Poland Type A Work Permit Guide

Type A is Poland's standard work permit for non-EU nationals employed by a Polish employer. It's issued by the Voivodeship Office (Urząd Wojewódzki) covering the workplace and is the most common route to legal employment beyond seasonal work.

Highlights:

• Up to 3 years initial validity (employer can re-apply for renewals)
• Multi-entry visa (Type 06 National Visa) covers up to 1 year per visit
• Tied to a specific employer and role
• Permits family reunion after 12 months of stable employment
• Path to Polish permanent residence after 5 years

• ✓ Concrete job offer from a Polish employer
• ✓ Employment contract in line with Polish labour law (umowa o pracę, umowa zlecenie, umowa o dzieło)
• ✓ Salary ≥ Poland's minimum (PLN 4,666 gross/month in 2026) AND ≥ the going rate for the position
• ✓ Employer registered in Poland and tax-compliant
• ✓ Labour market test cleared (7-day public job ad, except shortage occupations)
• ✓ Clean criminal record
• ✓ Health insurance via Polish Social Security (ZUS — automatic after first salary)

Employer files first (in Poland):

1. Labour-market test at the Powiatowy Urząd Pracy (skip if on the shortage list: IT, engineering, healthcare, construction trades)
2. Submit work-permit application + supporting documents to the Voivodeship Office
3. Fee PLN 100 (≈€24) per year of permit
4. Decision 1–3 months
5. Employer scans the permit and emails it to you

Worker applies abroad:

1. Apply for Type D National Visa at the Polish consulate with the permit
2. Fee €80, processing 7–15 working days
3. Enter Poland within visa validity
4. Within 30 days apply for the long-term residence card ("karta pobytu czasowego") at the Voivodeship Office — combines work + stay rights
5. PESEL number issued at the gmina

In-country switch (preferred): if already in Poland on another permit, you can skip the consulate and apply for a combined Single Permit directly at the Voivodeship Office. Faster — usually 3 months end-to-end.

Polish government:

• Work permit: PLN 100/year
• National D visa: €80
• Residence card: PLN 340 (≈€80)
• PESEL: free

Translation + apostilles: PLN 500–1,500 depending on documents

Workium service: €1,200 — includes labour-office liaison, work-permit drafting on behalf of employer, embassy appointment, residence-card application on arrival

Spouses, children under 18, and dependent parents can be brought on family reunion after 12 months of continuous Polish residence at PLN 1,322/month per dependant minimum income proof.

Spouses get unrestricted work rights via their own residence card. Children attend Polish state schools free (Polish-medium); international schools also available privately.