Statement on the Assignment of Work. Information about ECOC service prices is available on the website price list.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the EU Blue Card a payment card or a Polish Card?

No. The „EU Blue Card” is the colloquial name for a temporary residence permit issued for the purpose of working in a highly skilled profession, as described in Article 127 of the Act on Foreigners. It is a different concept from the Polish Card.

Is it sufficient to meet some of the conditions set forth in Article 127?

The provision states that all conditions must be met. The exception under Article 129 applies only to the condition in point 2—that is, a profession not included on the list—and not to the other conditions.

How long is the permit valid for?

Pursuant to Article 128, for a period 3 months longer than the period of employment, but not longer than 3 years.

What kind of contract do you need?

Article 127(1)(a) lists an employment contract, a contract for work, and a civil law contract under which a foreign national performs work, provides services, or is in an employment relationship. The contract must be concluded for a period of at least 6 months.

Who decides whether to grant a permit?

The provincial governor decides on temporary residence permits. ECOC assists with preparing the necessary documentation, but does not influence the authorities’ decision.

Do you want to organize the documents needed for the permit under Article 127? Visit the website Contact or call: 737 737 736. ECOC provides assistance with documentation related to residence and employment, and the decision is made by the provincial governor.