Work in Poland

As a rule, foreigners from outside the European Union need a work permit to take up a job in Poland. However, there are some exceptions, including certain provisions that apply to international students. You can find more details HERE. 

Remember that international students in Poland do not need a work permit if:

• they are the EU/EEA citizens
• they are full-time students staying in Poland on the basis
• of a visa or a temporary residence permit during the period of validity of their residence permit
• they have a permanent residence permit or a long-term resident’s EU residence permit.

The above provisions do not give the right to work to part-time (evening or extramural) students. In connection with the above, if you are a part-time student, to able to work in Poland, your employer is required to obtain a work permit for you, regardless of whether you have a visa or a residence card issued due to taking up education in Poland.

A contract of employment (Polish: umowa o pracę) is the most preferable form of employment among Polish people. There are a few reasons for that, for example: benefits described in the Labour Code (e.g. paid holidays), social contributions, protection in case of contract termination, certificate of employment to the employee, and minimum wage guarantee.

In Poland we have several types of contracts of employment.

Types of contracts of employment

• Indenfinite employment contract – it creates a long term labour relationship between the employee and the employer.
• Fixed-term employment co ntract – it is signed for a period that suits the employee and the employer. It can be extended three times, the fourth extension of this contract changes it into an indefinite employment contract.
• Probation period contract – it enables the employer to check the qualifications of the employee, this type of contract can be concluded for no longer than 3 months.
• Preplacement employment contract – it is a type of a fixed-term employment contract, signed in the situation of the excused absence of a regular employee.

However, in Poland, we have also different forms of employment, regulated by the Civil Code, such as:

• specific-task contract – this type of contract is signed when the employee and the employer do not define the date of work performance, the duration of the employment contract depends on works performance. The employer will pay for on a “payment by results” basis.
• contract of mandate – you sign this type of contract if you agree to carry out specific tasks for an employer.

In contrast to a specific-task contract, you are not paid for results of your work but for an act of working itself. Since July 2024, a minimum wage for contracts of mandate is set for PLN 28,10 gross per hour.

The contracts of mandate and specific-task contracts are regulated under the Civil Code, and the provisions of the Labour Code do not apply to them (paid holidays, paid overtime etc.).