Changes in immigration regulations
From 1 August 2025, new stamp duty rates apply in proceedings concerning Polish citizenship. These rates apply to cases initiated on or after that date, while proceedings started earlier remain subject to the previous fees.
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| Granting Polish citizenship by the President of the Republic of Poland | No fee | 1669 PLN |
| Recognition as a Polish citizen or restoration of Polish citizenship | 219 PLN | 1000 PLN |
| Confirmation of possession or loss of Polish citizenship | 58 PLN | 277 PLN |
| Renunciation of Polish citizenship | No fee | 1669 PLN |
According to the new regulations, exemption from stamp duties applies in cases of recognizing minor children as Polish citizens under Article 30(1)(4) or (5) of the Act of 2 April 2009 on Polish citizenship, acquisition of Polish citizenship through repatriation and recognition as a repatriate, as well as in cases of confirming possession of Polish citizenship acquired in this manner.
source of change:
effective from: 1 August 2025
On 1 August 2025, the deadline for issuing decisions in matters concerning Polish citizenship handled by provincial governors and the Minister of the Interior was extended. The new deadline is six months from the date the application is received by the competent authority. Previously, this period was between one and two months from the initiation of proceedings. However, in practice, these deadlines were not always met.
The change in the deadline does not apply to citizenship matters considered by the President of the Republic of Poland, which will continue to be handled under the same rules. In other cases, the new deadline applies both to proceedings initiated from 1 August 2025, and to proceedings that were initiated but not concluded before that date.
source of change:
effective from: 1 August 2025
If a male Ukrainian citizen aged 18–60, who is subject to compulsory military service, wishes to use a consular service (e.g., obtain a passport) at a Ukrainian diplomatic mission, he must present a military registration document in electronic form (e-VOD) generated no earlier than 3 days before submitting the application for the selected consular service.
Three exceptions are provided to the requirement to present a military document:
- when submitting an application for a certificate for return to Ukraine,
- when the consular service is performed in the interest of a child whose other parent is a foreign national or stateless person,
- If the applicant is in detention or serving a prison sentence.
source of change:
- Ukrainian Act of 11 April 11 2024 on amendments to certain legislative acts of Ukraine concerning certain issues of military service, mobilization, and military registration, No. 3633-IX (rada.gov.ua)
- Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine mfa.gov.ua
effective from: 18 May 2024
Two groups of foreigners who do not hold Ukrainian citizenship have been added to the catalogue of persons covered by Poland’s Ukrainian Special Act:
- Minor children of citizens of Ukraine
- Minor children of spouses of citizens of Ukraine.
These minors can now take advantage of the solutions provided by the Ukrainian Special Act (such as legal residence in Poland until 4 March 2026 or the possibility of obtaining a temporary residence permit for family reunification).
Before, both these groups of foreigners were entitled only to general temporary protection under other legal acts.
source of change:
effective from: 1 July 2024
The legal residence of UKR status holders (also called temporary protection beneficiaries), i.e. Ukrainians who arrived legally in Poland due to the war on or after 24 February 2022 and declared their intention to remain in Poland, has been extended to 4 March 2026.
Previously this period ended 30 September 2025.
source of change:
effective from: 30 September 2025
Ukrainian citizens not covered by temporary protection, whose national visa (D), temporary residence permit, Schengen visa (C), visa or residence document issued by another Schengen country, or visa-free stay expired after 24 February 2022, during their stay in Poland (in the case of a temporary residence permit – also during their stay outside Poland), will benefit from an extension of their stay in Poland until 4 March 2026.
However, this does not automatically mean the right to cross the border or the right to travel to other Schengen area states. Each such case should be evaluated individually.
The previous extension was in force through 30 September 2025.
source of change:
effective from: 30 September 2025
Persons holding UKR status (beneficiaries of temporary protection) may apply for the following types of temporary residence permits:
- Single Permit (from 1 April 2023),
- Temporary residence permit for the purpose of conducting business activity (from 1 April 2023),
- Temporary residence permit for a family member of a Polish citizen (from 1 July 2024),
- Temporary residence permit for the purpose of family reunification (from 1 July 2024).
For UKR status holders, a simplified procedure applies – the application may be submitted without appearing in person at the Immigration Office, provided that fingerprints were previously collected when the PESEL number was issued.
sources of change:
- Act of 13 January 2023 amending the Act on Assistance to Citizens of Ukraine in Connection with the Armed Conflict on the Territory of That State and Certain Other Acts
effective from: 1 April 2023
- Act of 15 May 2024 amending the Act on Assistance to Citizens of Ukraine in Connection with the Armed Conflict on the Territory of That State and Certain Other Acts
effective from: 1 July 2024
In addition, the possibility of granting a temporary residence permit under a protective procedure for one year has been extended for Ukrainian citizens until 4 March 2026. This applies to Ukrainian citizens (regardless of whether they hold UKR status) who do not meet the statutory requirements for obtaining a temporary residence permit (e.g., income criteria). A permit under the protective procedure may be granted only once.
source of change:
- Act of 12 September 2025 amending certain laws to verify the entitlement to family benefits for foreigners and on the conditions of assistance to Ukrainian citizens in connection with the armed conflict on the territory of that state
effective from: 30 September 2025
IMPORTANT NOTICE!
As of 1 June 2025, a provision of the Act on Foreigners entered into force, requiring the refusal to initiate proceedings for a temporary residence permit for the purpose of performing work in a profession requiring high qualifications (EU Blue Card) with respect to foreigners staying in Poland, among others, due to the granting of temporary protection in Poland. Currently, this also applies to Ukrainian citizens holding UKR status, which is considered a legislative oversight (due to the failure to simultaneously adjust the provisions of the Act on Assistance to Citizens of Ukraine in Connection with the Armed Conflict on the Territory of That State).
source of change:
- Act of 24 April 2025 amending the Act on Foreigners and Certain Other Acts
effective from: 1 June 2025
Holders of UKR status (beneficiaries of temporary protection) will be able to obtain residence cards (called CUKR residence cards), which, upon issuance, will transform the UKR status into a temporary residence permit valid for the duration of the residence card (three years from the date of its issuance).
Obtaining a CUKR residence card will be possible upon meeting all of the following conditions:
- Holding UKR status on 4 June 2025 (a new date introduced by one of the recent amendments to the special act for Ukrainians, replacing the previous date of 4 March 2024),
- Holding UKR status on the date of submitting the application for a CUKR residence card,
- Having held UKR status continuously for at least 365 days.
This new solution will also be available to minor children born in Poland, provided that on the date of submitting the application for the residence card they hold UKR status, and residence cards have already been issued to their mothers under this procedure.
The CUKR residence card procedure is to be fully electronic, simplified, and limited to the minimum formal requirements. The proceedings should be completed within 90 days from the date of application. The applicant’s visit to the office will only be required at the final stage, to collect the residence card.
Under the most recent amendments to the Ukrainian Special Act, submitting an application for a CUKR residence card will ensure the legality of stay in Poland until the card is issued or until the decision refusing or discontinuing the proceedings becomes final (i.e., also after the potential expiry of UKR status on 4 March 2026).
Upon issuance of the residence card, the UKR status will expire. However, the Ukrainian citizen will then be entitled to work freely (without the employer needing to notify the labor office) and to conduct business activity in Poland under the same rules as Polish citizens.
According to the list of legislative works of the Minister of the Interior and Administration, the ministry is currently preparing a regulation specifying the application form templates for residence cards issued under this procedure.
The Minister will publish in the Monitor Polski an announcement determining the date of implementation of the technical solutions enabling applications to be submitted. According to the latest information, this should take place by mid-January 2026 at the latest.
sources of change:
- Act of 15 May 2024 amending the Act on Assistance to Citizens of Ukraine in Connection with the Armed Conflict on the Territory of That State and Certain Other Acts
- Act of 12 September 2025 amending certain laws to verify the entitlement to family benefits for foreigners and on the conditions of assistance to Ukrainian citizens in connection with the armed conflict on the territory of that state
- Draft regulation of the Minister of the Interior and Administration on the application form for the issuance of a residence card to a citizen of Ukraine in the cases referred to in Article 42c or Article 42d of the Act of 12 March 2022, on Assistance to Citizens of Ukraine in Connection with the Armed Conflict on the Territory of That State
expected effective date: mid-January 2026
On 1 July 2024, the deadline for submitting an application for a PESEL number with the annotation “UKR” for a Ukrainian citizen benefiting from temporary protection in Poland was shortened. Such an application should be submitted immediately upon arrival in Poland.
However, this deadline is only instructive - exceeding it does not obligate the authority to refuse the issuance of a PESEL number.
source of change:
effective from: 1 July 2024
The verification of identity for a Ukrainian citizen when issuing a PESEL number with the annotation “UKR” has been made dependent on possessing a valid travel document (passport). Prior to 1 July 2024, identity could also be verified using a Pole`s Card or another photo ID enabling identity confirmation, and for persons under 18 years of age, a birth certificate was also acceptable.
A new requirement was also introduced - identity must be verified at any municipal office using a valid travel document within 60 days of its issuance, if the PESEL number with the “UKR” annotation was issued without presenting a valid passport or if the passport has since expired.
Only in the case of a renewed, significant influx of Ukrainian citizens to Poland it will be possible to verify identity based on other documents (as previously), provided that a relevant regulation is issued by the Minister of the Interior and Administration.
source of change:
effective from: 1 July 2024
An entity entrusting a job to a citizen of Ukraine now has 7 days (instead of the previous 14 days) from the date the work begins to submit a notification to the county executive [starosta] (county labour office) via the praca.gov.pl website.
source of change:
effective from: 1 July 2024
An entity entrusting a job to a citizen of Ukraine has to indicate in the notification at least the minimum wage (or pro rata reduction in the case of lesser working hours) or the minimum hourly rate. As of July 2024, these amounts are PLN 4,300 gross per month for full-time work or PLN 28.10 gross per hour.
Source of change:
Effective from: 1 July 2024
An obligation has been formally introduced for the employer to submit a re-notification on hiring a citizen of Ukraine within 7 days of a:
- Change in the type of contract (e.g. from an employment contract to a service contract or vice versa; this still does not apply, for example, to a change from a temporary employment contract to a permanent employment contract)
- Change of position or type of work performed
- Reduction in working hours or number of working hours per week or month
- Reduction in the monthly or hourly wage
- The employer’s informing the citizen of Ukraine of granting of a temporary residence permit.
Before, in practice such duties were largely carried out by employers, but they were not explicitly regulated in the act.
Source of change:
Effective from: 1 July 2024
A new obligation has been imposed on citizens of Ukraine: they have to inform their employer that they have obtained a decision granting a temporary residence permit within 7 days from delivery of the decision. This will allow their employers to meet their obligation to submit a timely new notification to the county executive [starosta] (county labour office).
Source of change:
Effective from: 1 July 2024
19.08.2024 An application for a work permit could only be submitted electronically, using a qualified electronic signature, a trusted signature or a personal signature. Currently, applications can still be submitted in traditional form.
Source of change:
Planned entry into force: 3Q 2024. The bill has not yet been submitted to the parliament.
19.08.2024 It is planned to abolish the “labour market test” (the obligation to obtain information from the starosta about labour market conditions) as part of the procedure for issuing a work permit and certain other proceedings.
Source of change:
Planned entry into force: 3Q 2024. The bill has not yet been submitted to the parliament.
It is planned to extend the catalogue of cases of mandatory refusal of a work permit (also of a seasonal work permit) to cover situations where the circumstances of the case show that:
- The application was made under false pretences;
- The permit will be used for a purpose other than carrying out work for the designated entity; or
- the entity entrusting work fails to fulfil its obligations in relation to the carrying out of activities or the entrustment of work to third parties.
Currently, the above circumstances are optional grounds for refusal of a work permit.
It is also planned to extend the existing catalogue of examples of cases indicating the occurrence of the above-mentioned infringements by the case of the occurrence of justified doubts with regard to the credibility of the employer’s declarations regarding the number of foreigners to whom he intends to entrust work, due to evidence available to the authorities or objective circumstances indicating that the number could be lower than declared.
Source of change: The bill on amending certain laws to eliminate irregularities in the visa regime of the Republic of Poland (no bill yet, only general objectives).
Planned date of adoption of the bill by the Council of Ministers: Q4 2024.
27.09.2024
The catalogue of cases of mandatory refusal of a work permit (also seasonal work permits) is to be extended to cover situations where circumstances show that:
- the application was made under false pretences;
- the permit is to be used for a purpose other than for carrying out work for the designated entity; or
- the entity entrusting work fails to fulfil its obligations in relation to the carrying out of activities or entrusting work to third parties.
The existing catalogue of examples of cases specifying the occurrence of these circumstances is to be extended to include justified doubts about the credibility of the employer’s declarations regarding the number of foreign nationals to whom they intend to entrust work, arising from evidence or objective circumstances [available to the authorities] indicating that the activity conducted by it constitutes no basis for entrusting work to a declared number of foreign nationals.
Source of change: The bill on amending certain laws to eliminate irregularities in the Polish visa regime.
Planned date of entry into force: 1 July 2025
According to the general objectives, the entity entrusting work to a foreigner will be required to notify the provincial governor (Polish: wojewoda) within 7 days, if:
- The foreigner fails to start work within 1 month (instead of the current 3 months) of the initial date of permit validity;
- The foreigner interrupts work for a period exceeding 1 month (instead of the current period exceeding 3 months);
- The foreigner quits work earlier than 1 month (instead of the current 3 months) before the expiry of the permit.
Source of change: The bill on amending certain laws to eliminate irregularities in the visa regime of the Republic of Poland (no bill yet, only general objectives)
Planned date of adoption of the bill by the Council of Ministers: Q4 2024.
27.09.2024
According to the bill, the entity entrusting work to a foreign national will be required to notify the province governor (Polish: wojewoda) within 7 days, if he/she:
- fails to start work within a month of the initial date of permit validity; (such an obligation currently exists if work has not commenced within 3 months of the initial date of permit validity);
- interrupts work for a period exceeding 1 month (such an obligation currently arises, if work has been interrupted for a period exceeding 3 months);
- quits work earlier than 1 month before the expiry of the work permit (such an obligation currently arises if work has ceased earlier than 3 months before expiry of the work permit).
Source of change: The bill on amending certain laws to eliminate irregularities in the Polish visa regime.
Planned date of entry into force: 1 July 2025
The bill envisages deleting foreign nationals with a temporary residence permit issued to study from the current catalogue of persons exempt from having a work permit when they intend to take up employment in Poland.
Source of change: The bill on amending certain laws to eliminate irregularities in the Polish visa regime.
Planned date of entry into force: 1 July 2025
A rule is to be introduced for reviewing work permit applications, having regard for priority of foreign nationals who are to work at companies included in the list of companies running business activities in Poland that are of significant importance to the national economy. The list of such companies is to be maintained by the relevant Minister of the Economy responsible for the IT system.
Source of change: The bill on amending certain laws to eliminate irregularities in the Polish visa regime.
Planned date of entry into force: 1 July 2025
It is planned to extend the catalogue of cases of mandatory refusal of a work permit (also of a seasonal work permit) to cover situations where the circumstances of the case show that:
- The application was made under false pretences;
- The permit will be used for a purpose other than carrying out work for the designated entity; or
- The entity entrusting the work fails to fulfil its obligations in relation to the carrying out of activities or the entrustment of work to third parties.
Currently, the above circumstances are optional grounds for refusal of a work permit.
It is also planned to extend the existing catalogue of examples of cases indicating the occurrence of the above-mentioned infringements by the case of the occurrence of justified doubts with regard to the credibility of the employer’s declarations regarding the number of foreigners to whom he intends to entrust work, due to evidence available to the authorities or objective circumstances indicating that the number could be lower than declared.
Source of change: The bill on amending certain laws to eliminate irregularities in the visa regime of the Republic of Poland (no bill yet, only general objectives).
Planned date of adoption of the bill by the Council of Ministers: Q4 2024.
27.09.2024
It is planned to extend the catalogue of cases of obligatory refusal to enter a declaration on entrusting work to a foreign national (this affects citizens of Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine) into the register of declarations (and thus effectively the refusal to issue a registered declaration allowing the foreign national to take up work), when the circumstances of the case indicate that:
- the declaration was made under false pretences;
- the statement will be used for a purpose other than for carrying out work for the designated entity; or
- the entity entrusting work to a foreign national fails to fulfil its obligations in relation to the carrying out of activities or the entrusting of work to third parties.
The circumstances are currently optional grounds for a refusal to register a declaration on entrustment of work to a foreign national.
The existing catalogue of examples of cases specifying the occurrence of these circumstances is to be extended to include justified doubts about the credibility of the employer’s declarations regarding the number of foreign nationals to whom they intend to entrust work, arising from evidence or objective circumstances [available to the authorities] indicating that the activity conducted by it constitutes no basis for entrusting work to a declared number of foreign nationals
Source of change: The bill on amending certain laws to eliminate irregularities in the Polish visa regime.
Planned date of entry into force: 1 July 2025
19.08.2024 – change of the draft name
Further changes in the draft Act (currently under the new name: Draft amendment of the Act on conditions of admissibility of employment of foreigners within the Republic of Poland) in relation to the previous version increase the amount of the fine:
- For illegally hiring a foreigner, no less than PLN 1000 per illegal hire
Source of change: Draft amendment of the Act on conditions of admissibility of employment of foreigners within the Republic of Poland
ETIAS is a travel authorisation that will have to be obtained by citizens of visa-exempt countries (benefiting from visa-free travel) traveling to any of 30 European countries. The ETIAS will be valid for up to three years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first.
A foreigner will be able to obtain an ETIAS authorisation through a dedicated application or website to be made available by the European Union. The application will be subject to a fixed fee of EUR 7.
The procedure for obtaining an ETIAS is generally expected to take just a few minutes. However, the application may take longer to process, up to 14 days if the foreigner is called upon to submit additional documents and or up to 30 days if the foreigner is called upon to provide explanations.
Source of change: ETIAS
Planned entry into force: 1H 2025
The European Entry/Exit System (EES) will be an automated information system for registration of non-EU citizens travelling to the EU for short-term stays and crossing the external borders of the EU countries using the system. The system will apply to travellers required to obtain a visa as well as those exempt from obtaining a visa. EES will also make a record of denials of entry.
EES will ultimately replace the stamping of foreigners’ passports and automate border control procedures.
Source of change: EES
Planned entry into force: 1H 2025
30.10.2024
According to the position of the Border Guard Headquarters, in connection with the introduction of the EES system and the discontinuation of stamping with border control stamps, the suggestion is that employers collect a written declaration from foreigners, whom they intend to employ, regarding the remaining period of stay allowed under visa-free travel.
Source of change: Response of the Border Guard Headquarters to the letter from the Lewiatan Confederation of 22 October 2024
A rule is to be introduced for reviewing national visa applications for work purposes, having regard for priority of foreign nationals who are to work at companies included in the list of companies running business activities in Poland that are of significant importance to the national economy.
Source of change: The bill on amending certain laws to eliminate irregularities in the Polish visa regime.
Planned date of entry into force: 1 July 2025
It is planned to:
- extend the scope of the POL-on (Integrated Higher Education and Science Information System) by including a database of individuals admitted to higher education who have not been sworn-in as students, and granting the Minister of Foreign Affairs and consuls access to the list of foreign individuals admitted to higher education and the list of students to enable them to oversee and coordinate their activities in this respect;
- introduce a requirement for the governing bodies of Polish higher educational institutions to immediately notify the authority who issued a national visa to any foreign national who has been issued a Polish study visa but failed to actually undertake studies (so far, however, it has not been specified what consequences such notification will have, in particular whether the current visa will be withdrawn or become non-renewable);
- subject non-public higher education institutions to a regime of approval by the Minister of Interior of their intention to admit foreign nationals to take up or continue their studies (i.e. grant these institutions the right to provide education to foreigners).
Source of change: The bill on amending certain laws to eliminate irregularities in the Polish visa regime.
Planned date of entry into force: 1 July 2025
Plans are being drawn up for introducing electronic submissions of applications for:
- temporary stay
- permanent residence
- residence of a long-term EU resident
Applications together with accompanying formal documents will be submitted via the MOS platform (Case Handling Module). Foreigners will be required to sign their applications with an electronic signature using a qualified signature tool or trusted profile.
Nevertheless, foreigners will still be required to attend (when summoned) the authority’s office in order to provide fingerprints and a specimen signature and to present a valid travel document.
Source of change: Draft Law on Amendments to the Act on Foreigners and Certain Other Acts (UD163) (premises, no draft bill yet)
Planned date for the Council of Ministers to adopt the draft bill: Q4 2024.
There are plans to oblige entities entrusting work/employers specified in the temporary residence and work permit to notify the province governor in writing within 15 working days of foreign citizens they employ [and who were granted this permit] losing their work. Failure to comply with this obligation will be punishable by a fine. Such notification obligation currently rests on foreign citizens.
Source of change: Bill amending certain Laws to Eliminate Irregularities in the Visa System of the Republic of Poland
Planned effective date: 1 July 2025.
Source of change: The bill on amending certain laws to eliminate irregularities in the Polish visa regime.
Planned date of entry into force: 1 July 2025
It is planned to reduce the catalogue of documents formally confirming a foreigner's knowledge of the Polish language, for example in the case of applicants for a long-term EU residence permit, by removing from the existing catalogue:
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- A certificate of completion of a post-secondary school in Poland; and
- A certificate of completion of a school corresponding to a post-secondary school abroad with Polish as the language of instruction.
Source of change: The bill on amending certain laws to eliminate irregularities in the visa regime of the Republic of Poland (no bill yet, only general objectives)
Planned date of adoption of the project by the Council of Ministers: Q4 2024.
27.09.2024
It is planned to reduce the catalogue of documents formally confirming a foreigner's knowledge of the Polish language, for example in the case of applicants for a long-term EU residence permit, by removing from the existing catalogue:
-
- A certificate of completion of a post-secondary school in Poland; and
- A certificate of completion of a school corresponding to a post-secondary school abroad with Polish as the language of instruction.
Source of change: Projekt ustawy o zmianie niektórych ustaw w celu wyeliminowania nieprawidłowości w systemie wizowym Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej
Planned date of adoption of the project by the Council of Ministers: 1 July 2025
The minimum period for which a contract must be concluded with a foreign citizen for the purpose of applying for an EU Blue Card in Poland is to be reduced to 6 months (until now the minimum period was one year).
Planned effective date: Q2 2024 (3 months after it is published).
The bill has not yet been referred to the Sejm
Source of change: Bill amending the Law on Foreign Citizens and Certain Other Laws
There are plans to also allow seasonal workers to apply for an EU Blue Card. Currently, seasonal worker status is a precondition for refusal to initiate EU Blue Card proceedings.
Source of change: Bill amending the Law on Foreign Citizens and Certain Other Laws
Planned effective date: Q2 2024 (3 months after it is published).
The bill has not yet been referred to the Sejm
EU Blue Card holders are to be granted the right to undertake supplementary (i.e., in addition to employment, which is the basis for permit issuance) business activity in Poland on the same terms as Polish citizens. Currently, EU Blue Card holders must obtain a separate permit for this.
Source of change: Bill amending the Law on Foreign Citizens and Certain Other Laws
Planned effective date: Q2 2024 (3 months after it is published).
The bill has not yet been referred to the Sejm.
The decision granting an EU Blue Card will no longer indicate details of a specific employer, position and employment terms but only the permit validity period and the fact that the foreign citizen may work in an occupation requiring high qualifications for a certain salary.
As a result, during the EU Blue Card validity period, it will be possible to freely change employer, position and other employment terms (including full or part time status). Currently, depending on the type of change, this is not allowed or requires an amendment to the permit or notification to the province governor.
Source of change: Bill amending the Law on Foreign Citizens and Certain Other Laws
Planned effective date: Q2 2024 (3 months after it is published)
The bill has not yet been referred to the Sejm
There are plans to reduce the list of changes that the EU Blue Card holder will have to notify to the province governor who issued the permit (within 15 working days from the occurrence of the change).
It will still be necessary to notify the province governor of:
- loss of work,
- cessation of fulfilment of other requirements for granting the permit,
change of the entity entrusting the work/employer.
Source of change: Bill amending the Law on Foreign Citizens and Certain Other Laws
Planned effective date: Q2 2024 (3 months after it is published)
The bill has not yet been referred to the Sejm
There are plans to introduce an additional period during which a foreign citizen, after losing their job, will be able to look for new employment in Poland before a decision is issued to revoke their EU Blue Card.
A foreign citizen with respect to whom proceedings to revoke the EU Blue Card have been initiated, will have at least 3 months to look for work from the moment the proceedings are initiated (and not, as before, from the moment they lose their job), within the Card’s validity period, if they have resided in Poland for less than 2 years.
If the foreign citizen has been in Poland for at least 2 years, the period is to be 6 months.
Source of change: Bill amending the Law on Foreign Citizens and Certain Other Laws
Planned effective date: Q2 2024 (3 months after it is published)
The bill has not yet been referred to the Sejm
There are plans to introduce a new type of temporary residence permit, increasing the mobility of the EU Blue Card holder. Thanks to the new permit, the holder of a Blue Card issued by another EU member state will be able to work in Poland in a profession requiring high qualifications.
The new permit will be available to a foreign citizen who:
- has an EU Blue Card issued by another EU member state,
- has entered into a contract (e.g., a contract of employment/commission) for a period of at least 6 months,
- has health insurance in Poland,
- receives remuneration in Poland in an appropriate amount (required for EU Blue Card applicants in Poland).
Source of change: Bill amending the Law on Foreign citizens and Certain Other Laws
Planned effective date: Q2 2024 (3 months after it is published). The bill has not yet been referred to the Sejm
It is planned to adopt a list of professions through which a foreigner is recognised as possessing higher professional qualifications, and is thus eligible for an EU Blue Card.
This recognition will be possible when a foreigner has at least three years of experience in a profession included in the list, acquired within the last seven years prior to applying for a temporary residence permit for the purpose of working in a profession requiring higher professional qualifications, or a temporary residence permit for the purpose of mobility of a long-term holder of an EU Blue Card.
Foreigners meeting these conditions will be eligible to apply for one of these residence permits even prior to completing university-level studies or completing five years of professional experience (which is currently required).
The current draft of the list includes professions such as:
- IT and telecommunications manager (e.g. head of an IT department)
- Computer systems analyst (e.g. ICT systems consultant)
- IT systems development specialist (e.g. blockchain technology specialist)
- Designer of web and multimedia applications (e.g. website architect)
- Applications programmer (e.g. mobile app programmer)
- Computer systems analyst, or programmer not elsewhere classified (e.g. healthcare IT worker, or software tester)
- Database or computer network specialist (e.g. database designer).
Source of change:
Planned entry into force: 2Q 2025 (3 months after publication). The bill has not yet been submitted to the parliament.