• have a document that grants access to the Polish labor market (or be exempt from this requirement based on certain legislative provisions);
• legally stay in Poland, and the basis for stay must grant the right to work in Poland (for example, an appropriate visa or residence permit);
• perform work under the conditions specified in the work permit or the declaration of intent to employ a foreigner;
• sign an appropriate employment contract with the employer;
• perform work exclusively for the employer specified in the permit/declaration.

Documents required to gain access to the Polish labor market:

1. Work permit.

Issued by the voivode based on the employer's application.

In the Republic of Poland, there are 5 types of work permits:
A – for foreigners who perform work in Poland based on a contract with an entity;
B – for foreigners who hold management positions, work as a general partner or representative;
C, D, E – in case of secondment of a foreigner to the territory of Poland.

2. Seasonal work permit

Type S – (new type, valid since January 1, 2018), issued by the starosta based on the employer's application, granting the right to perform seasonal work for a period of 9 months during the calendar year. Issued by the Powiat Labor Office (Powiatowy Urząd Pracy) in the area where the foreigner plans to work, registration fee is 30 złoty. Seasonal work is possible only in cases of having a seasonal work contract.

3. Declaration of intent to employ a foreigner (changes since January 1, 2018) – for citizens of the Republic of Armenia, Republic of Belarus, Republic of Georgia, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, or Ukraine, registered with the Powiat Labor Office (Powiatowy Urzad Pracy) by the employer, grants the right to perform non-seasonal work for 6 months within the next 12 months. Registration of the declaration is free of charge. After registration, the original declaration is given to the foreigner to obtain a visa to enter Poland for the purpose of work or a residence permit in Poland if the foreigner is already in the country.

4. Temporary residence and work permit – issued by the voivode based on the foreigner's application, grants the right to both reside and work in Poland.

What kind of visa do you need to work in Poland?

If you plan to stay in Poland for a total of more than 90 days within a year, starting from the date of the first entry, a long-term national visa must be obtained. It allows you to stay in Poland for the duration of the visa, which cannot exceed 1 year.

To obtain a national visa "D", you must register a visa application online on the website https://by.e-konsulat.gov.pl/ and follow the instructions provided on the site.

List of documents for obtaining a national visa «D»

1. completed, printed from the Internet (e-konsulat) and signed visa application form;
2. current, color photograph 3.5 x 4.5;
3. passport issued within the last ten years, valid for at least 3 months from the date of the planned return, with at least 2 blank pages intended for visas;
4. copy of passport pages with personal data;
5. medical policy for 30,000 euros, for carrying out labor activities, health insurance is issued for a period of at least 15 calendar days from the date of departure;
6. documents confirming the purpose and conditions of the planned stay in Poland (for example, an application from the employer registered with the Powiat Labour Office (Powiatowy Urzad Pracy) to provide work to a foreigner or a permit for seasonal work)

More information about the documents confirming the main purpose of the trip for obtaining a visa can be found by following the link http://www.minsk.msz.gov.pl/be/consular_information/visas/narodowa/

A long-term national visa allows movement within the territory of other Schengen countries for no more than 90 days within each 180-day period, which is counted from the date of entry into the territory of the agreement countries.