EU Blue Card: List of professions whose practice results in recognition of higher professional qualifications for foreigners
On 30 July 2024, the following was published on the website of the Government Legislation Centre: supplementary material to the draft Act on amending the Act on foreigners and certain other acts (UC15). It includes an annex to aRegulation of the Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration with a list of professions the practice of which results in the recognition of higher professional qualifications obtained by a foreigner.
The list includes the following professions:
- information and communications technology managers (e.g. IT Department head),
- computer systems analysts (e.g. ICT systems consultant),
- information systems development specialists (e.g. blockchain technology specialist),
- web and multimedia application designers (e.g. website architect),
- application programmers (e.g. mobile application developer),
- computer systems analysts and programmers not classified elsewhere (e.g. medical informatics specialist, computer software tester),
- database and network specialists (e.g. database designer).
Pursuing a listed occupation will result in a foreigner being deemed to have acquired a higher professional qualification if he/she has at least three years' experience in that occupation, which was acquired within a period of seven years before applying for a temporary residence permit for highly qualified employment or a temporary residence permit for long-term mobility of an EU Blue Card holder.
Foreign nationals meeting these conditions will therefore be able to apply for one of the above residence permits even before completing their higher education or gaining five years of professional experience.