Registration of a residence permit using a Blue Card

Residence Permit Based on the Blue Card

To work in Poland, documents for legal residence in the country are necessary.

Such documents may include a Residence Card obtained based on employment, or it may also be a Blue Card, which offers slightly more advantages.

So, the Blue Card is a document that grants the right to work to a highly qualified foreigner in the EU country that issued it.

This document has been accepted and issued in EU countries since 2009, the name itself is enshrined in the European Directive, but in Polish laws, the term "Work in a profession requiring high qualifications" is more common. However, this does not change the essence of the document. However, different EU countries may have different requirements for obtaining a Blue Card.

This card is issued for the duration of the contract with the employer plus 3 months. The maximum validity period of the card is 3 years (in this case, 3 months are not added). Advantages of the Blue Card compared to the Residence Card based on employment include: after two years of work with this card and in case of changing jobs, the person may not notify the authorities. Up to 2 years - in case of changing jobs, reducing salary, dismissal - the cardholder must notify the authorities within 25 days.

Specialists from the following fields and professions can apply for the Blue Card:

• exact sciences - IT specialists are particularly in demand, as well as physicists, mathematicians;
• medicine - doctors, psychiatrists, pharmacists;
• psychologists - there is demand in private companies;
• legal affairs - lawyers, notaries.

To obtain such a card in the Republic of Poland, you must:

• have a higher education in the specialty required for work, or 5 years of confirmed work experience in this position (employment record, self-employed);
• have sufficient income - at least 150% of the average salary in Poland;
• have a contract with the employer signed for a period of at least 1 year.

Documents Required for Obtaining the Blue Card:

• application for a Residence Card - 2 copies;
• photo 3.5x4.5 cm, taken no later than 6 months before submitting the application - 4 copies;
• foreign passport original and its copies - 2 copies;
• employment contract;
• stated in the contract salary - at least 150% of the average salary in Poland;
• document confirming high qualification, for example, a diploma or confirmation of 5 years of work experience in this profile;
• health insurance policy (if not provided at the workplace);
• receipt for payment of state fee;
• proof of residence - lease agreement, real estate documents;
• opinion of the village elder that it is impossible to find an employee from Polish citizens for this position (upon request).

Ukrainians residing in Poland under temporary protection can apply for a Blue Card, but they need to go through the standard procedure with collecting necessary documents, submitting them, and observing deadlines.

Disadvantages of the Blue Card:

• issued for the duration of the contract, for which the request is made;
• restriction on conducting individual entrepreneurial activity - only hired employees can receive a Blue Card;
• qualification confirmation required;
• waiting time - the process of reviewing documents for this type of card may take longer than for other types of Residence Cards (at the time of checking all documents and issuing the card, a stamp is put in the passport so that the person can legally stay in the Republic of Poland while waiting for a decision);
• while in Poland on the basis of a Blue Card, a person may not work for a total of 3 months and be unemployed twice.

Reasons for Refusal to Issue a Blue Card:

• contract for less than 1 year;
• leaving Poland for a long period;
• lack or insufficiency of insurance;
• unscrupulous employer or mismatch of profession to qualification;
• lack of interaction with the inspector - during the consideration of documents, additional questions may arise or the need to provide additional documents, such requests are often sent by letter to the address indicated as the place of residence;
• incorrectly specified address of residence, changing it at the time of document consideration may also be a reason for refusal;
• mismatch of visa type for card application - documents for obtaining a Blue Card will not be accepted with a tourist visa.

In case of refusal, an appeal must be filed within 14 days.

Note. All documents submitted for the Blue Card must be translated into Polish by a sworn translator.