Foreigners working without a permit – what do the new regulations actually change?
- dariafulei
- Jan 16
- 3 min read
Hiring foreigners in Poland is associated with paperwork, deadlines and the risk of mistakes. However, not every job requires a work permit. The new regulations clarify the rules and precisely define situations in which a foreigner can work legally without additional documents, provided they meet clearly defined criteria. For employers and HR teams this is a real simplification, as long as they understand how to use it correctly.
What Does Exemption from the Work Permit Requirement Mean?
An exemption from the work permit requirement means that a foreigner can perform work in Poland without the need to obtain a special document legalizing employment, as long as their situation meets the conditions set out in the law. It remains essential that the foreigner’s stay in Poland is lawful and that the employer verifies whether the work falls within one of the defined exemption categories. In practice this means checking the foreigner’s status, the type of work and the period for which it will be performed. The regulations cover many such cases and most often concern work of an educational, project based or short term nature, such as participation in training programs, internships or expert activities.
Who Most Often Can Work Without a Permit?
The exemption from the work permit requirement most often applies to people performing educational, project related or short term work. These categories include full time students and interns completing their studies, as well as participants in international internship programs. Foreigners may also work without a permit as lecturers, interns and experts conducting training, lectures or presentations, usually for a limited period. Similar rules apply to people involved in culture, arts, media and sports whose work is occasional and temporary (up to 30 days). Significant groups also include research staff and people performing medical professions, provided they hold licenses to practice in Poland. The regulations also allow exemptions for foreigners delegated to Poland for short technical work, such as assembly or maintenance.
Transitional Period and Practical Application of the Rules
The new regulations introduce a transition period that gives employers time to adapt procedures and understand how to apply the new provisions in practice. Foreigners who were working without a permit under previous rules before the new regulations came into force may continue such work for up to six months from 1 December 2025, essentially until 31 May 2026. In addition, full time students at certain private academic institutions or public vocational higher education institutions may benefit from the exemption from the work permit requirement until 30 June 2026, even if the institution no longer meets the new formal criteria. In practice this means that each case should be assessed individually, and employers should not assume that the exemption automatically applies without reviewing the legal details of the foreigner’s situation.
What This Means for Employers
The new regulations give employers greater flexibility and allow them to begin cooperation with a foreign worker more quickly, especially for short term projects. At the same time they increase employer responsibilities — not only to correctly determine whether an exemption applies, but also to properly document and monitor employment and comply with all obligations related to hiring foreign nationals. In practice this means careful verification of documents and keeping reliable employment records, as a lack of due diligence can result in financial penalties or restrictions in future procedures for employing foreigners, such as fines of several thousand zlotys per violation and difficulties in obtaining subsequent permits or declarations.
Key Conclusions
Exemption from the work permit requirement is a significant simplification but not a universal solution. Three factors remain crucial for lawful employment: the foreign worker’s residence status, the type of the work being performed and the duration of that work. Before offering work, it is worth carefully checking these criteria and the documents confirming their fulfillment, instead of assuming that the absence of a work permit requirement automatically means everything is compliant with the law. Such an approach minimizes the risk of mistakes and allows safe use of the exemptions provided in the regulations.
