What is a Blue Card and what it gives — how to get a Niebieska karta UE in Poland without refusal: requirements, conditions, documents

• umowa o pracę (labor contract);
• umowa o pracę nakładczą (home-based labor);
• umowa cywilnoprawna (civil law contract). This group includes umowa zlecenia и umowa o dzieło - it is explicitly designated in the new "Ustawie o rynku pracy i służbach zatrudnienia" as types of "innej pracy zarobkowej" on the basis of civil law contracts.

In order to obtain a Blue Card, you must prove that the foreigner has the qualifications to work in the chosen profession.

There are two scenarios at play here:

1. Regulated professions

If the profession is regulated (e.g. doctor, nurse, pharmacist, lawyer, architect, accountant-auditor), the candidate is obliged to have the right to perform it in Poland. This means fulfilling additional conditions stipulated by Polish law:

• nostrification of diploma or confirmation of qualification,
• entry in the relevant professional register,
• membership in a self-governing organization (np. izba lekarska, adwokacka, architektów),
• a separate authorization to perform the profession.

Without these conditions being met, a Blue Card for a regulated profession will not be issued.

2. Unregulated occupations

If the profession is not regulated, it is necessary to confirm "wyższe kwalifikacacje zawodowe" (Art. 3 and Art. 127 of the Ustawy o cudzoziemcach). The law provides for two ways:

• a diploma of higher education of at least 3 years' duration, or
• qualifications proven by work experience.

Work experience instead of a diploma

Ustawa o cudzoziemiemcach (Art. 3) allows replacing a diploma with work experience, but with different requirements:

• 3 years of experience in the last 7 years - if the profession is included in the minister's list (MSWiA, Monitor Polski 2025 poz. 549);
• 5 years of experience - if the profession is not on this list, but it is on the Klasyfikacji zawodów i specjalności (Dz.U. 2025 poz. 620).

List of occupations under art. 138a

The list shall be approved by the Minister of Internal Affairs and administration and is published in Monitor Polski. It complies with Annex I to Directive (EU) 2021/1883.

It includes, but is not limited to, such groups (as classified by ISCO):

• managers and ICT specialists (system analysts, programmers, database and network administrators, telecommunication engineers),
• engineers (electrical engineering, electronics, construction, mechanics, chemistry, ecology),
• Science and math professionals (physicists, mathematicians, data analysts),
• doctors, dentists, pharmacists, nurses, midwives,
• middle and high school teachers,
• architects, urbanists, finance and business analysis specialists.

• Mandatory insurance in NFZ (e.g. at umowa o pracę or umowa zlecenia, when contributions are paid);
• Voluntary agreement with NFZ (if there is no compulsory title);
• Private policyThis is exactly the "proof of coverage" that the law refers to).

Only third countries (e.g. Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia, India) can apply for the Blue Card.

Polish, EU, EEA and Swiss nationals - can't because they already have the right to work without restriction.

A holder of a Blue Card issued in Poland may temporarily perform professional activities in another EU country until 90 days in any 180-day period (art. 3 pkt 7ha, Ustawa o cudzoziemiemcach, Dz.U. 2025 poz. 1079.

No additional national work permits or visas are required.

This is convenient, for example, for business trips, temporary projects, meetings with clients in another EU country.

After 12 months of Blue Card residence in the first EU country (e.g. Poland), the cardholder is entitled to move to the second EU country. Entry and legal stay there is possible with a valid Blue Card issued in the first country and a passport (art. 21 ust. 1, Dyrektywa (UE) 2021/1883).

However, the Blue Card holder must apply for a new card in the second country as soon as possible, but no later than 1 month after entry. The application must be accompanied by documents proving that the conditions for the Blue Card in the new country have been met. Member States may determine whether the applicant is a foreigner or an employer (art. 21 ust. 3).

It is only possible to work in the second country on the basis of the "old" Blue Card during the transition period: the right to work is retained No later than 30 days after the filing of a complete application. A separate work permit does not need to be obtained, as the legal basis is the fact of applying for a local Blue Card (art. 21 ust. 2-3).

The family of a Blue Card holder is also entitled to accompany him/her when moving to a second country and to issue their cards according to the simplified rules established for family members (art. 22 Dyrektywy).

Family members of a Blue Card holder receive a "reunification" residence card immediately, without waiting for 2 years of residence in Poland and can work without a separate zezwolenia na pracę. 

A Blue Card holder may, in addition to the main employment under an employment contract, carry on additional activities as a JDG (sole proprietorship/FPO).
The conditions are the same as for Polish citizens (art. 15 ust. 4, Dyrektywa (UE) 2021/1883).

Blue Card holders can add up the periods of residence under this card in different EU countries.

Application for residency is made in the country where the last 2 years of Blue Card residency were spent.

Loyal absence policy (art. 16 ust. 3, Dyrektywa (UE) 2021/1883):

• it is permissible to be absent up to 12 months in a row,
• total sum of absences over 5 years - up to 18 months.

The foreigner only needs to notify the voivode of the termination of employment or change of employer within 15 days (new art. 134).

Blue Card in Poland remains valid even after losing your job. The law allows you to be unemployed:

• before 3 monthsIf the alien has held a Blue Card for less than 2 years,
• before 6 monthsif he has owned it for 2 years or more (art. 134 ust. 1, Ustawa o cudzoziemcach).

The following conditions must be met to qualify for this status:

• 5 years of legal and continuous residence in the EU on the basis of a legal residence permit.
• Stable and regular income - the income should cover the costs of living in Poland without having to apply for social assistance.
• Adequate housing - availability of a place of residence (rent, ownership, lease agreement).
• Health insurance - Compulsory NFZ insurance or private insurance to cover all costs.
• Knowledge of Polish - it is necessary to pass the state examination for level B1 or present a document exempting from the examination (e.g. Polish diploma of completed education).
• No threat to public order and security - the applicant must not have a serious violation of the law.

Aggregation of residence periods in different EU countries

Blue Card holders can take into account the entire period of residence under this card in different EU countries.
Example: 3 years on Blue Card in France + 2 years on Blue Card in Poland = eligibility to apply in Poland.
For holders of ordinary residence cards, only the stay in Poland counts.

For the last two years, in the land of pitching

No matter how many years lived in other EU countries, you can only apply for residency in the country where you spent the last 2 years on Blue Card.

Loyal absence policy (art. 16 ust. 3, Dyrektywa 2021/1883)

• can be absent for up to 12 consecutive months without losing eligibility,
• you can be absent for up to 18 months in 5 years.

For regular cards, stricter rules apply: no more than 6 consecutive months or 10 months in total over 5 years.

Practical value for the Blue Card holder

The ability to "transfer seniority" between EU countries is a major bonus that regular cards don't have.

More flexible departure and travel rules (up to 1 consecutive year).

Once you have obtained EU residency status, you can:

• to live and work in Poland without time restrictions,
• benefit from EU protection for long-term stays in other countries,
• apply for Polish citizenship (if additional conditions are met).

If the profession adjustable (medics, lawyers, architects, etc.), the candidate is obliged to have the Polish right to perform it:

• nostryfikacja diploma,
• wpis do rejestru,
• membership in self-government (np. izba lekarska, adwokacka).

Without this Blue Card will not be given, even if you have a diploma and experience abroad.
Basis: art. 127 ust. 1 pkt 1 lit. b UoC.

For unregulated professions require "wyższe kwalifikacje zawodowe" (art. 127 ust. 1 pkt 1 lit. c): a diploma of higher education not shorter than 3 years, or work experience:

• 3 years in the last 7 years - if the occupation is from the list under art. 138a (Monitor Polski 2025 poz. 549),
• 5 years - if the occupation is not listed.

If the foreigner has neither a diploma nor proven experience - Blue Card will not be issued.

The prerequisite is a salary of at least 150% of the economy average for the previous year (art. 127 ust. 1 pkt 3 UoC).

If the contract stipulates less than that, they will not give you a Blue Card.

Must-haves:

• ubezpieczenie zdrowotne (NFZ - mandatory or voluntary),
• or private policycovering treatment in Poland. Basis: art. 127 ust. 1 pkt 1 lit. d UoC.

Blue Card will also not be given if:

• the alien filed false documents or information (art. 100 ust. 1 pkt 3 UoC),
• the stay of the foreigner may threaten defense, security or public order (art. 100 ust. 1 pkt 2 UoC),
• the foreigner violates the visa or border regime.
• leaving Poland for a long period of time,
• incorrect residential address,
• lack of feedback from the inspector (it is banal to miss an important letter or a call with a request to deliver something),
• Unscrupulous employer (e.g. doesn't pay ZUS for you, has tax debts),
• an employment contract for exactly 3 months, and for the Blue Card for less than half a year,
• inconsistency of the current profession with the diploma or experience,
• the visa does not correspond to the purpose of residence permit application. For example, the documents will not be accepted at all with tourist type C.

You can always appeal a negative decision within 14 days of receipt.