Poland
At a Glance
Capital | Warsaw |
Language | Polish |
Population | 37,847,000 |
GDP Total | $585.7 billion |
GDP Per Capita | $15,444.00 |
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.
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.
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.
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
COVID-19 permit extensions to end
National minimum wage increased
Business Harbor Program expanded
Minimum wage increase proposed
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
-
New immigration law provides legal stay, work authorization...
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
POLAND 23 Jul 21
-
New minimum salary threshold set for EU Blue...
POLAND 7 Apr 21
-
Salary thresholds increase for employment-related permits
POLAND 29 Dec 20
-
COVID-19: Work permit exemptions expanded to facilitate work...
POLAND 2 Dec 20
-
Entry for Belarussian IT workers and entrepreneurs eased
POLAND 5 Oct 20
-
COVID-19: Entry for foreign nationals, consular services expanding
POLAND 4 Sep 20
-
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
-
New minimum salary threshold set for EU Blue...
POLAND 28 Feb 19
-
Government publishes no-deal Brexit plan
POLAND 22 Jan 19
-
Minimum salary levels increase for employment and residency...
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