Avalon Logistics Group - Aktualności - How to obtain a work permit in Poland?

Thanks to the European Union, taking up employment abroad is no longer as complicated as it used to be. Member states have mutually opened their job markets for foreigners, including Poland. In the territory of the Republic of Poland, citizens of EU member states are exempt from the requirement of having a work permit. However, for many nationalities, obtaining a work permit in Poland is still necessary.

Work permit for foreigners in Poland – who needs it?

A work permit for foreigners in Poland is required if the employee is a citizen of a country outside of:

the European Union,
the European Economic Area,

and does not possess a permit for permanent/temporary residence or refugee status.

Work permit in Poland – who is exempt?

Citizens from the following countries are exempt from the obligation to obtain a work permit in Poland: EU member states, Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, the United Kingdom, and Iceland. Under certain conditions, citizens of the following countries also do not need work permits:

Republic of Armenia
Republic of Belarus
Republic of Georgia
Republic of Moldova
Russian Federation
Ukraine,

this exemption applies when they work for a period not exceeding 6 months within a consecutive 12-month period. This is subject to the condition that:

the employer registers a statement of intent to entrust work to a foreigner (for a maximum period of 6 months) with the district labor office,
the foreigner has a valid visa allowing work in Poland or a temporary residence permit in the Republic of Poland.

Citizens of specific countries may be legally exempt from having a work permit in Poland. This is the case when they:

have refugee status granted in the Republic of Poland,
benefit from complementary protection in the Republic of Poland,
have a permit for permanent residence in the Republic of Poland,
have a long-term resident of the European Union residence permit in the Republic of Poland,
have consent for humanitarian reasons,
have tolerated stay consent in the Republic of Poland,
benefit from temporary protection in the Republic of Poland,
have a valid certificate of protection granted in the territory of the Republic of Poland,
stay in the territory of the Republic of Poland based on a residence document issued by another EU member state, and the purpose of the stay in the territory of the Republic of Poland is to work as a senior manager, specialist, or employee undergoing intra-corporate transfer for a period not exceeding 90 days in a 180-day period.

Type A, B, and C permits – differences and fees

In Poland, one can apply for type A, B, and C permits. An employer always applies for a work permit for a specific foreigner. The fee for a work permit in Poland is:

PLN 50 for employment of a foreigner for less than 3 months,
PLN 100 for employment lasting more than 3 months.

Type A Work Permit

Type A work permits are the most commonly applied for and issued permits. They are granted to foreigners based on an agreement with an employer whose registered office or branches where the employee will work are located in Poland. Type A permits are issued for a period not exceeding 3 years.

It’s important to note that in such cases, the foreigner’s remuneration cannot be lower than that of employees performing work of a comparable nature. The monthly salary cannot be lower than the minimum wage. Additionally, the employer must have a certificate from the county governor stating the inability to satisfy the employer’s personnel needs based on the registry of the unemployed and job seekers.

Type B Work Permit

Type B permits, depending on circumstances, are issued for a period of up to 3 years or up to 5 years. Foreigners who need this permit are those who:

hold a position on the management board of a legal entity registered in the business register,
hold a position on the management board of a legal entity that is a capital company under formation,
handle the affairs of a limited partnership or a limited joint-stock partnership as general partners or proxies if they held this position for more than 6 months in the past 12 months.

Type C Work Permit

Type C work permits are issued to foreigners employed by a foreign company who are on a secondment to Poland for more than 30 days.

Application for a foreigner’s work permit

The application for a work permit for a foreigner in the territory of the Republic of Poland can be obtained from the government’s website. The matter can be handled:

during a visit to the provincial office,
by mail.

Foreign nationals cannot commence work without permission. Therefore, it is advisable to apply for it as early as possible. The issuance of the document may take up to 30 days or sometimes even longer. When reviewing applications, the voivode gives priority to entrepreneurs conducting activities of strategic importance to the national economy.

Many foreigners work in Poland as Uber or Bolt drivers, as well as delivery drivers and couriers for Glovo or Wolt. They often establish partnerships with fleet partners, enabling them to fulfill orders for major transportation and on-demand courier companies. This is precisely the opportunity offered by Avalon Logistics Group.

Our team includes both Poles and foreigners who appreciate the transparent and flexible form of cooperation. They can focus solely on fulfilling orders because Avalon Logistics Group guarantees: