The long-awaited recast of the EU Blue Card Directive formally entered into force this week, bringing lower minimum-salary thresholds, shorter contract-duration requirements and easier intra-EU mobility for highly skilled third-country nationals. Consulting firm Fragomen notes that Poland, which implemented key provisions ahead of schedule in June 2025, has already emerged as the bloc’s second-largest Blue Card issuer, with a surge in approvals for Ukrainian and Indian IT professionals(fragomen.com).
Under the recast, member states may set salary thresholds between 1.0 and 1.6 times their average gross wage, down from the previous EU-wide floor of 1.5. Poland has opted for the lower bound—around PLN 11,700 per month in 2026—making the permit competitive with national combined residence-and-work permits. Other changes include recognition of equivalent professional experience in lieu of formal degrees and shortened processing deadlines, capped at 60 days for standard cases.
![EU Blue Card Recast Takes Effect: What Changes Mean for Polish Employers]()
For employers or professionals navigating these new rules, VisaHQ can streamline the process with online application tools, expert document checks and real-time status updates; visit https://www.visahq.com/poland/ to see how the platform supports Polish work and residence permits alongside other EU mobility solutions.
For Polish employers, especially in the tech, engineering and business-services sectors, the revamped scheme offers a faster, transferable route that can cover positions across the EU without repeating labour-market tests. The card also grants holders immediate labour-market access for partners and provides an easier pathway to permanent residence after 27 months of legal stay.
However, the recast amplifies compliance duties: companies must notify authorities of any substantial role change or intra-EU assignment exceeding 90 days, and they remain liable for repatriation costs if contracts terminate early. HR teams are advised to update mobility policies, compare the Blue Card with Poland’s national permits—which remain quicker in some voivodeships—and budget for higher government fees introduced on 1 January 2026.
Under the recast, member states may set salary thresholds between 1.0 and 1.6 times their average gross wage, down from the previous EU-wide floor of 1.5. Poland has opted for the lower bound—around PLN 11,700 per month in 2026—making the permit competitive with national combined residence-and-work permits. Other changes include recognition of equivalent professional experience in lieu of formal degrees and shortened processing deadlines, capped at 60 days for standard cases.
For employers or professionals navigating these new rules, VisaHQ can streamline the process with online application tools, expert document checks and real-time status updates; visit https://www.visahq.com/poland/ to see how the platform supports Polish work and residence permits alongside other EU mobility solutions.
For Polish employers, especially in the tech, engineering and business-services sectors, the revamped scheme offers a faster, transferable route that can cover positions across the EU without repeating labour-market tests. The card also grants holders immediate labour-market access for partners and provides an easier pathway to permanent residence after 27 months of legal stay.
However, the recast amplifies compliance duties: companies must notify authorities of any substantial role change or intra-EU assignment exceeding 90 days, and they remain liable for repatriation costs if contracts terminate early. HR teams are advised to update mobility policies, compare the Blue Card with Poland’s national permits—which remain quicker in some voivodeships—and budget for higher government fees introduced on 1 January 2026.
