Majority of non EU/EFTA citizens need to have Polish work permit if they work in Poland.
What is Polish work permit?
It is a document, that allows you to work legally in Poland. The work permit is always issued for one specific employer, for specific period of time and for specific post. So if you have, for example, two employers, you need to have two work permits. On the basis of work permit you can get Polish visa.
How can I apply for Polish work permit?
The entity authorised to apply for the work permit for you is your employer - not you! Of course you or somebody else authorisded by you employer can go to the office and deal with all the formalities.
The application should be submitted in Voivodship Office relevant to the registered seat of your employer. The list of required documents depends on the type of work permit. There are 5 types of Polish work permit, I will explain the differences between them in the next posts.
What is joint work and residence permit?
To stay and work legally in Poland, one is obliged not only to have work permit, but also a document, that legalizes his or her stay in Poland, usually visa or residence permit. The joint procedure allows you to get both documents together. Unlike the application for work permit, the application for joint work and residence permit should be signed by a foreigner, not an employer. However, you will also need some documents from your prospective boss. This kind of permit is also issued for a specific employer, so if you find a new job, the whole procedure should be repeated.
Legal basis:
- The Act of 20 April 2004 on promotion of employment and labour market institutions (Journal of Laws of 2008, No. 69 item 415, with later amendments)
- The Act of 30 December 2013 on foreigners (Journal of Laws of 2013., item 1650)
