EU Blue Card - Krakow
- Satya Mandavalli
- Nov 8, 2025
- 5 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
APPLICATION
Some of the information is still valid for the EU Blue Card as well:
2026:
About the TRC/Bluecard application appointment date under the new system: Once we submit the application through the new system, how soon can we expect an appointment date for the in-person visit/fingerprints?
In Krakow Experience: In the MOS portal on 28 May and got an email on 3 August confirming the date for my personal appearance, which was set for 17 August.
On that day, they checked my original documents and took my fingerprints. I was then told an inspector would be assigned to my case next. They also told me to reach out again after a month to check on the status of my application.
If your Visa or EU Blue Card expired before receiving the new EU Blue Card, you are not permitted to cross the border into Poland. That is, you cannot travel to India or any other EU country without a valid Visa or Residence permit.
In the event of an emergency, if you travel to Poland to enter, a visa is required.
Every document should be in Polish.
1. Educational certificates along with Consolidated Marks Sheet – Translation required from a Sworn Translator.
2. Experience Letters
3. Marriage Certificate – Apostille and Translation
4. Birth Certificate - – Apostille and Translation
Sometimes the Urzad office will ask for:
1. ZUS latest certificate
2. Wet and Digital Employment contract.
After our biometrics, 3 months later, usually the case officer will ask for the following documents one more time.
ZUS's last 3 months (latest)
Last decision letter
Employment Contract Annexure.
http://okp.muw.pl/ , this is the link to collect the decision.
EU Blue Card Work permit requirement: when it is required, when it is not required.
EU Blue Card decision letter before June 2025:
- Before completing two years with a blue card, every employee is required to have a work permit. Once two years are completed with an EU Blue card in Poland, no work permit is required.
- Blue card holder's “spouse with dependent TRC” does not require a work permit.
- Students who have completed bachelor's, master's, or PhD degrees in Poland do not require a work permit.
There is a specific situation:
- If you have completed three years with your first blue card, applied for a second (renewal) blue card, and your first blue card has expired, but you have not yet received the decision for the renewal:
- During this period, if you are searching for a job and receive an offer letter, you need a work permit.
- Your blue card must be valid, and you should have completed two years with it. The two-year period is calculated based on the decision letter date.
Example:
- If your first blue card expires on January 31st, 2026, and you give biometrics for renewal on December 1st, it may take six months to get the decision letter (possibly in May or June).
- From January 31st until the decision letter date (let's say June 1st), if you receive an offer letter and want to change employment, you need a work permit.
- Even if you have completed two years with your first blue card, if you do not have a valid blue card (only a red stamp in your passport for legal stay), you need a work permit to change employment during this period.
If the decision is made before June 2025, 2 years condition applies as it is.
After June 2025, no two-year condition.
info.opt@muw.pl -- Urzad Krakow (Govt)
punkt@open.krakow.pl --Information Point for Foreigners in Krakow (NGO)
Decision earlier than 2025 June, and if 2 years are completed, no work permit needed
If the decision is after June 2025, no 2-year limit
If the decision is in progress and your blue card has already expired, a work permit is needed.
If changing jobs within the blue card validity and after 2 years No wp needed.
Decision Date | Work Permit Needed |
Before June 2025 | No, if 2 years are completed |
After June 2025 | No, no 2-year limit |
Decision in progress, blue card expired | Yes |
Changing jobs within the blue card validity, after 2 years | No |
Changing jobs or employers based on the Blue card
You always need to submit the change-of-employer form shared by Swapnil above within 15 days of your last working day.
If your blue card was issued before June 2025, the 2-year rule applies. You need a work permit to switch employers within 2 years. After 2 years, no sponsorship is needed.
If the decision was issued after June 2025, it's not linked to the employer, so you can freely change employers without sponsorship.
Those with a blue card have lost their job; they must secure a new job within 6 months without a work permit. After 6 months, a work permit is required. Also, for blue cards issued before June 2025 that have been completed for 2 years, the stay is 6 months.
For TRC holders, no change. Still, the 30-day rule.
Before changing employer
Valid bluecard: apply before the expiry of the decision comes before expiry, no problem
Use Case-1: Your current Blue Card expired, and you have applied for Blue Card renewal. If the decision didn't come and the Blue Card expired.
After June 2025, a lot of positive and negative changes happened, so be careful when you switch jobs
When the decision is pending & the card expires.
After the last working day, you can file one more application to add the new employer details within 15 working days with the Work contract & Annex-1.
A few other conditions to be met.
Conditions
Contract period should be @ least 6 months.
After probation, the employer should be ready to extend your contract (an indefinite working contract or for a minimum of 24 months)
Salary should be according to your Blue Card threshold limit.
Only the work contract is needed if the Blue Card holder has spent more than 3 years with the same company. Job shift needs a valid work contract, not a work permit.
Example (if your blue card expired and you have applied for renewal. You are eligible to work with the same company under the existing work contract. Likewise, if you have a valid work contract and Annex 1 from the new company will reflect the same conditions)
Option 1
Cancel the renewal process with the old company details & start a new application
Option 2
Amend the renewal application with the new work contract & Annex 1 to inform the case inspector regarding the job change. Share the UPO document with the new company whose decision is pending so they can add it to the HR compliance.
Use Case-2: You have a valid blue card, and you’ve already completed 3 years with your previous blue card. Your current blue card is renewed and valid for the next 1, 2, or 3 years. In that case, you don’t need any work permit. Also, according to Polish labor law, the probation period should be only three months. So in this scenario, you might ask your new employer for Annex 1. In Annex 1, the employer should mention that after the probation period, they will provide an unterpreted contract.
Anyone with a blue card in Poland who has completed 2 years with it can start a B2B company or take on a B2B role. There are no special privileges for students. If anyone wants to start a B2B company, they must have held the Blue Card for 2 years.
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