Blue card

Who is affected by the application?

The application should be submitted if the foreigner intends to stay in Poland for more than 3 months and if the main purpose of the stay is to perform work in an occupation requiring higher professional qualifications.

The application for a temporary residence permit should be submitted no later than on the last day of legal stay in Poland.

If the application is submitted on time and there are no formal deficiencies in it, or the formal deficiencies are corrected within the period indicated by the office, the stay will be legal from the date of submission of the application until the date on which the decision on this matter becomes final.

Necessary documents

  • 2 copies of the application for a temporary residence permit filled out in accordance with the instructions, it is possible to complete the application online in the Case Managemenet Module,
  • appendix No. 1, which is filled out by the employer of the foreigner or an authorized person with the appropriate authorization,
  • appendix No. 2 to the application, filled out in full by the foreigner,
  • 4 current color photographs, undamaged, 45×35 mm in size, taken within the last 6 months on a uniform light-colored background, having good sharpness and showing clearly the eyes and face from the top of the head to the upper part of the shoulders; the face is to occupy 70-80% of the photograph; the photograph is to depict a person looking straight ahead with open eyes, uncovered hair with a natural expression and closed mouth,
  • a valid travel document (photocopy of all written pages, original for inspection),
  • confirmation of payment of the stamp duty in the amount of PLN 440 to the account of the City of Łódź Office no. 50 1240 1037 1111 0011 0925 0073.

Note: the absence of any of the above-mentioned documents will result in the foreigner being summoned to supplement it within no less than 7 days from the delivery of the summons under pain of leaving the application unprocessed.

In order for the proceedings to be initiated, confirmation of payment of stamp duty must also be attached to the case file.

Documents confirming the circumstances indicated in the application:

  • appendix No. 1 to the application confirms that the foreigner has the purpose of staying in Poland for more than 3 months, a stable and regular source of income and health insurance (in the case of an employment contract and a contract of mandate). On the basis of this document, we verify that you have sufficient income to support yourself. The conditions for entrustment of labor specified in Appendix No. 1 must be up-to-date on the date of issuance of the permit and must be consistent with the conditions arising from other documents, e.g., the labor contract, the starost’s information,
  • the original of the starost’s information or a document confirming the exemption from this obligation. (Tip 3) If a document is required, the application should be accompanied by the original information of the starost of the district competent for the foreigner’s main place of work – its absence is not a formal deficiency, but the inclusion of all properly prepared documents when submitting the application will help streamline its processing during the evidentiary proceedings,
  • a contract of employment, an employment contract, a civil law contract, on the basis of which the foreigner performs work, provides services or remains in a business relationship concluded for a period of at least 1 year,
  • a document confirming possession of higher professional qualifications, e.g. a higher education diploma in the original with its translation into Polish by a sworn translator.

The gross annual salary resulting from the monthly or annual salary indicated in the contract cannot be less than the equivalent of 150% of the amount of the average salary in the national economy in the year preceding the application for temporary residence.

How to submit an application

Method of application:

  • In person, after booking an appointment in the online system
  • At the application office of the Department of Foreigners for legalization of stay and work
  • Through the Post Office
  • By dropping the application into the application box.

How to collect the residence card

You can pick up the residence card about 2-3 weeks after receiving a positive decision. For this purpose, you should go to the office. Collection of residence cards takes place at window 2 after taking a ticket from the ticket machine.

How to replace the residence card

A foreigner must apply for replacement of the residence card in case of:

  • a change in the data included in the previously held residence card;
  • a change in the facial image of the holder of the residence card in relation to the facial image on the card to an extent that makes it difficult or impossible to identify the card holder;
  • loss of the residence card;
  • damage to the document.

An application for replacement of the residence card should be submitted within 14 days of the occurrence of reasons for replacing the document.

If the residence card is lost or damaged, the governor who issued the card should be notified within 3 days of the loss or damage to the document.