REGULARISATION OF RESIDENCE AND EMPLOYMENT IN POLAND

Ways for foreign nationals to legalise their employment in Poland

Foreign nationals are increasingly keen to come to Poland to take up employment and settle here permanently. Poland is an attractive destination for them due to its membership of the European Union, steadily improving wages and working conditions, and its status as a member of the European Union.

There are numerous visa schemes available in our country that allow for the legalisation of work and a trouble-free stay in Poland. Legalising one’s stay and employment in Poland is essential to avoid deportation. Find out what options are available to foreign nationals for legalising their employment in Poland.

Poland Business Harbour

This is a programme aimed specifically at IT specialists (citizens of Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia and Moldova) who wish to work in Poland. The significant streamlining of numerous procedures makes this a very attractive programme, which is also utilised by many companies in Poland. One such organisation is the ‘Firma dla Każdego’ Foundation, which, under the Poland Business Harbour scheme, enables foreign nationals to complete the necessary formalities efficiently and significantly reduce the costs associated with running their own business. Furthermore, the Foundation can assist with the submission of all documents and the legalisation of employment and residence (including with family) in our country under the PBH scheme.

Residence permit (temporary residence)

This solution allows for legal residence and work in Poland for 36 months. You may stay in Poland from the moment you submit your documents to the relevant authority – however, you may not leave the country before obtaining your residence card. The ‘Firma dla Każdego’ Foundation helps you obtain a residence card efficiently. Preparing the documents takes just 4 weeks, and the entire process, including administrative approval, should be successfully completed within a year. When submitting documents to the Provincial Governor, you must provide fingerprints and have your travel document (passport) extended.

Work permit

A work permit is a document that enables a foreign national to reside and work legally in Poland. To obtain one, you must have a valid basis for being able to work legally in Poland. This type of permit allows for legal employment for up to 12 months within our country. Citizens from countries outside the EU, the EEA and Switzerland must hold a work permit. However, there are certain exceptions to this rule set out in the Act and the Regulation. Foreign nationals from countries covered by the Polish Business Harbour programme are exempt from the requirement to hold a work permit. The ‘Fundacja dla Każdego’ business incubator assists with obtaining a work permit. Preparing the necessary documents should take up to 4 weeks, whilst obtaining the permit can take between one month and six months.

Work visa

A work visa permits a foreign national to stay in Poland. However, in order for them to work, it is necessary to obtain an additional document authorising them to take up employment. A work visa may be a Schengen visa or a national visa. In the first case, the visa allows a foreign national to stay in the Schengen Area for a period not exceeding 90 days within any 180-day period. A national visa, on the other hand, allows a stay in Poland for a period ranging from 90 days to a maximum of one year.

EU long-term resident’s residence permit

Another option is an EU long-term resident’s residence permit. A document issued in Poland allows the holder to travel to other Schengen Area countries. However, a foreign national’s stay on this basis may not exceed 90 days within a 180-day period. An EU long-term resident’s residence permit requires proof of legal residence and employment in Poland, as well as knowledge of the Polish language. Obtaining this document allows for legal residence and work in Poland for an indefinite period. You can apply for an EU long-term resident’s residence permit with the support of the ‘Firma dla Każdego’ Foundation. Thanks to the Foundation, preparing the documents should take no longer than 4 weeks, and the process of obtaining the card should be completed within 12 months.

EU Blue Card

The European Union Blue Card allows for temporary residence in Poland and employment for a period not exceeding 3 years. After this period, you may apply to extend the permit. To obtain a Blue Card, you must have completed a university degree or have at least 5 years’ experience in a profession requiring high qualifications. Obtaining an EU Blue Card is subject to several conditions, including:

• during the first 2 years of residence in Poland, a foreign national may not take up employment with an employer other than the one specified in the permit,
• the foreign national may not change the post in which they are employed,
• the foreign national must not be paid a salary lower than that specified in the permit.