The general rule is: you are entitled to work in Poland if :
- you are legally residing in its territory and you have a work permit (unless it is not required), or
- you have a temporary residence and work permit, or
- you have a temporary residence permit in order to perform work in a profession requiring high qualifications.
ATTENTION!
An exception to this rule is when you are staying in Poland on the basis of:
- visa issued for:
- tourist,
- visiting family and friends,
- use of temporary protection
- temporary residence permit granted on the basis of art. 181 sec. 1 of the Act of 12 December 2013 on foreigners, i.e. due to circumstances requiring a short-term stay of a foreigner on the territory of Poland.
In these cases, you CANNOT work in Poland.
Detailed information on legal stay and temporary residence permits in Poland can be found in the "LEGAL RESIDENCE OF A FOREIGNER IN POLAND" tab.
WORK PERMIT
A work permit is a document issued in the form of a decision by the competent voivode, which entitles a foreigner residing legally in Poland to perform work under the conditions specified in the permit. This document is issued at the request of the entity entrusting work to a foreigner (employer) by the voivode competent for the registered office or place of residence of the employer.
Detailed information and application forms can be found on the following websites:
https://www.mos.cudzoziemcy.gov.pl/informacje/zezw-praca/objasienie
https://www.gov.pl/web/uw-warminsko-mazurski/cudzoziemcy---zezwolenia-na-prace
You are entitled to work in Poland without additional permits, e.g. if:
- you have the status of a family member of an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen,
- you benefit from international protection in Poland (you have refugee status granted
in the Republic of Poland or you benefit from subsidiary protection in Poland), - you have a permanent residence permit in the Republic of Poland,
- you have a residence permit for a long-term resident of the European Union
in the Republic of Poland, - you have a residence permit for humanitarian reasons,
- you have a permit for tolerated stay in the Republic of Poland,
- you use temporary protection in Poland;
- you are a spouse of a Polish citizen who has a temporary residence permit
on the territory of the Republic of Poland granted in connection with the conclusion of a marriage - Art. 158 sec. 1 of the Act of 12 December 2013 on foreigners, - you have a temporary residence permit in order to reunite with your family - art. 159 of the Act
on Foreigners, - you are a full-time student in Poland,
- is a graduate of Polish upper secondary schools, full-time higher education or full-time doctoral studies at Polish universities,
- you have a valid Pole's Card.
Detailed information on the lack of a work permit requirement can be found at:
https://mos.cudzoziemcy.gov.pl/informacje/bez-zezw/objasienie