Attention! The minimum wage for the EU Blue Card is changing!
The Central Statistical Office has announced the average wage in the national economy for 2025. This figure is of crucial importance for companies planning to hire highly qualified foreign workers.
📊 Average salary in 2025: 8,903.56 PLN
Minimum salary for the EU Blue Card in 2026: 13,355.34 PLN gross per month
This is the amount that will apply to applications submitted starting in 2026.
Where does the new salary threshold come from?
Under the provisions of the EU Blue Card, the salary of a foreign national applying for a temporary residence permit to perform highly qualified work must be at least 150% of the average salary from the previous year.
Therefore, the amount of 8,903.56 zł announced by the Central Statistical Office (GUS) automatically sets a new threshold:
8,903.56 PLN × 150% = 13,355.34 PLN gross per month
In practice, this means a significant increase in the financial requirements for employers planning to hire specialists from outside the EU.
Who is affected by the new salary threshold?
The date the application is submitted is crucial.
✔️ Applications submitted in 2025 – are still subject to the current income threshold.
✔️ Applications submitted starting in 2026 – must meet the new threshold of 13,355.34 zł gross.
It is worth noting that what matters is the date the application is formally submitted, not the date the contract is signed or work begins.
What does this mean in practice for employers?
Changing the salary threshold under the EU Blue Card is not just a formal matter. It is a factor that directly affects:
-
recruitment budgets,
-
compensation policy,
-
work schedules,
-
decisions regarding the relocation of specialists.
Failure to adjust compensation to the applicable threshold may result in:
❌ refusal to grant a residence permit,
❌ the need to change the terms of the contract,
❌ a delay in the legalization process,
❌ loss of a candidate.
In addition, every revision of documents involves additional time and procedural risks.
The EU Blue Card as a Strategic Tool
The EU Blue Card is one of the most important tools enabling companies to hire highly qualified professionals from outside the European Union.
However, in 2026, its availability will depend to a greater extent on:
-
the employer's actual ability to pay,
-
the accuracy of the documentation,
-
precise planning of the legalization process.
Conversely, with competition for IT specialists, engineers, and technical experts on the rise, procedural delays can mean losing a competitive edge in recruitment.
Our recommendation: Plan ahead
From the perspective of the labor market, the change in the minimum wage threshold for the EU Blue Card in 2026 signals that:
-
The legalization of highly qualified professionals requires even greater precision,
-
Recruitment budgets should be planned in advance,
-
HR and operational departments must work closely together.
Therefore, we recommend:
✔️ Review the current compensation policy,
✔️ Analyze the recruitment plans for 2026,
✔️ Adjust job offers and draft contracts to reflect the new threshold,
✔️ Allow for the time needed for the legalization process.
The EU Blue Card remains an effective tool, but in the current climate, it requires informed risk management.
The minimum salary for an EU Blue Card in 2026 will be 13,355.34 PLN gross per month.
Companies planning to hire highly qualified foreign nationals should take this new threshold into account in their job offers and recruitment plans starting now.
The sooner the financial requirements are verified, the lower the risk of rejection and delays in the legalization process.