Work Permits in Poland — Single Permit, Types A/B/C, and Working on PESEL UKR

A non-EU foreigner who wants to work legally in Poland doesn't have a single procedure to follow. There are several distinct routes, each with a different applicant, a different portal, and different traps. Choosing the wrong route costs several hundred złoty in non-refundable fees and several months of time. This guide shows who files what, and where.

Routes at a Glance

There are exemptions outside this table. Full-time students at an approved institution can work without a permit — including while waiting for a decision on a residence extension, if the application was filed on time. Holders of a residence card with the "access to the labor market" notation work freely; without that notation, a separate permit is required.

Single Permit — Residence and Work in One

This is the most commonly chosen route for steady employment with a Polish employer: one decision gives you a temporary residence card and the right to work for the named employer, in the named position.

Who it's for: non-EU foreigners taking up or continuing employment (excluding seasonal work and secondment), as well as board members of a Polish sp. z o.o. or S.A. who hold no shares in it, and prokurenci (commercial proxies). It does not cover employees seconded by a foreign employer, intra-corporate transfers (ICT), seasonal workers, or people running their own business — the Single Permit isn't available for those categories.

Salary condition: the salary cannot be lower than the minimum wage — at least PLN 4,806 gross per month (2026), regardless of the working-time fraction.

Who files, and from where: the foreigner files it themselves through the MOS portal (Moduł Obsługi Spraw — the government case-handling portal), logging in via login.gov.pl (trusted profile or e-ID). Filing from abroad is not allowed — you must be in Poland.

The sequence looks like this: you fill out the application in MOS and enter the employer's email. The employer receives a link to fill in and sign the attachment. You sign the application electronically and download the UPO (official confirmation of receipt) — without it, the application does not exist as far as the office is concerned. The office then summons you to appear in person (passport, fingerprints, signature specimen; the appointment is set no sooner than 7 days out). While the procedure is running you get a certificate (zaświadczenie) confirming legal stay — it's free, but does not authorize travel within the Schengen area. The application should be decided within 60 days of the complete file being submitted. A positive decision → collect the card in person. A negative decision → appeal to the Head of UdSC within 14 days.

The stamp duty is national and the same across the whole country: PLN 440 (employee) or PLN 340 (board member or prokurent). Only the account number you pay into differs between voivodeships — check it on your voivodeship office's website.

Types A, B, and C — Filed by the Employer

These are "stand-alone" work permits: they don't give you residence, only the right to work — you need a separate residence title. The application is filed by the employer, exclusively electronically through praca.gov.pl; the foreigner is the named employee but is not a party to the procedure. Three variants:

• Type A — work for a Polish entity (the most common).
• Type B — board members and managing partners of Polish companies. The application is filed with the office responsible for the employer's registered seat, not the foreigner's place of residence — a frequent source of mistakes.
• Type C — secondment by a foreign employer.

The fee depends on the type and the length of employment — the employer checks the amount and the account number in praca.gov.pl when filing. Foreign-language documents require translation by a sworn translator registered with the Minister of Justice; uncertified photocopies are not evidence.

Have PESEL UKR? You Usually Don't Need a Permit

If you're a Ukrainian citizen with a PESEL number carrying UKR status, you can work in Poland without a work permit — it's enough for your employer to file a notification of entrusting work. So before you start a permit procedure, check whether you need one at all.

A more durable solution is the CUKR residence card (the special temporary residence permit for people using temporary protection). Once you have it, even the notification duty disappears — you get free access to the labor market on your own card. It's worth hurrying: processing takes up to 180 days, and the window to file closes together with temporary protection — 4 March 2027. To make the 180-day processing window, file your application with a clear margin, ideally before autumn 2026. Checking your eligibility in the Dopomo Pathfinder takes a few minutes and is free — start here. Details are in our guide to the CUKR card.

Validity and Changes

The Single Permit is granted for a period of 3 months to 3 years (usually tied to the contract) and does not renew automatically. A change of employer, position, salary, working-time fraction, or contract type requires filing — before the change takes effect — a change-of-permit application (not a new application). The fee for such a change is PLN 220.

If you lose your job, two different clocks apply — don't confuse them:

• you have 15 days to notify the voivode of the job loss;
• alternatively, the duty is considered met if you file a change-of-permit application within 15 working days.

Working outside the conditions of the permit (a different employer, position, lower salary, a changed working-time fraction, or contract type) is grounds for its withdrawal — that's why changes are reported in advance.

The Bottom Line

The most important step is choosing the right route: full-time employment with a Polish company, a board-member role, secondment from abroad, or work on PESEL UKR. The wrong choice means a forfeited fee and lost months. So start by choosing your route — and if you have PESEL UKR, first check whether you need a permit at all.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Requirements and fees depend on the specific facts of your case and on current regulations — verify them on the MOS portal or praca.gov.pl before filing.

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