EU Blue Card Mobility to Poland: Can You Apply with a Blue Card Issued by Another EU Country?
Since 1 June 2025, Poland has introduced new rules for holders of an EU Blue Card issued by another EU Member State.
This is particularly important because the rules are different from those applicable to ordinary residence permits issued by other Schengen countries.
Can You Apply for a Polish EU Blue Card with a German EU Blue Card?
Yes.
A foreigner holding an EU Blue Card issued, for example, by Germany may move to Poland and apply for a Polish residence permit under the long-term mobility of an EU Blue Card holder procedure.
This procedure is regulated by Article 137a of the Polish Act on Foreigners (Ustawa o cudzoziemcach).
This is an important exception to the restrictions that apply to many foreigners holding ordinary residence permits issued by other Schengen countries.
What Is Long-Term EU Blue Card Mobility?
The procedure is officially called:
Zezwolenie na pobyt czasowy w celu mobilności długoterminowej posiadacza Niebieskiej Karty UE.
It allows a holder of an EU Blue Card issued by another EU Member State to relocate to Poland for more than 90 days in order to perform highly qualified employment.
The Polish Office for Foreigners expressly confirms that this procedure is intended for foreigners who already hold a residence document marked “Niebieska Karta UE” issued by another EU Member State.
The 12-Month Requirement
Generally, before moving to Poland, the foreigner must have resided in the other EU Member State on the basis of the EU Blue Card for at least 12 months.
For example:
German EU Blue Card → at least 12 months in Germany → relocation to Poland → application under Article 137a.
If the person had already moved to Germany using EU Blue Card long-term mobility from another Member State, the required period in Germany may be reduced to 6 months.
Other Main Requirements
The applicant must also meet the Polish requirements for highly qualified employment. Among other things:
the purpose of stay in Poland must be highly qualified employment;
the applicant must have the required professional qualifications;
the employment or civil-law contract must generally be concluded for at least 6 months;
the required EU Blue Card salary threshold must be met;
the applicant must have health insurance;
the stay in Poland at the time of application must be legal.
Under Article 137a, the annual gross remuneration must generally be at least 150% of the average salary in the national economy in the year preceding the application.
EU Blue Card vs. Ordinary Schengen Residence Permit
This distinction is crucial.
Holding an ordinary residence permit issued by Germany, France, Spain or another Schengen country does not automatically allow a foreigner to convert that status into a Polish work-based residence permit while staying in Poland.
An EU Blue Card is different.
EU legislation and the Polish Act on Foreigners provide a dedicated mobility mechanism allowing qualifying EU Blue Card holders to relocate between participating EU Member States.
Therefore, a foreigner with a German EU Blue Card should not automatically be treated in the same way as a foreigner holding an ordinary German residence permit.
Moving Your EU Blue Card to Poland?
Residence Angels assists highly qualified professionals and employers with EU Blue Card applications and EU Blue Card mobility to Poland.
We can verify whether the foreigner qualifies for long-term mobility, review the employment conditions and salary requirements, prepare the application and supporting documents, and represent the applicant during the residence permit procedure in Poland.