Unified Residence and Work Permit under the New Single Permit Directive — Poland from 22 May 2026
Table of contents
What is the unified residence and work permit (single permit)?
The single permit is one document — the residence card — combining the right to reside and work in Poland. It replaces separate procedures: a residence permit and a separate work permit. The transposition deadline for directive 2024/1233 expired on 21.05.2026; the scope and date of Polish implementing provisions are to be confirmed in the Journal of Laws.
What does directive 2024/1233 change?
- Single window — one authority handles the entire residence-and-work procedure
- Simplified information access — the foreigner must receive a written explanation of their rights
- Equal treatment — single permit holders have equal treatment with Polish citizens (citizens of the host state) in terms of training, leave and benefits — art. 12 of directive 2024/1233
- Protection against abuse — employers cannot condition continued employment on withholding information about working conditions
Shorter processing deadlines
Directive 2024/1233 obliges member states to process single permit applications within 90 days of submission of complete documentation. The earlier directive 2011/98/EU provided for 4 months; Polish law has a special deadline of 60 days (art. 112a of the Act on Foreigners). The new rules strengthen the right to file urgency complaints in case of delays.
Worker rights with the single permit
Single permit holders are entitled to:
- The same pay as domestic workers in the same position
- Freedom to join trade unions
- Annual leave and sick leave on the same terms
- Transfer to another employer subject to permit conditions
Practical effects for employers
Employers must ensure that single permit holders are not discriminated against in pay and working conditions. Charging workers for recruitment and legalization costs is prohibited. Violations may result in financial penalties and loss of the ability to employ foreigners.
Questions about the single permit after the changes? Contact getpermit.pl — we advise both employers and workers.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Legal status as of August 2026 — regulations may change. For individual cases we recommend consulting a lawyer.