Work Permit for Foreigners in Poland — Types, Conditions & Procedure

Type A Permit — most commonly used

Type A work permit applies to foreigners performing work in Poland on the basis of a contract with an entity whose registered office, place of residence, branch, plant or other place of business is located in Poland.

• Issued by the Voivodeship Office at the employer's request
• Maximum period: 3 years (extendable)
• Requires a labour market test (starost's information) — with exceptions

Type B Permit

Applies to foreigners serving in the management board of a legal person entered in the register of entrepreneurs or being a joint-stock company in formation (for more than 6 months per year).

Type C, D, E Permits

Type C: work for a foreign employer delegating to a Polish subsidiary. Type D: work for a foreign employer delegating to perform a temporary service. Type E: other cases — work for a foreign employer.

Single Permit (combined work and residence)

Combines a temporary residence permit and a work permit in one procedure. Issued by the Voivodeship Office. Ideal for foreigners planning a longer stay and employment in Poland.

EU Blue Card

For highly qualified workers (higher education or at least 5 years of professional experience) with high remuneration (at least 150% of average salary). Grants right to work and residence and simplified EU mobility procedures.

• Citizens of the EU, EEA and Switzerland
• Foreigners with a permanent residence card or EU resident card
• Students studying in Poland (up to 20 hours per week)
• Citizens of 6 countries using the simplified declaration procedure
• Spouses of Polish citizens

Before submitting an application for a type A permit, the employer in most cases must obtain the so-called starost's information on the inability to meet staffing needs — confirming that there are no candidates on the local labour market who meet the requirements. Employers hiring for positions on the list of shortage occupations are exempt from this requirement.

1. 1Employer submits application to the Voivodeship Office competent for the place of work performance.
2. 2Waiting for the Voivodeship Office decision — time: 1 to 4 months.
3. 3Forwarding the permit to the worker — may serve as the basis for applying for a visa.
4. 4If the foreigner is already in Poland — registers in the system on the basis of the issued permit.

• Application for a work permit
• Copy of document confirming the employer's identity
• Copies of company registration documents
• Starost's information (if required)
• Documents regarding the position: scope of duties, required qualifications, remuneration
• Permit fee: PLN 200–400 depending on the period of validity

Everlegal.pl handles the entire work permit procedure — from selecting the appropriate permit type, through document preparation, to application submission and progress monitoring. We handle both individual cases and mass orders for companies employing many workers.