Foreigner’s work in Poland 2026 — work permit, employer’s declaration and EU Blue Card

Legal work of a foreigner in Poland requires two things: a residence title and a basis for performing work. Here are the main paths in 2026.

Work permit

The basic document for an employer hiring a foreigner. It comes in six types — A, B, C, D, E and S for seasonal work — depending on the situation (e.g. work for a Polish employer, posting, board member). The application is filed by the employer at the voivodeship office.

Declaration on entrusting work

A simplified path for citizens of selected countries — it allows taking up work for a shorter period without a full permit. The declaration is entered into the register by the district labour office.

EU Blue Card

A solution for highly qualified specialists — it combines residence and work, offers favourable conditions and mobility within the EU. The key condition is remuneration of at least 150% of the average national wage — over PLN 13,000 gross per month in 2026 — plus higher qualifications evidenced by a diploma or experience. In return you gain mobility within the EU and a faster route to EU long-term resident status.

Single residence-and-work permit

A foreigner living in Poland usually applies for a temporary residence and work permit — a single application covering both aspects. On its basis they receive a residence card.

Formalities — online via MOS

Since 27 April 2026 residence applications are filed exclusively online through the Case Handling Module (MOS) at cudzoziemcy.gov.pl; employment rules are also at the Office for Foreigners. Remember that the office treats attached documents as scans — only copies certified by a lawyer (radca prawny) or a notary have the force of a document.

Hiring a foreigner or looking for legal work in Poland? Book a consultation with a Warsaw law firm — we will choose the right basis and the full set of documents.

What the Act of 20 March 2025 changed

Since 1 June 2025 the Act on the conditions for entrusting work to foreigners has governed legal employment. Three changes matter in practice to every employer:

• The labour market test is gone — no more starosta certificate on the lack of candidates; instead the starosta may keep a list of occupations for which permits are not issued.
• Full digitalisation — declarations and seasonal work applications are filed exclusively via praca.gov.pl; a document filed in any other form will not be examined.
• The declaration covers citizens of Armenia, Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine (Georgia was excluded on 1 December 2025), runs for up to 24 months, and the district labour office registers it within 7 working days; the fee is PLN 400.

Both sides carry the consequences of a mistake: the employer answers for entrusting illegal work, and the foreigner loses the basis of employment, which can overturn a pending residence case. That is why we arrange the basis of work and the basis of stay together, not separately — and we run such cases fully remotely, with no visits to the office.

If you would rather not run it yourself, the Bartosz Krajewski Law Firm handles residence legalisation entirely online for 1900 PLN instead of 2200 PLN: you upload photos of your documents, we do the rest.

Useful links

• Immigration lawyer in Warsaw — legal help for foreigners in Poland
• Poland residence permit documents 2026 — checklist, certification and e-filing
• praca.gov.pl — legalisation of foreigners' work
• MOS portal — electronic submission of residence applications

If the job involves driving, remember that a foreign licence works in Poland only for the first six months of residence — see how to exchange the licence for a Polish one.