Does Working in Poland Require a Visa? Yes, we go over how to obtain a work visa for Poland in 2025. One EU country that has grown in popularity as a place for foreigners to visit and work is Poland. Poland issued the most work visas in 2024 and the first quarter of 2025. I’ll go over the Poland work visa application procedure for 2025, the many types of work permits that are available, and the requirements to get one. According to Statistics Poland, 504,172 foreign workers were granted work licenses in Poland.
It increased by 24% in 2021. If they have a work permit, foreigners are allowed to work in Poland. However, a long-stay visa allows you to enter Poland. Working in Poland does not require a work permit for EU nationals. Citizens of non-EU nations must have a valid work permit, but some nationalities can enter Poland without a visa.
Details of Poland Work Visa 2025:
| Visa category: | D- Type of National Visa |
| Job country: | Poland |
| Permit Type: | Work |
504,172 work permits in total in 2025
- Ladies: 31.2%
- Men: 68.8%
- Sector of Industry/Job: Manufacturing
- Establishment
- Construction
- Transportation and Storage
- Administrative and Support Service Activities
- Elementary Occupations
- Plant and machine operators and assemblers
- Craft and related trades work
What is a work permit in Poland?
In Poland, a work permit is a legal document that permits foreigners to work there. People who are not citizens of the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA), or Switzerland and who plan to work in Poland are given it by the Polish government. The work permit ensures that employment is in compliance with Polish labor rules by acting as formal authorization for foreign workers to work for Polish companies or organizations.
What is the National D Visa for Poland?
A D-type national visa allows a stay of more than 90 days but not more than a year. After your visa expires, you will refresh it.
A D-type national visa also allows travel to the other Schengen Area Member States for up to 90 days.
Kinds of work permit in Poland
- Permit A: This permit is required if you have been offered a position by a Polish employer, firm, or registered enterprise.
- Work permission B: If you are an employee or a board member and plan to stay in Poland for more than six months, you must have a type B permission.
- Work permit C: This is also known as an intra-company transfer visa. if your boss sent you to the company’s Polish branch.
- activities Permit D: If a foreign company sends you to Poland to perform export-related activities. The foreign employer is not allowed to have a branch in Poland.
- Work Permit S (Seasonal): This permit is required if a foreign company sends you to Poland for lodging, hunting, fishing, or agricultural work.
Types of Poland working visa
Poland offers several types of visas, each designed for specific purposes. Here’s a breakdown of the main types of working visas for Poland:
1. Type A: Airport Transit Visa
- This visa is intended for people who are entering a third country through Polish airports without departing the international transit region.
- Eligibility: Candidates must meet transit requirements and possess a valid visa for the destination country.
- Duration: Usually brief, lasting little more than 24 hours.
2. Type C: Schengen Visa (Short-Stay Visa)
- For vacation, business, or family visits, anyone can use this short-stay visa to enter Poland and other Schengen Area nations.
- Eligibility: During a 180-day visitation term, up to 90 days may be permitted. It prevents people from working in Poland.
- Working with Type C: Those holding Type C visas are not permitted to work. They must apply for a separate work visa if they wish to work.
- Note: The Type C visa falls into several categories, such as business, family visit, and tourist visas..
3. Type D: National Visa (Long-Term Visa)
- The Type D visa is mainly granted to those who are traveling to Poland for extended periods of time in order to work, study, reunite with family, or for other long-term purposes.
- Eligibility: Candidates must fulfill the prerequisites for the particular reason they are there, such as obtaining a job offer, enrolling in school, or demonstrating their financial security.
- Work with a Type D Visa: If the job satisfies the requirements listed in the visa application, such as having a work contract or a legitimate offer, the holder of this visa is permitted to work in Poland.
- Types of work-related long-term visas under Type D include:
- Employee Visa: For people employed by a company in Poland.
- Self-Employed Visa: For individuals wishing to run their own business in Poland.
- Intra-company Transfer Visa: For workers transferred within the same company to a Polish branch.
Eligibility criteria for Poland working visa
- You must have a Polish employer’s formal offer of employment.
- The employment offer could come from a firm or a company registered in Poland.
- Your employer must submit an application to the Voivodeship Office on your behalf in order to obtain the work permit.
- Employment letter: It is necessary to produce the original employment letter, which is signed by your employer and contains details about your role, compensation, and other terms of employment.
- police clearance certificate. Evidence that you are not a criminal must be shown.
- Please see the list of documents required for Poland in order to obtain a D visa.
Applying process for Poland working visa
- Receive a job offer from the employer in Poland.
- On your behalf, your employer submits an application for a work permit.
- You go to the Polish embassy and apply for a work visa. (Verify the Polish embassy in your nation, schedule a visit, and get your paperwork ready).
- The application fee for a visa will be paid by you.
- Await the outcome of the visa decision.
- Go to Poland and get to work.
- Obtain an offer of employment from the Polish employer. The links can be found below.
- Your company files for a work permit on your behalf.
- You apply for a work visa at the Polish embassy. (Confirm the presence of the Polish embassy there, make an appointment, and collect documentation).
- You will be responsible for paying the visa application fee.
- Await the outcome of your visa application.
- Leave for Poland and start working.
FAQ
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Does working in Poland require a visa?
Yes, a visa is usually needed to work in Poland, particularly for non-EU nationals. While non-EU nationals must get a work visa and work permit in order to lawfully work in Poland, EU citizens are exempt from these requirements.
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What is the National D Visa for Poland?
For those who plan to remain in Poland for more than ninety days, the National D Visa is a long-term visa. It permits foreigners to travel inside the Schengen Area for up to 90 days and reside and work in Poland for up to a year.