Requirements

The foreigner is a third-country national or stateless person, and at the time of applying for this matter is legally staying in the territory of Poland (excluding stay, inter alia, for tourist purposes, visiting family or friends, in connection with scientific research).

Both the declared and actual purpose of the foreigner's stay in Poland is to take up or continue to perform work in a highly qualified profession.

It is therefore about a profession for which specialised knowledge, skills and competences, acquired in the course of higher education or by practising the profession in question, are required.

The performance of work must be the basis for applying for a temporary residence and work permit and at the same time must justify the foreigner's stay in Poland for more than 3 months.

This means that they will perform work in a profession that is not on the list of professions, referred to in art. 31 ust. 3 of the Act of 20 March 2025 on the conditions for the permissibility of entrusting work to a foreigner in the territory of the Republic of Poland.

This refers to the list drawn up by the starost, which specifies the professions, for whom work permits are not issued, due to the difficult situation on the local labour market.

Such a list is intended to protect the priority of Polish and EU/EFTA citizens in taking up employment in a given profession.

	The requirement toes not apply if the foreigner:
is a citizen of the Republic of Turkey; immediately before submitting the application, held a work permit or temporary residence and work permit, or Blue Card permit in the same position with the same employer (case of continuation of work); legally performed work in Poland for at least 2 years under a Blue Card permit; is exempt from the obligation to hold a work permit, on the basis of separate provisions.

The requirement toes not apply if the foreigner:

is a citizen of the Republic of Turkey;
immediately before submitting the application, held a work permit or temporary residence and work permit, or Blue Card permit in the same position with the same employer (case of continuation of work);
legally performed work in Poland for at least 2 years under a Blue Card permit;
is exempt from the obligation to hold a work permit, on the basis of separate provisions.

the agreement governs the performance by the foreigner of work, provision of services or remaining in an employment relationship in a profession requiring high qualifications - it may be an employment contract, a home work contract or a civil law contract (e.g. mandate, for specific work);
umowa jest zawarta na at least 6 months;
in the case of regulated professions - also meets other legally required criteria for the given profession;

The annual gross remuneration resulting from the monthly or annual remuneration indicated in the agreement may not be lower than the equivbutnt of 150% of the average remuneration in the national economy in the year preceding the application for this permit.

In the case of applications submitted in 2026. skumulowane remuneration brutto must not be less than 160,264.08 PLN, which means receiving a monthly gross amount above 13,355.34 PLN.

Calculation sample: 1.5 x 8,903.56 PLN x 12 months.

Higher professional qualifications are knowledge and skills acquired:

	thanks to higher education;
	⇒ It concerns at least a 3-year cycle of higher education studies successfully completed at a university recognised in the country in which it is based. Completion of studies is confirmed by the award of a diploma, certificate or other document issued for that purpose.

	thanks to 5 years of professional experience;
	⇒ Professional experience is the sum of skills, knowledge and practice acquired during employment, conducting business activity, or providing services. ⇒ Qualifications obtained in this way should correspond to those obtained during higher education. ⇒ In the case of certain professions 3 years suffice professional experience acquired in the last 7 years prior to submitting the application - click and go to the announcement containing the list of those professions.

thanks to 5 years of professional experience;

⇒ Professional experience is the sum of skills, knowledge and practice acquired during employment, conducting business activity, or providing services.

⇒ Qualifications obtained in this way should correspond to those obtained during higher education.

⇒ In the case of certain professions 3 years suffice professional experience acquired in the last 7 years prior to submitting the application - click and go to the announcement containing the list of those professions.

⇒ Information on regulated professions can be found, among others, on Biznes.gov.pl -go to information.

- within the meaning of the Act of 27 August 2004 on healthcare services financed from public funds or confirmation of the insurer covering the costs of medical treatment in the territory of the Republic of Poland (or upon taking up employment will be covered by such insurance by operation of law) or confirmation of the insurer covering the costs of medical treatment in the territory of the Republic of Poland;

- including depending on the obligations imposed on them and the defined method of their fulfilment:

submitted through MOS an application for a permit in electronic form in the manner specified in the provisions together with the necessary annexes;
paid the due stamp duty;
appeared at the appointment at the provincial office, in accordance with the summons, and during it:
- presented a valid travel tocument (or in justified cases, if they to not have a travel tocument,
- submitted fingerprints;
- submitted a signature specimen.

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+ the foreigner is entitled to obtain this permit;

+ the purpose of stay justifies granting the permit;

+ the foreigner will work in an occupation in which there is no surplus of employment;

+ the foreigner has concluded an employment contract meeting the specified conditions;

+ the foreigner will receive remuneration at an appropriate level;

+ the foreigner has higher professional qualifications necessary to perform work in the given profession;

- or the foreigner holds formal qualifications and meets other conditions necessary to practise a regulated profession;

+ the foreigner has health insurance;

+ the foreigner has fulfilled the formal requirements related to the permit;

+ there are no circumstances justifying refusal to initiate, suspension or discontinuation of the proceedings regarding the application or justifying refusal to grant the permit;