Immigration to Poland and work permits for foreigners.
Generally the legislation in Poland has divided foreingers willing to work in Poland into two groups:
- Expats free to work in Poland without any restrictions
- Expats needing a work permit
The first group of foreigners with right to an open job market consist of:
- Nationals of European Union (EU) and European Free Trade Agreement (EFTA) countries and their families
- Families of Polish nationals
- Refugees
- Foreigners residing in Poland under temporary protection
- Foreigners holding a permit for a tolerant stay
- Foreigners holding a permit for residing in Poland
Some of the expats are freed from obtaining a work permit, in case when:
- Are sent on an international assignment through an employer headquartered in EU or EFTA countries for a limited period of time
- Reside in Poland to conduct research
- Study in Poland
- Entrepreneurs registered in Poland for a limited period of time
- Special groups of professions: professors, language teachers, NATO employees, sportsmen, media correspondents, lecturers, full-time students
All other foreigner who do not fall into any of the above mentioned categories in order to legally work in Poland need to obtain a visa and a work permit.
Work permit application can be issued solely by an employer.
Responsibilities of an employer when hiring foreigners:
- Before signing a work contract an employer needs to submit to an employee a draft contract in a language understandable to a foreigner
- Sign a written work contract with a foreigner including all the conditions from a work permit document
- Hand over one copy of the signed contract
- Inform about all actions regarding work permit applications, issued documents, decisions issued by authorities let it be refusal or approval
- Make sure to apply on-time for a prolongation of the work permit if required
