Minimum salary levels increase for employment and residency permits

Minimum salary levels increase for employment and residency permits

IMPACT – MEDIUM

What is the change? Poland has updated minimum salary requirements for workers on local employment contracts, posted workers and ICT mobility permit holders. Authorities have also put in place new minimum income thresholds for residency permits.

What does the change mean? Foreign workers on local employment contracts must earn at least 2,250 złoty (about US$601 or €524) per month. Posted workers and ICT mobility permit holders must be paid according to the applicable regional salary minimum. Residency permit holders must be supported by an income of at least 528 zloty per month.

  • Implementation time frame: The new monthly minimum wage took effect Jan. 1. The minimum salary thresholds for posted-workers work permits and ICT residency permits took effect in November, and the new income thresholds for residency permits took effect in October.
  • Business impact: Businesses may see an increase in labor costs if salaries need to be adjusted to reflect the new thresholds.

Additional information: The salary minimum for local employment contracts affects foreigners hired locally throughout Poland, i.e., those holding Type A work permits or residency permits with right to work. The minimum salary threshold for posted workers (work permits C, D and E for assignments) and ICT mobility permit holders depends on the administrative region, or voivodship, where the applicant applies for the permit. Finally, the minimum income thresholds for residency permits apply to all foreigners applying for residency permits, including dependent family members.

Work permits for local hires
Location Salary minimum
Anywhere in Poland 2,250 zloty (PLN) per month
Work permits for posted workers, EU ICT mobility permits
Location Salary minimum
Lower Silesia 3,080.03 PLN per month
Kuyavia-Pomerania (Bydgoszcz) 2,602.05 PLN per month
Lublin (Lublin) 2,677.00 PLN per month
Lubusz (Gorzów Wielkopolski) 2,628.18 PLN per month
Łódź Province (Łódź) 2,748.18 PLN per month
Lesser Poland (Kraków) 2,868.15 PLN per month
Masovia (Warszawa) 3,653.36 PLN per month
Opole (Opole) 2,746.51 PLN per month
Subcarpathia (Rzeszów) 2,579.30 PLN per month
Podlaskie (Białystok) 2,670.66 PLN per month
Pomerania (Gdańsk) 2,948.18 PLN per month
Silesia (Katowice) 2,973.21 PLN per month
Świętokrzyskie (Kielce) 2,593.96 PLN per month
Warmia-Masuria (Olsztyn) 2,548.92 PLN per month
Greater Poland (Poznań) 2,756.47 PLN per month
West Pomerania (Szczecin) 2,723.60 PLN per month
Residency permits for foreigners
Location Income Threshold
Anywhere in Poland 528 PLN per person per month

Analysis & Comments: Employers should be sure to account for the new salary minimums when planning their budgets. Foreigners who are submitting applications for residency permits need to be sure that the new minimum income thresholds per family member are satisfied. Polish authorities are expected to announce new EU Blue Card salary thresholds in February.

Source: Deloitte LLP. Deloitte LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC303675 and its registered office at 1 New Street Square, London EC4A 3HQ, United Kingdom.

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