Work permit for foreigners in Poland
Hiring foreign employees from Armenia, Belarus, Moldova, and Ukraine is one of the most effective ways to meet your business’s staffing needs in Poland. However, without a properly executed work permit, the company risks serious fines from the National Labour Inspectorate (PIP), and the employee risks deportation and a ban on entry into the Schengen zone.
Progress Holding provides remote services for obtaining work permits of the oświadczenie type in Poland for companies. We are not an employment agency and do not engage in job searching or employee recruitment, but we provide services to companies for obtaining residence and work permits for your employees in Poland. We act as your local finance and HR department, ensuring full compliance with Polish legislation and coordination with headquarters in English, Polish, Ukrainian, and Russian.
Our services are primarily aimed at foreign entrepreneurs, investors, and international companies.
What is oświadczenie (simplified work permit) and who is it intended for
The most common form of obtaining a work permit for a foreigner in Poland is the “Declaration on Entrusting Work to a Foreigner” (oświadczenie o powierzeniu wykonywania pracy cudzoziemcowi). The process takes approximately 2 weeks, making this procedure the fastest way to legalize the employment of a foreign worker.
This type of work permit can be characterized as a simplified procedure for obtaining a work permit. It can be used for citizens of four countries:
- Armenia
- Belarus
- Moldova
- Ukraine
Key characteristics of oświadczenie:
- The permit is issued for a period of up to 6 months within 24 months.
- There is no need to obtain a work permit from the voivode — it is sufficient to register the declaration at the district labor office (PUP).
- The process takes approximately 2 weeks with a complete document package.
- The employer is not required to conduct a labor market test (checking whether there are Polish candidates for the position).
- The oświadczenie allows working only for the specific employer indicated in the declaration.
Who can act as an employer:
- Polish legal entities (spółka z o.o., joint-stock company, etc.)
- Foreign companies registered in Poland as a permanent representative office or branch
- Individual entrepreneurs conducting business in Poland
What is NOT included in the service:
- We are not an employment agency.
- We do not engage in job searching or candidate selection.
- We do not provide employee recruitment services.
- Our task is to ensure legally correct execution of a work permit for employees you have already selected.
What Progress Holding offers for obtaining oświadczenie
We take over the full cycle of processing a work permit of the oświadczenie type — from document preparation to receiving the completed declaration with PUP registration. Your company receives a legally registered employee in the shortest possible time.
Full cycle of services:
- Eligibility consultation — checking whether your future employee meets the requirements for obtaining an oświadczenie (citizenship, purpose of stay, absence of bans).
- Preparation of a complete document package — compilation of all necessary documents from the employer and employee in strict accordance with PUP requirements.
- Completion of the oświadczenie declaration — professional preparation of the declaration on entrusting work to a foreigner indicating all necessary data (employer data, employee data, working conditions, position, term).
- Registration at the district labor office (PUP) — submission of the declaration to the relevant authority and support during the verification process.
- Obtaining the registered oświadczenie — prompt receipt of the completed document with the PUP stamp and its transfer to you.
- Consultations on further steps — explanation of how the employee uses the oświadczenie to obtain a visa or residence permit, and what obligations arise for the employer.
- Coordination with headquarters — providing the HR department and CFO with transparent information about the status of work permit processing.
Documents we prepare and verify:
- Declaration on entrusting work to a foreigner (oświadczenie)
- Employer information (KRS, REGON, NIP)
- Employee’s passport data and a copy of the visa or residence permit
- Description of the position and working conditions (salary, schedule, workplace)
- Confirmation of no debts to ZUS and the Tax Office (if necessary)
The cost of the service is transparent and depends on the number of employees being processed. No hidden fees.
Why international business chooses Progress Holding for work permit processing
Progress Holding is not an employment agency. It is a strategic partner with 22 years of experience working with international companies and foreign entrepreneurs in Poland, which ensures legally flawless execution of employment relationships with foreign employees.
- Role of the local finance and HR department. We act as a full-fledged extension of your personnel service, integrating into the processes of the headquarters in Berlin, Amsterdam, London, or New York.
- 22 years of expertise. Our specialists deeply know PUP procedures, oświadczenie requirements, and the specifics of legalizing the work of citizens of Armenia, Belarus, Moldova, and Ukraine. We understand what documents and wording district labor offices accept.
- Coordination with headquarters. Your HR department receives transparent and timely information about the status of each work permit processing.
- Support in 4 languages. We work in English, Polish, Ukrainian, and Russian. This eliminates any misunderstandings between the headquarters, the Polish subsidiary, and foreign employees.
- Promptness. We understand that business cannot wait. The average processing time for an oświadczenie through us is 2 weeks with a complete document package.
- Legal flawlessness. We guarantee that all documents will be prepared in strict accordance with Polish legislation, eliminating the risk of refusal by PUP.
- Dedicated specialist. A dedicated expert is assigned to your company, who personally supervises the work permit processing process.
- Confidentiality. We ensure complete protection of your employees’ personal data in accordance with GDPR (RODO).
What are the risks of lacking a work permit for a foreign employee
Employing a foreign citizen without a valid work permit is one of the most serious violations of Polish labor law. The consequences affect both the employer and the employee.
For the employer:
- Fines from PIP of up to 30,000 zlotys for each illegally employed worker.
- Charges of entrusting work without a permit — criminal prosecution in case of systemic violations.
- Ban on obtaining work permits in the future.
- Loss of reputation and problems with counterparties requiring confirmation of employment legality.
For the employee:
- Annulment of the visa or residence permit.
- Deportation from Poland and a ban on entry into the Schengen zone.
- Inability to legally obtain employment in the future.
- Problems with obtaining social benefits and medical care.
Contact us – and get a work permit processed in 2 weeks
Do not risk the stability of your business due to the lack of a work permit for a foreign employee. We will promptly assess your situation, prepare a complete document package for the oświadczenie, and register the declaration at PUP — so you can calmly develop your business in Poland, knowing that employment relationships with foreign employees are fully legal.
Consultation in English, Polish, Ukrainian, or Russian.