Work permit
Work permit for a foreigner — employer's application via praca.gov.pl, fee 200/400 PLN, post-issuance obligations. We check if a permit is needed at all.
A work permit (zezwolenie na prace) legalizes employment only (not residence) and is issued by the voivode upon an application from the entity entrusting the work. Since 1 June 2025, the new Act on the Conditions of Admissibility of Entrusting Work to Foreigners has been in force. Applications are submitted exclusively electronically via praca.gov.pl.
Requirements
Salary no lower than that of comparable employees, working hours from 1/4 to full-time; the foreigner must separately hold a residence title that allows them to work.
What the GetPermit service includes (for employers)
- verification of whether a permit is needed at all (a broad catalog of exemptions — including Karta Polaka holders, graduates of Polish universities, permanent residents, EU long-term residents);
- preparation and submission of the application on praca.gov.pl;
- correcting deficiencies at the office's request;
- ensuring compliance with obligations after the permit is issued (notification obligations, submitting a copy of the contract before work begins).
Deadlines and official fees
Stamp duty: 200 PLN (work up to 3 months), 400 PLN (entrusting work for more than 3 months).
What to watch out for
Notification obligations of the entity entrusting work and the obligation to submit a copy of the foreigner's contract at least one day before work begins. In certain cases, a faster alternative may be an employer's declaration on entrusting work or a notification (for Ukrainian citizens).