Poland introduces new work authorization requirements for Posted Workers
New Polish work visa requirements for posted workers take effect May 1, 2025. Learn how these changes impact your business and ensure compliance.
Poland's approach to work authorization for foreign nationals is changing significantly starting May 1, 2025. Companies posting workers, in particular third-country nationals, for business trips or assignments to Poland will face more burdensome administrative processes under these regulatory updates, with the need to obtain a Polish work visa or temporary residence permit for work purposes. While the change is yet fresh and more details will be added, let's explore what we know so far, based on insights from Polish Labour authorities.
What are the new regulations for posted workers in Poland?
The new Polish Act of March 20, 2025, on foreign worker regulations introduces important distinctions between residence documents and visas issued by other Schengen countries:
Foreigners with
can continue working in Poland with appropriate work permits or declarations
Foreigners staying in Poland on
will no longer be permitted to work in Poland, even as posted workers from another EU Member State
Key requirements for posted workers that are third-country nationals
For third-country nationals being posted to work in Poland, the following work entitlement documentation will be required as of May 1, 2025:
A Polish
specifically for employment purposes, OR
A Polish
for work purposes
Recommended actions for employers posting workers to Poland
This regulatory change represents a significant shift from current practices applied by employers posting workers to Poland, either for business trips or assignments. Companies posting workers to Poland should take the following steps to ensure compliance with the new regulations as of May 1, 2025:
for any employees working in Poland on Schengen visas
to identify how many employees and future assignments will be affected
prior to the May 1 2025 implementation date to ensure employees who will be traveling after this date have the right work entitlement documentation
, including the employees who travel, their managers, and HR team
to account for longer lead times for assignments and business trips to Poland
to ensure ongoing compliance
for additional visa and permit processing
How WorkFlex can help
As compliance experts specializing in global mobility, WorkFlex provides automated solutions to navigate these regulatory changes. Our platform:
Identifies compliance risks powered by our Global Compliance Engine, including employees needing a visa to perform work activities in Poland or elsewhere in the world
Generates necessary documentation for proper work authorization
Offers visa guidance for employees who need the document to go on a business trip or an assignment
Provides real-time tracking of employee location, compliance status, and document repository for your audit trail
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