Poland

We are providing facilities to get a job legally in Poland by means to ensure legal work and stay in Poland. Without a legal work permit, you can not start your job in Poland. Employers prefer to have ready to work labor force, so each worker has to have a work permit. Therefore you will have many more chances to get a job once you have a work permit in your hands. Moreover, you can come to Poland and look for work opportunities on the spot. Please mind that process to obtain a work permit takes several months, therefore the earlier you start, the earlier you receive a work permit.

How to get a work permit for a foreigner in Poland?

– this is a question asked by foreigners who intend to work in Poland or Polish companies that need new employees.

In Poland, there is a constant shortage of labor force. Out of 38.4 million inhabitants, only 16.5 million work. According to Eurostat, which analyzes employment between the ages of 20 and 64, the EU average was 73.1%. For Poland, is 72.2%. while for Sweden is 82.4%.

In the coming years, Polish employers will be looking for employees from abroad. Thus, the subject of work permits for foreigners in Poland is valid for many years.

What are the types of work permits in Poland?

The most common form of obtaining a work permit for a foreigner is ‘Declaration to employ a foreigner’.

This type of work permit can be described as a simplified procedure for obtaining a work permit. This procedure can be used for citizens of Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Russia, and Ukraine.

The standard procedure concerns obtaining a work permit for a type A or type B foreigner.

Type A work permits apply to all employees other than board members

Type B work permits apply to board members

What job positions are mostly offered to foreigners in Poland?

In Poland, the largest number of economic migrants are citizens of Ukraine, Belarus, China, and Vietnam (data from January 2020). Most often, work permits are applied for by foreigners from neighboring countries or from countries where there is an excess of the labor force who cannot find work in their home country. Employing foreigners in Poland is far from cities with over 500,000. residents (21%).

What is the procedure for obtaining a work permit in Poland?

Simplified procedure: Statement on entrusting work to a foreigner

1. What citizens can apply for a work permit: this procedure applies to citizens of Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine, India, Africa 
2. Authorizes the foreigner to work within 6 months within the next 12 months. After the 12-month period, you can re-submit the statement for the next 12 months.
3. Waiting time for decisions – usually 7 days, in individual cases up to 30 days
4. Tax – 30 PLN.

Standard procedure: Type A or type B work permit for a foreigner to work in Poland

1. What citizens can apply for a work permit: this procedure applies to citizens of all countries.
2. Type A permit – for a foreigner working in Poland, pursuant to a contract with an entity whose registered office, place of residence or branch, plant, or other forms of organized activity is located in Poland.
   Type B work permit – for board members.
   Type A work permit is issued for a period of max. 3 years. Type B permit is issued for a period of 3 or 5 years.
3. Waiting time for a decision: 2-3 months
4. Tax – PLN 100.

An important issue is the qualifications for the profession of specialist employees, the so-called professional qualifications: operators of construction machinery, road machines, electricians, welders, etc. Numerous training centers offer courses for welders, operators, and other specialists. Course cost from  1000 to 2000 PLN. The courses last from 1 to several weeks. The training prepares you to pass the exam and obtain permission. On the example of the welder, permits are issued for a period of 2 years.

Documents that will be needed:

 • An apostilled notary copy of the passport
• An apostilled notary copy of the documents proving work qualifications and education (copies confirmed by notary and consulate)
• Contract of employment
• POA for AtoZ Serwis Plus sp. z o employee – we prepare the draft and your signature is confirmed by the notary and apostilled

What job positions are mostly offered to foreigners in Poland?

In Poland, the largest number of economic migrants are citizens of Ukraine, Belarus, China, and Vietnam (data from January 2020). Most often, work permits are applied for by foreigners from neighboring countries or from countries where there is an excess of the labor force who cannot find work in their home country. Employing foreigners in Poland is far from cities with over 500,000. residents (21%).

What jobs are waiting for foreigners in Poland?

Foreigners with qualifications have more chances to obtain the work permit, the demand for professionals with several years of experience is constantly growing. The greatest demand is in the construction sector. Demand for foreigners is for simple jobs but also for jobs for foreigners – professionals such as bricklayer, stonemason, welder, steel structure fitter, carpenter, roofer, etc. According to experts, approximately 22% of foreign employees work in construction. The most frequently chosen professions include production workers, seamstresses, room service, cashiers and cashiers in supermarkets or mechanics, transport industry: a truck driver and mechanic and gastronomy: cook, waiter, cashier. There is a great demand for IT employees and call center employees. Often foreigners work below their qualifications. The main reason here is ignorance of the Polish language.

What is the remuneration for foreigners in Poland?

In 2020, the minimum wage for foreigners and Poles is 2600 PLN gross, which means 1920 PLN net, and the minimum hourly rate is 17 PLN gross. That is what every foreigner should earn, according to the law.

Foreigners working in managerial and IT positions receive the best salaries. Foreign IT employees are able to achieve salaries of PLN 5,000 or more. In the industry related to the production of cars – an average of PLN 2,500 net, i.e. PLN 3,421.90 gross.

Work permit in other EU countries on the example of work in Germany

In the EU, all national visas give employment permits to work only in the country that issued them. All EU companies, as well as Polish companies that have employed foreigners, can send their employees to work in Germany. But for this purpose, a foreign worker must apply for a Van der Elst working visa.

The employment process in such a company for a foreigner will be as follows:

1. The first stage is the employment of a foreigner in a Polish company with a branch in Germany (or another EU country) or concluding a contract with a German company for the provision of services.
2. The second stage – obtaining an employment visa.
3. Arranging a Polish employer for a business trip to Germany and registering the employee at the German embassy (Van der Elst visa).

What is a Van der Elst visa? It is a document that must be obtained to work in Germany.

Many international companies with branches in Poland or Germany or related to each other under relevant contracts allow work in Germany under an employment contract in Poland. It should be noted that the duration of such work will be limited.

List of documents, costs, and conditions for obtaining a Van der Elst visa – please write to info@atozserwisplus.pl  and we provide you details.

Summery –  if you have a Polish work visa or a residence permit in Poland, and the employing company is in Poland, you can be sent on a business trip to Germany or another EU country, after obtaining a special Van der Elst visa at the consulate of the country to which it belongs.

If you want to know more about work permits for Ukrainians, Belarusians, Russians, Armenians, and Georgians, write to us