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  • Home
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  •  /  Country Overviews
  •  /  Poland
  • Country Overviews

Poland

At a Glance

Capital Warsaw
Language Polish
Population 37,847,000
GDP Total $585.7 billion
GDP Per Capita $15,444.00
Assessing Travel and Visa Obligations

 

When traveling to Poland, your nationality and the types of activities you will conduct during your trip will determine whether you may travel lawfully as a business visitor or if you require work authorization. Please seek advice from your immigration counsel if you are uncertain about the specific types of activities that constitute business or work.

 

Traveling for Business

 

What types of activities may I engage in as a business visitor?

As a business visitor to Poland, you may engage in the activities below. While this list is not exhaustive and other activities could qualify as business, you may:

  • » Attend business and sales meetings
  • » Buy goods for sale inside or outside the country
  • » Tour a company facility
  • » Attend a conference or trade show

In most cases, foreign nationals are advised to only engage in business activities for up to 30 calendar days as there are limits placed on the permitted period of stay depending on the specific activity and job title. An individual assessment is recommended prior to travel to determine the advisable period of time that the activities may be conducted.

 

If I qualify as a business visitor, do I need a visa for Poland?

Nationals of the European Union, the United States, and many other select countries are eligible for a visa waiver and are not required to obtain a visa in order to enter and conduct business activities in Poland.

Poland is a member of the Schengen Area, a free-travel zone comprised of 27 European countries. If your nationality is not eligible for a visa waiver in the Schengen Area, you will be required to obtain a Schengen Visa prior to travel. Visa-waivered nationals, as well as those who are required to obtain a visa, are authorized to travel to Poland and throughout the Schengen Area. Please note that travelers may not spend more than 90 days within any 180-day period inside the Schengen Area.

 

Working in Poland

 

What types of activities require work authorization?

The activities below, whether paid or unpaid, generally constitute work under Polish law. This list is not exhaustive, and many other professional activities are considered work in Poland, even if conducted for a short duration.

  • » Auditing
  • » Consulting
  • » Marketing

Poland does offer short-term work authorization exemptions for certain activities and groups of foreign nationals, including short-term and technical activities, without obtaining work authorization. An individual assessment by an immigration consultant is recommended in order to determine whether a foreign national is eligible for one of the short-term work authorization exemptions.

 

If I am traveling to Poland for work, what type of work authorization do I need?

The requirements for work authorization depend on your qualifications, on the nature and duration of your work, and on whether your employer has an entity in Poland. The most common types of Polish work authorization are:

  • » Type A Work Permit (direct-hire work permit)
  • » Type B Work Permit (work permit for management board members, general partners, or proxies of a Polish legal entity registered in the Register of Companies of Limited Liability)
  • » Type C Work Permit (work permit for those transferred to a Polish branch office of a foreign company or to an affiliated Polish entity)
  • » Type D Work Permit (work permit for those assigned by a company without any form of organized professional activity in Poland to provide services to a Polish entity)
  • » Type E Work Permit (work permit for purposes not covered by the Type A-D Work Permits)
  • » Long-Term Mobility Permit (work authorization for EU ICT Card/Residence Permit holders)
  • » EU Blue Card (high-skilled work authorization for direct hires)
  • » Polish Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) Residence Permit (work authorization for managers/specialists/trainees sent on ICT by non-EU entities)

 

Is it possible to be exempted from work authorization requirements?

Nationals from the European Union, the European Economic Area and Switzerland are not required to obtain a work permit in order to work in Poland. However, registrations or other formalities may be required prior to working or residing in Poland.

Additional long-term work authorization exemptions are available in Poland for certain groups including permanent residents and students. In these cases, a legal assessment to determine the possibilities for a work authorization exemption should be obtained prior to traveling.

 

What else should I know?

 

The Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), which governs post-Brexit relations between the EU and the U.K., has altered immigration regulations in the affected countries. Please be sure to contact your immigration representative for full details regarding the TCA's impact in Poland.

Inevitably, the legal and strategic considerations impacting visa selection, as well as visa waiver and work authorization eligibility, entail the careful consideration of many factors. We recommend that you consult with your immigration counsel before taking any course of action.

 

Copyright © 2023 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. Government immigration agencies often change their policies and practices without notice; please consult an immigration professional for up-to-date information. This document does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. BAL maintains comprehensive immigration information and processing specifics for our clients.


News and Events

14 Jul 23

COVID-19 permit extensions to end

Poland

6 Jul 23

National minimum wage increased

Poland

27 Jan 23

National minimum wage increased for 2023

Poland

4 Oct 22

Minimum wage to be increased more than previously...

Poland

19 Sep 22

Business Harbor Program expanded

Poland

12 Aug 22

Fees for immigration documents increased

Poland

18 Jul 22

Minimum wage increase proposed

Poland

11 Apr 22

COVID-19: Entry requirements lifted

COVID-19 Poland

23 Mar 22

Certain visas applications not accepted from Russian nationals

Poland

16 Mar 22

New immigration law provides legal stay, work authorization...

Poland

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At a Glance

Capital Warsaw
Language Polish
Population 37,847,000
GDP Total $585.7 billion
GDP Per Capita $15,444.00

Related News

  • COVID-19 permit extensions to end

    POLAND   14 Jul 23

  • National minimum wage increased

    POLAND   6 Jul 23

  • National minimum wage increased for 2023

    POLAND   27 Jan 23

  • Minimum wage to be increased more than previously...

    POLAND   4 Oct 22

  • Business Harbor Program expanded

    POLAND   19 Sep 22

  • Fees for immigration documents increased

    POLAND   12 Aug 22

  • Minimum wage increase proposed

    POLAND   18 Jul 22

  • COVID-19: Entry requirements lifted

    POLAND   11 Apr 22

  • Certain visas applications not accepted from Russian nationals

    POLAND   23 Mar 22

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    POLAND   16 Mar 22

  • COVID-19: Validity of vaccinations to be reduced

    POLAND   10 Jan 22

  • Minimum wage to increase in 2022

    POLAND   29 Dec 21

  • COVID-19: New testing requirements forthcoming

    POLAND   15 Dec 21

  • Changes to temporary residence and work permit processes...

    POLAND   5 Nov 21

  • Border crossing rules for business travel changed

    POLAND   22 Oct 21

  • Business Harbor Program expanded

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  • New minimum salary threshold set for EU Blue...

    POLAND   7 Apr 21

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    POLAND   29 Dec 20

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    POLAND   2 Dec 20

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  • COVID-19: Immigration and mobility reopening

    POLAND   9 Jul 20

  • COVID-19: Government expands extension of stay to include...

    POLAND   24 Apr 20

  • COVID-19: Resident immigration requirements temporarily suspended

    POLAND   8 Apr 20

  • State of emergency declared, travel restrictions implemented

    POLAND   16 Mar 20

  • Consular section to open in the Philippines

    POLAND   21 Feb 20

  • New minimum salary threshold set for EU Blue...

    POLAND   17 Feb 20

  • VFS Global to handle visa processing in India

    POLAND   27 Dec 19

  • Minimum salary levels increase for employment permits

    POLAND   27 Nov 19

  • NIK publishes audit results

    POLAND   8 Aug 19

  • NIK audit aims to assess cost and impact...

    POLAND   19 Mar 19

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    POLAND   22 Jan 19

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    POLAND   14 Jan 19

  • New system set for Mazovian work permit appointments

    POLAND   3 Oct 18

  • Labor market testing waived for hundreds of jobs

    POLAND   10 Aug 18

  • Poland implements ICT directive, introducing new permit categories

    POLAND   7 Mar 18

  • EU Blue Card salary minimum increases

    POLAND   6 Mar 18

  • Changes to work permit programs take effect

    POLAND   2 Mar 18

  • EU calls for vote on whether Polish reforms...

    EUROPEAN UNION, POLAND   22 Dec 17

  • Deadline approaching on requirement for seconded employees

    POLAND   16 Aug 16

  • New secondment procedures now in effect

    POLAND   26 Jul 16

  • Border controls introduced ahead of World Youth Day...

    POLAND   14 Jul 16

  • Residence permit applicants experiencing delays

    POLAND   11 Jul 16

  • New procedures to obtain tax ID number now...

    POLAND   20 Apr 15

  • ID number no longer issued automatically to non-EU...

    POLAND   24 Mar 15

  • Reciprocal work and holiday visa program launched

    AUSTRALIA, POLAND   18 Aug 14

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