What is the labour market like for foreigners in Poland?
Around 20 years ago, hardly anyone came to work in Poland. At that time, it was Poles who went abroad in large numbers to work.
The situation changed after 2014, after the Revolution of Dignity in Ukraine and the annexation of Crimea by Russia. Poland simplified some of the migration regulations at that time. Since 2017, among other things, there has been visa-free travel for Ukrainians with a biometric passport within the Schengen area.
Polish booming economy has started to attract numerous economic migrants from Eastern European countries. Even before 2022, 1.4 million workers from Ukraine filled gaps in the Polish labour market. It was their involvement, among others, that generated 13% of Poland’s GDP growth between 2013 and 2018.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, many war refugees arrived to Poland. Despite this, the labour market, due to demographic problems among others, remains very receptive. Every year there is a shortfall of around 200,000 economically active people in Poland. These shortages are still mostly filled by immigrants.
With current trends, one can be sure that there will be no shortage of job offers in Poland. On the contrary, a shortage of manpower is a problem for many employers. You can find employment in a variety of sectors, such as IT, construction, industry, agriculture or services.
Why do workers from Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Armenia and Georgia choose labour immigration to Poland?
Firstly, citizens of Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Armenia and Georgia can take up legal work in Poland on the basis of a simplified procedure, the so-called employer’s statement of entrustment of work. Citizens of these countries do not need to worry about a work permit. You can read more details about this on this page.
Poland is perceived by citizens of these countries as culturally and linguistically close. Immigrants also often speak well of Poland’s modern infrastructure and the good relationship between salary and the cost of living.
Foreigners often emphasise that they feel safe in Poland. On the one hand, it is a country with a large (6th in the EU) economy, and on the other hand, it is free of the social tensions and terrorist attacks that Western European countries face.
It turns out that, in turbulent times, the country on the Vistula is proving to be a good place to settle down and start a new chapter in one’s professional and personal life.
What documents are needed to work in Poland?
Citizens of Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Armenia and Georgia can perform work in Poland on the basis of a simplified procedure, i.e. a statement on the entrustment of work to a foreigner. On its basis, they can work for 24 months. Afterwards, the employer may apply for a new statement or a work permit.
A, B, C, D, E work permits require more documents. It takes also more time to obtain them.
For all the above-mentioned permits applies employer.
Another solution is to obtain a single work permit, which can be applied for by the foreigner himself. The single permit gives the right to both legal residence and work in Poland. It also entitles you to a residence card, which allows you to repeatedly cross the border without having to obtain a visa.
A uniform work permit may be applied for by a foreigner who plans to stay and work in Poland for more than 3 months.
Legalisation of a foreigner’s residence
A candidate to work in Poland should obtain a work permit from the employer even before crossing the border. The condition for the issuance of a work visa is the presentation of a work permit or a registered declaration of entrustment.
Citizens of Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova with biometric passports are entitled to stay in Poland under the visa-free regime. The situation is different for workers from Belarus and Armenia.
Advice from Vitas Group: The procedures for legalising work and residence, even in a simplified version, are quite complicated. Using our job placement service, you do not have to bother with formalities. We will take care of the full legalisation of your stay and work in Poland. We also provide employees with accommodation. We support employees in their contacts with the employer and help in various situations at every stage of the contract in Poland.
Where to look for job vacancies? The best websites and employment agencies
The most popular job portals in Poland include Pracuj.pl, Indeed and LinkedIn.
However, many people who take up work in Poland for the first time choose to contract with recruitment agencies with a location in the city where they plan to live. This is a simpler and more convenient solution. Often, large companies in Poland have permanent contracts with recruitment agencies to which they outsource the search for workers from abroad. Using the agency’s support, it is possible to take advantage of offers that are not published in traditional services.
Agencies often specialise in specific industries. They help both employers to find suitable candidates and jobseekers to access attractive offers.
Advice from Vitas Group: When choosing an employment agency, be sure to check its reputation and how long it has been operating in the market. We advise caution when choosing an agency within your own country. It would be better to choose a recruitment agency that is based in your target city in Poland and has signed cooperation agreements with large employers.