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Changes to the Blue Card in 2025 for Programmers

Starting January 1, 2025, new requirements for obtaining the EU Blue Card will come into effect in Poland. The Blue Card is a document that allows highly qualified specialists, such as programmers, to legalize their stay and work in the country for an extended period. One of the key criteria for submitting an application is proof of an adequate income level.

In 2024, the average salary in the Polish economy (according to GUS) was 8,181.72 PLN. Therefore, under the law, the minimum salary required to obtain a Blue Card in 2025 increases to 12,272.58 PLN gross per month. This represents 150% of the national average salary — a threshold set for specialists with high professional qualifications.

Programmers and other IT professionals applying for the Blue Card in 2025 must sign a contract with their employer for at least one year, have confirmed qualifications, a valid passport, and health insurance. They must also reside legally in Poland and have secured accommodation.

The Blue Card offers several advantages over a standard residence permit — including the possibility to relocate with family, free education for children, and recognition of prior residence in other EU countries when applying for the EU long-term resident card. The waiting period for the card may range from 2 to 6 months.

Residence Permit in Poland for Programmers

The issuance of a temporary residence permit (Karta Pobytu czasowego) for IT professionals working remotely is governed by the provisions of the Act on Foreigners dated December 12, 2013 (Dz.U. 2023 pos. 519 as amended) and requires compliance with certain criteria. A key condition is stable and documented income meeting the minimum threshold established by Polish law. For 2025, this threshold is 4,666 PLN gross per month, corresponding to the minimum salary needed to cover the basic needs of a foreigner as stipulated in Article 114 of the Act.

Our company operates as a professional business incubator, providing full legal and administrative support, including assistance in concluding B2B and B2C contracts, income legalization, and preparation of all necessary documents. We also act as an official representative in the permit process, enabling expedited procedures and minimizing rejection risks.

Taxation of income depending on contract type (Umowa o dzieło, Umowa zlecenie, B2B contract) may range from 10% to 30%, making Poland one of the most favorable destinations for IT freelancers. Employment within the incubator requires signing a contract for a minimum of one year, which provides grounds for issuing a residence permit valid from 12 up to 36 months.

According to Article 264 of the Act on Foreigners, upon expiration of the permit, it must be renewed by submitting a new application. Continuous residence in Poland for five years without interruption may qualify one for a permanent EU resident card (Karta rezydenta długoterminowego UE).

Importantly, the residence permit under this program is not tied to a specific employer, as established in Article 144 paragraph 2 of the Act. You have the right to change clients or pause work but must notify the Voivodeship Office responsible for foreigners (Urząd Wojewódzki) about such changes within 15 business days.

We serve citizens of Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Armenia, Russia, and other countries, providing full support from visa invitation preparation to residence permit issuance.

The Process of Obtaining a Residence Permit Includes:

1. Visa Invitation. If there is no visa-free regime, we prepare an official invitation and register you in the system. IT specialists and persons with higher education may apply through the Poland.Business.Harbour program. Belarusian citizens may use a humanitarian visa, which does not require an invitation.
2. Work Permit. In some cases, a work permit or an opinion from the district starosta (opinia starosty) is required, which we begin arranging in advance. Waiting times can reach up to 3 months.
3. Employment Contract. We conclude a long-term contract with you that complies with Articles 114 and 126 of the Act on Foreigners, which you can use for income legalization and border crossing.
4. Registration of Residence. Although mandatory registration (meldunek) has been abolished, for remote work we recommend signing a rental agreement for at least one year, especially in cities with quick registration procedures such as Warsaw, Wroclaw, and Katowice.
5. Insurance. For the visa, basic insurance suffices, but after arrival, we assist in obtaining Polish health insurance compliant with NFZ requirements, mandatory for residence permit applications.
6. Submission of Documents. We prepare your dossier and accompany you to the office, where fingerprinting and stamping of your passport occur, confirming legal stay while awaiting the decision.

What is the Blue Card?

The EU Blue Card (Niebieska Karta UE) is a special type of temporary residence permit provided for in Article 127 of the Act on Foreigners. It is intended for highly qualified specialists such as programmers, engineers, and data analysts.

Despite the name, the Blue Card is not a separate document type but a special annotation in the standard residence card indicating it was issued under Blue Card regulations.

Blue Card holders receive expanded rights:

• Children have access to free education;
• Periods of residence under a Blue Card in other EU countries (if the last 2 years were in Poland) count when applying for EU permanent residency;
• Simplified access to permanent residence;
• The ability to change employers after 2 years without reapplying.

Conditions for Obtaining the Blue Card in Poland in 2025

According to the latest GUS data, the average salary in Poland in 2024 was 8,181.72 PLN. This means the minimum income for the Blue Card in 2025 must be:

8,181.72 PLN × 150% = 12,272.58 PLN gross per month

In addition to the income requirement, the applicant must:

• Sign a contract for at least one year;
• Confirm professional qualifications;
• Have accommodation in Poland;
• Reside legally in the country;
• Have medical insurance;
• Be engaged in an activity classified as highly qualified (per Article 5 paragraph 4 of the Act on the Recognition of Professional Qualifications dated 22.12.2015, Dz.U. 2023 pos. 334).

The Blue Card remains the most sought-after solution for IT specialists: the profession is listed among the shortage and high-salary occupations. The waiting time for the card is usually 2 to 6 months.

We invite you to a free preliminary consultation.

For over 7 years, we have supported IT professionals in legalizing their stay in Poland and will help you choose the optimal path to obtaining a residence permit or Blue Card.