- Legal state
- 24 August 2026
- Last legal review
- 24 August 2026
- Official sources
- 7
- Estimated reading time
- 6 min
Information is general. For legal matters, check the legal-status date and official sources.
Which route might fit?
This is an orientation tool, not an individual legal determination. Any result must be verified against the documents and current rules.
1. Is the stay lawful?
First establish the residence basis and its validity. A work permit, declaration or contract alone does not legalise stay.
2. Does a work-permit exemption apply?
An exemption must follow from a specific status and rule; do not infer it solely from a student card, a pending decision or previous work.
3. Which document matches the work?
Before starting and after each change, compare nationality, employer, role, hours, pay and period with the permit, declaration or exemption scope.
Comparison of key differences
| Criterion | Work permit | Employer declaration |
|---|---|---|
| Who it covers | Depends on permit type and the foreign national’s situation | Only specified nationalities and statutory conditions |
| Document | Decision of the competent authority | Registration of an employer declaration |
| Shared rule | Work conditions must match the document | Does not replace a lawful residence basis |
Lawful stay and lawful work — two conditions
Before work begins, both the residence document and the basis authorising the particular work must be checked. A visa, visa-free stay or residence card does not always confer work entitlement, while a work permit alone does not legalise stay.
- Check the visa purpose and annotations, document validity, permitted period of stay and any restrictions on work.
- Compare the employer, position, working time, contract type and pay with the document authorising work.
- Special rules may apply to EU/EFTA nationals, family members, protected persons and Ukrainian citizens.
Main routes to work entitlement
Work may be authorised by a work permit, a declaration, a temporary residence and work permit, or a statutory exemption. The correct route depends on nationality, residence status, employer, type of work and duration.
- As a rule, the employing entity obtains a work permit, while the foreign national applies for a combined residence and work permit.
- A declaration is a simplified procedure only for specified nationalities and where current conditions are met.
- Seasonal work, posting and agency work have their own rules and should not be treated as ordinary employment.
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Work permits and declarations
The document is tied to the conditions stated in the application or declaration. An entry or decision is not enough if stay is unlawful, work is performed for another entity, or the conditions exceed its authorised scope.
- Since 1 June 2025, applications and documents in these procedures are generally handled electronically through praca.gov.pl.
- Before work starts, the worker should receive a written contract whose content is understandable and consistent with the declared conditions.
- Notification deadlines for starting, not starting or ending work depend on the procedure and event.
Work-permit exemptions
A work-permit exemption must follow from a specific rule and be documented. It does not remove requirements concerning lawful stay, a proper contract, insurance, tax or other employer obligations.
- Exemptions may arise from a particular residence status, a Pole’s Card, full-time studies, or graduation from specified Polish schools or higher education.
- Not every school, study mode, student card or mere status as a “student” creates an exemption.
- Evidence of the exemption should be retained and presented to the employer before work begins.
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Employer obligations
The employer must check the residence document, retain a copy, ensure the contract and work match the employment basis, and make required notifications. General labour-law, pay, social-security, tax and non-discrimination rules also apply to foreign workers.
- Before employment, verify the residence document and retain its copy for the required period.
- Send the competent authority the contract copy and notifications required for the procedure in the current form and time limit.
- Register the worker for applicable insurance, account for pay and tax, and comply with working-time and safety rules.
Changing employer, position or conditions
A change is not always covered by the existing authorisation. Check the decision, document type, statutory exceptions, notification duties and the effect on a pending residence case.
- Do not begin work under new conditions solely on an employer’s oral assurance.
- Loss of work under a combined permit may trigger a deadline to notify the voivode and require further action.
- A change during proceedings may require a new employer annex or amendment of the request, depending on the stage and legal basis.
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Students and graduates
A student’s work entitlement depends on the study mode and actual residence basis. Graduation from specified Polish higher education may create a work-permit exemption, but it does not automatically extend stay or replace a new residence basis.
- An appropriate student visa or residence permit may allow work without a permit; other visas and study forms require separate assessment.
- Continuing work while awaiting a decision depends on the previous residence basis, timely and formally valid filing, and continued satisfaction of the exemption conditions.
- A graduate should separately plan lawful stay, employment and any permit for seeking work or starting a business.
Transitional rule / legal status
Changes from 1 June 2025 and transitional rules
The new statute changed foreign-employment procedures, expanded electronic handling and abolished the former labour-market test for new cases. The commencement date and transitional provisions must still be checked before applying a new rule to an older document.
- Informacja starosty is not required in new cases commenced from 1 June 2025.
- In an earlier case, the document may remain relevant under transitional rules and should not automatically be removed from the analysis.
- Local lists of occupations or types of work for which permits are not issued are a different mechanism from the former informacja starosty.
Frequently asked questions about this guide
Does a work permit legalise residence?
No. A document authorising particular work and the basis of lawful stay are separate. Both, including their duration and conditions, must be checked before work begins.
Is informacja starosty still required?
Not for new cases commenced from 1 June 2025. It may remain relevant in an earlier proceeding under transitional rules. New local negative occupation lists are not the former labour-market test.
Official sources
- Migration rules in force from 1 June 2025Ministerstwo Spraw Wewnętrznych i AdministracjiSource supports: Migration rules in force from 1 June 2025Accessed: 24 August 2026
- Declaration on entrusting work to a foreign nationalModuł Obsługi SprawSource supports: Declaration on entrusting work to a foreign nationalAccessed: 24 August 2026
- Work permitModuł Obsługi SprawSource supports: Work permitAccessed: 24 August 2026
- Obligations of an employer hiring a foreign nationalMinisterstwo Rodziny, Pracy i Polityki SpołecznejSource supports: Obligations of an employer hiring a foreign nationalAccessed: 24 August 2026
- Work without a work permitModuł Obsługi SprawSource supports: Work without a work permitAccessed: 24 August 2026
- Student work entitlementUrząd do Spraw CudzoziemcówSource supports: Student work entitlementAccessed: 24 August 2026
- Temporary residence for graduatesUrząd do Spraw CudzoziemcówSource supports: Temporary residence for graduatesAccessed: 24 August 2026