A foreigner can work legally in Poland by meeting specific conditions; their situation depends on the country of origin. These rules also apply to working as a courier for a delivery app.
According to the law, every foreigner must have a work permit unless regulations state otherwise (exceptions include full-time students, individuals who are married to a Polish citizen and have received a residence permit based on the marital relationship).
Additionally, a foreigner may work in the territory of the Republic of Poland without a work permit or temporary residence and work permit if they:
- Have refugee status granted in the Republic of Poland;
- Have been granted supplementary protection in the Republic of Poland;
- Have a permanent residence permit in the Republic of Poland;
- Have a long-term resident permit of the European Union in the Republic of Poland;
- Have humanitarian stay permission;
- Have tolerated stay permission in the Republic of Poland;
- Have a valid certificate issued based on Article 35(1) of the Act of June 13, 2003, on granting protection to foreigners within the territory of the Republic of Poland;
- Are under temporary protection in the Republic of Poland;
- Are a citizen of a European Union member state,
- Are a citizen of a European Economic Area state not belonging to the European Union;
- Are a citizen of a state not party to the agreement on the European Economic Area, which can enjoy freedom of movement based on an agreement concluded by that state with the European Community and its member states;
- Accompany a foreigner, as mentioned in points 9-11, on the territory of the Republic of Poland as a family member within the meaning of the Act of July 14, 2006, on entry into the territory of the Republic of Poland, stay, and departure from this territory of EU citizens and their family members;
- Have a valid Polish Card.
There are facilitations for residents of six countries – Belarus, Moldova, Georgia, Russia, Armenia, and Ukraine. A simplified procedure is applied to citizens of these countries. The permit rate from the Labor Office is set at a level to achieve the minimum social standard. For foreigners from these countries, it is sufficient to apply to the District Labor Office for a statement of the intention to entrust work to a foreigner. The waiting time for approval is on average 7-14 working days. Such a statement is issued for 6 months.
