High-Skilled Workers (Blue Card)

Foreigners who intend to perform work in Poland in an occupation requiring high skills (what is an occupation requiring high skills) may apply for a temporary residence permit, provided that they meet all of the following conditions:

1. They present information from the county commissioner on the results of a labour market test (what is a labour market test);
• Note! In some cases, when applying for a temporary residence permit issued for the purpose of employment of high-skilled workers it is not required to obtain information from the county commissioner about a labour market test. Such cases are detailed here.
2. They have concluded an employment contract or a civil law agreement for a period of at least 1 year;
3. They meet the qualification requirements and other conditions if they intend to take up work in a regulated profession (what is a regulated profession ->?);
4. They have higher professional qualifications (what are higher professional qualifications ->?);
5. They have health insurance (documents confirming the possession of health insurance ->);
6. They have obtained the consent of the competent authority to work in a certain position, in a specific profession or to conduct other activity if the obligation to obtain such consent prior to the conclusion of the agreement is required by law;
7. Their annual gross remuneration resulting from monthly or annual remuneration indicated in the contract is not lower than the equivalent of 150% of the average remuneration in the national economy in the year preceding the conclusion of the contract announced by the President of the Central Statistical Office (applies to applications submitted no earlier than 12/02/2018). In the case of applications submitted before 12/02/2018, the annual gross remuneration resulting from the monthly or annual remuneration indicated in the contract may not be lower than the minimum remuneration defined in the Regulation by the Minister of the Interior.
8. They have a guaranteed place of residence in Poland (what is a guaranteed place of residence ->)

A temporary residence permit issued for the purpose of employment of high-skilled workers is granted for a period 3 months longer than the period for performing work, but not longer than 3 years.

Note! Foreigners residing in Poland pursuant to a temporary residence permit issued for the purpose of employment of high-skilled workers are obliged to notify the competent Voivode for their current place of residence in writing about the loss of their job within 15 business days of discontinuation of employment.

On request of the foreigner, the residence permit issued for the purpose of employment of high-skilled workers may be amended at any moment by the competent Voivode for the place of residence of the foreigner, if the foreigner intends to perform work for a different employer than the one specified in the permit, to change their position or if they will receive lower remuneration than that specified in the permit.

However, during the first 2 years of a foreigner's stay in Poland pursuant to temporary residence permit issued for the purpose of employment of high skilled workers:

1. the foreigner must not start work for a different employer than the one specified in the permit;
2. the foreigner must not change the position in which they are employed;
3. the foreigner must not receive a remuneration lower than that specified in the permit - without amending the permit.

If, after 2 years of stay in Poland pursuant to a temporary residence permit issued for the purpose of employment of high-skilled workers, the foreigner changes their job position, his remuneration is lowered or the minimum work time and/or type of agreement changes, he is obliged to notify the competent Voivode for his current place of residence about such changes within 15 business days. In the event of changes in the seat, place of residence, name or legal form of the employer or in case if the employer is taken over in whole or in part by another employer, it is not required to amend or replace the temporary residence permit issued for the purpose of employment of high-skilled workers.

More information about employment of foreigners in Poland is available here;