EU Blue Card

The EU Blue Card Scheme is designed to make Europe a more attractive destination for highly educated persons from outside the European Union. All EU member states, except the United Kingdom, Denmark and Ireland, participate in the EU Blue Card scheme. Highly qualified persons have opted in the past for destinations such as the United States, Canada or Australia.

The European initiative has a number of distinctive qualities that will help Europe become the world's most favourite migration destination: 

• Working and salary conditions equal to nationals
• Free movement within the Schengen area
• Entitlement to a series of socio-economic rights
• Favourable conditions for family reunification
• Permanent residence perspective
• Freedom of association

Conditions 

The EU Blue Card Network enables you to create a profile for potential employers to consult, and a platform to electronically submit the Blue Card application. Three key conditions are to be met in order to request the EU Blue Card: 

• Non-EU citizenship
• Completed higher-education
• Work contract or binding job offer

Poland

To work in Poland as a highly-qualified worker, you must obtain a residence permit for a fixed period for the purposes of highly qualified employment (the Blue Card) which is a single residence and work permit. To obtain this residence permit: 

• sign at least one-year long employment contract/preliminary contract;
• have higher qualifications;
• have health insurance;
• have an annual gross salary at least equal to 61,191 PLN (approx. € 15,300);
• if necessary, meet the requirements set out by the relevant legislative provisions (i.e. concerning regulated professions).

Visa

Employer must apply to the Voivode (Polish Province Governor) for a work permit.

A labour market test may be conducted to show that no suitably qualified settled worker can be found to fill the job vacancy. The employer must also satisfy the requirements set out by relevant legislative provisions. 

If there is no unemployed worker with the necessary qualifications for the job available on the local labour market, the employer may proceed with the recruitment. 

Once you have obtained a work permit, you may apply for the residence permit.

Residence permit for a fixed period for the purposes of highly qualified employment / Visa for the purpose of performing work 

In general, you must first obtain a visa to enter Poland (general rules apply - list of Polish diplomatic missions abroad). Once in Poland, you must obtain a residence permit for a fixed period (45 days prior the expiry date of the visa or previous residence permit). You should submit your application to a voivode that is competent for the place of your residence (list of voivodeship offices). 

It is however possible to submit to a voivode an application to grant the residence permit abroad (i.e. to your country of origin or your country of residence) via Polish consul. If the voivode grants the residence, an adequate visa will be issued by the consul.If you hold a Blue Card issued by another EU Member State and you are willing to move to Poland, you have to apply for the residence permit for the purposes of highly qualified employment no later than one month after the arrival to Poland.

Documents required 

It is up to the employer to decide whether you have sufficient skills and qualifications for the envisaged position.

To obtain a visa for the purpose of performing work, you must provide: 

• completed and signed visa application form;
• valid travel document;
• photo;
• adequate travel and health insurance;
• documents certifying that you will perform work, other supporting documents, if required (different consular offices may require different supporting documents; for this reason you should contact the right consular office when gathering information about those documents).

You must also pay visa fee (if applies). 

To obtain residence permit for a fixed period for the purpose of highly qualified employment you must provide: 

•  completed application forms;
• valid travel document;
• photos;
• at least one-year long employment contract/preliminary contract;
• health insurance;
• supporting document confirming higher qualifications;
• if required, staroste’s opinion confirming that no suitably qualified resident worker can be found to fill a particular job vacancy;
• if necessary, other documents required by relevant legislative provisions (i.e. concerning regulated occupations);
• other supporting documents, if required. 

Duration of validity of permits (Blue Card)

Residence permit for a fixed period for the purpose of highly qualified employment is granted for a maximum of two years with the possibility to obtain subsequent residence permit.

Schengen visas are granted for a maximum of 90 days, whereas national visas are granted for a period comprised between 90 days and one year.