Documents Needed for Work Permit in Poland in 2025: Complete Guide for Foreigners

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Are you preparing to work in Poland but unsure what documents you’ll need in 2025? Good news—procedures are becoming simpler! Starting June 1, 2025, all permit applications will be submitted exclusively online, and the labor market test requirement for employers will be completely eliminated.

However, there are important changes you need to know about in advance.

Employers will now be required to send a copy of the employment contract to the labor office before a foreigner begins work.

For employment agencies, a two-year moratorium is being introduced—this is to combat fraudulent schemes that harm honest job seekers.

We’ll explain what documents you actually need for legal work in Poland in 2025, how employment rules will change, and what special conditions apply to Ukrainian citizens.

Most importantly: how to avoid problems and prevent fines or deportation.

What’s Changing in Employment Rules from 2025

2025 will be a turning point for anyone planning to work in Poland. Polish authorities are fundamentally changing their approach to foreign employment.

Three main areas of change:

1. Simplification of procedures — everything is moving to an online format.
2. Increased control — inspections will become stricter and fines larger.
3. Fighting fraud — new restrictions for dishonest agencies.

These changes will affect everyone: both those planning to relocate and those already working in Poland.

All Procedures Moving Online

From 2025, the work permit application process will become completely electronic. No more paper applications, office queues, or waiting several weeks.

What this means in practice:

The praca.gov.pl portal will become a one-stop shop for all procedures. Employers will be able to submit applications, receive decisions, and communicate with government authorities through a single website.

Main advantages:

• Faster application processing
• Less time spent on document preparation
• Transparency of the process — all statuses visible online

Updated IT systems should significantly speed up the entire employment process. Previously, obtaining a permit took months; now the timeframes will be reduced dramatically.

Documents Only Online

Forget about paper applications and office queues! From June 1, 2025, all work permits will be processed exclusively online. If you submit documents the old way, they simply won’t be considered.

What this means for you:

The job.gov.pl portal will become a single window for all procedures. Employers will be able to quickly connect with permit-issuing authorities. Decisions on your documents will be stored electronically — no more lost certificates.

Personal Account for Foreigners

Everyone will have their own account where they can check: – Whether your work permit is valid – If your employer is paying social contributions – Information about your current employment

New Rules for Document Handling

Now all employment contracts must be registered in advance. The employer is required to send a copy of the contract to the voivode or starost immediately after the work permit is issued or the declaration is registered.

Umowa o pracę (employment contract) is becoming the main type of contract for foreigners. If the contract is drafted in a foreign language, a translation into Polish by a sworn translator will be required.

What will change for employers:

Now the employer must notify the authority that issued the permit within 7 days if the foreigner: – Did not start work within 2 months from the permit’s effective date – Interrupted work for more than 2 months – Terminated work earlier than 2 months before the permit’s expiration date

Important: Failure to comply with these deadlines may result in fines and problems obtaining new permits.

What Employers Need to Know: New Restrictions from 2025

Polish authorities are tightening control over employers who hire foreigners. The new rules aim to combat fraudulent schemes and protect honest job seekers.

Ban on Working with Visas from Other Schengen Countries

Important: from 2025, foreigners with visas from other Schengen zone countries cannot work in Poland.

This applies to visas issued for: – Tourism – Medical treatment – Education (except full-time programs) – Private visits – Participation in cultural or sporting events – Transit – Humanitarian or religious purposes

Even with a valid work permit, a foreigner cannot work in Poland on a tourist visa (purpose 1) or temporary protection visa (purpose 20).

Exception: students with a full-time education visa (purpose 9) can work without additional permits.

Documents Needed for Legal Work in Poland

Now to the main point — what documents you’ll actually need for legal work. The requirements are clear, and it’s better to prepare everything in advance than to solve problems with authorities later.

Basic Documents for All Foreigners

Passport — must be valid. The validity period should cover the entire planned work period.

Document confirming legal stay: – National or Schengen visa with work authorization – Karta pobytu (residence card) (temporary up to 3 years or permanent) – Stamp in passport confirming application for a residence card – Visa-free regime (for countries with relevant agreements)

Important: If you plan to stay more than 3 months, apply to the voivode at your place of residence for a residence permit.

Types of Work Permits

• Type A — work for a Polish employer (most common)
• Type B — for board members of companies
• Type C — posted workers from foreign companies
• Type D — temporary export services
• Type E — other forms of work for a foreign employer
• Type S — seasonal work in agriculture and tourism

Oświadczenie (declaration of entrusting work) — simplified procedure for citizens of Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine.

Single permit — residence and work in one document. Very convenient — all formalities are resolved at once.

Special Conditions for Ukrainian Citizens

Ukrainians can work without additional permits provided they have legal residence. After February 24, 2022, a special law on temporary protection applies.

What Ukrainian citizens who arrived after 24.02.2022 need: – Foreign passport with border crossing stamp (sometimes an internal passport is sufficient) – PESEL number — obtain within 30 days after entry

The special law grants the right to legal stay for 18 months with the possibility of extension. This means full access to the labor market without additional permits.

Penalties for Violations

Illegal work in Poland has serious consequences for all parties involved. Polish authorities have tightened controls, and violations are very expensive.

Advice: It’s better to spend time properly preparing documents than to be unable to enter Europe for years afterward.

Conclusion

Working in Poland in 2025 will become easier thanks to online document submission and the elimination of the labor market test. But it’s important to remember the new requirements and serious penalties for violations.

What you need for legal work: – Valid foreign passport – Visa or residence card – Properly issued work permit

Ukrainian citizens maintain simplified access to the Polish labor market. But all foreigners should monitor the validity of their documents.

The main rule: verify the legality of your employer and never violate labor law requirements. Fines up to 50,000 zloty and the risk of deportation are too high a price for mistakes.

Want to find legal work in Poland? Submit an application – we’ll help with documents and find a verified employer!