Unified Residence and Work Permit under the New Single Permit Directive — Poland from 22 May 2026

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. From 22 May 2026, Poland applies the revised directive 2024/1233, updating the earlier directive 2011/98/EU.

• 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 the same rights to training, leave and benefits as EU citizens
• Protection against abuse — employers cannot condition continued employment on withholding information about working conditions

Directive 2024/1233 obliges member states to process single permit applications within 90 days of submission of complete documentation. The new rules strengthen the right to file urgency complaints in case of delays.

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

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.