Let’s start with the most fundamental question. Do you need a work permit? Poland is part of the European Union, therefore, citizens of EEA countries (EU + Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland and Switzerland) can work in Poland without any special permits and bureaucratic hassle. If you are a lucky citizen of one of these countries you can finish reading here and start looking for a job.
You don’t need to apply for a work permit if you are intending to work in Poland for no longer than 6 months per year (please note that your employer needs to fulfil some legal obligations like registering in a local labour office the fact that you are hired as a seasonal worker).
You will need to apply for a visa (or residence permit) and work permit in order to work legally in Poland. As always, there are a few exceptions to this rule. In the following cases a work permit is not required:
Are you getting the alert? You can see a more detailed list of cases when a work permit is not required on the government website here. Please note that if you are staying in Poland because of temporary protection or humanitarian reasons you can’t legally work in Poland.
Obtaining a work permit in Poland can be a tricky thing but before we get to it, let’s clarify a couple of topics. To legally work in Poland you need to not only have a work permit but also legalise your stay. These are two different legal matters and should not be confused. By obtaining a visa or a residence permit you can legally stay in Poland, but it doesn’t mean you can work.
To legally work in Poland you need a work permit and this document can only be granted based on a request from your future employer. In other words, you can’t apply for a work permit yourself. This is the most tricky part of the process as you need to first find a job and an employer who is willing to hire you.
In order to obtain a visa for the purpose of work a foreigner should supply the visa application with a work permit or the employer’s written statement on the intention of delegating work to the foreigner, if a work permit is not required. These documents are obtained by the entity wishing to employ foreigners
Foreigners staying in Poland legally, whose purpose of residence is work, can apply for a temporary residence and work permit or a temporary residence permit for the purpose of work in profession requiring high qualifications.
Information on employment of foreigners is available, for example, on the website of the public employment services portal.
These permits are issued by the Staroste in the so-called procedure of one application, resulting in issuing of one document authorizing the foreigner both to stay and work in Poland, without the need of having additional work permit. As a rule, the application for these permits must be supplemented with information from the Staroste on the lack of possibility of satisfying the HR needs based on the local labour market, which is obtained in the District Labour Office by the foreigner’s employer.