Type A Work Permit in Poland
Hiring foreign employees on a long-term basis requires a solid legal foundation. Type A work permit is the standard procedure for legalizing the work of foreigners in Poland, applied to all third-country nationals and allowing an employee to be registered for up to 5 years. For international companies and foreign entrepreneurs, this is a critically important tool for building a stable team in Poland.
Progress Holding provides services for obtaining work permits 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.
Type A and Type B Work Permits: Key Differences
The standard procedure concerns obtaining a work permit for foreigners of type A or type B. This procedure applies to all third-country nationals and is the main tool for long-term work legalization in Poland.
Type A work permit:
- Applied to all employees, except for board members
- Issued for a period of 3 or 5 years depending on the company’s needs
- Intended for a foreigner performing work in Poland based on an agreement with an organization registered in Poland
- Allows working only for the specific employer indicated in the permit
- Can be renewed upon expiration
Type B work permit:
- Applied exclusively to board members
- Issued for a period of up to 3 years
- Intended for foreigners holding management positions in Polish companies
- Requires additional justification of the need to hire a foreigner for a management position
Key parameters of the procedure:
- Decision waiting time: 3-6 months
- State fee: 100 zlotys
- The decision is made by the voivode at the place of registration of the employer company
- The permit is valid only for the specific employer and position
What Progress Holding offers for obtaining a Type A work permit
We take over the full cycle of processing a Type A work permit — from document preparation to receiving the completed permit from the voivode. Your company receives a legally registered employee on a long-term basis. Foreign owned companies expect full service to obtain work permit.
Full cycle of services:
- Employment strategy consultation — determining the optimal type of permit (A or B) depending on the position and status of the employee.
- Preparation of a complete document package — compilation of all necessary documents from the employer and employee in strict accordance with the voivode’s requirements.
- Completion of the WNIOSEK application — professional preparation of the application for the issuance of a work permit indicating all necessary data (employer data, employee data, working conditions, position, term, justification of the need for hiring).
- Payment of the state fee — ensuring correct payment of the fee in the amount of 100 zlotys and providing proof of payment.
- Submission of the application to the voivode — submission of the complete document package to the relevant Voivodeship Office and support during the consideration process.
- Interaction with the voivode — prompt response to requests for additional information or documents during the application consideration.
- Obtaining the completed permit — prompt receipt of the Type A work permit from the moment the decision is made and its transfer to you.
- Consultations on further steps — explanation of how the employee uses the permit 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:
- Application for the issuance of a work permit (WNIOSEK)
- 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)
- Justification of the need to hire a foreign employee
- Confirmation of no debts to ZUS and the Tax Office
- Confirmation of payment of the state fee (100 zlotys)
The cost of the service is transparent and depends on the number of employees being processed. No hidden fees.
Why regular clients choose Progress Holding for Type A 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 long-term 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 voivode procedures, requirements for Type A and Type B permit applications, and the specifics of legalizing the work of citizens of various countries. We understand what documents and wording voivodeship 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.
- Professional accompaniment. We understand that the process takes 2-3 months, and we provide professional accompaniment at all stages — from submitting the application to receiving the completed permit.
- Legal flawlessness. We guarantee that all documents will be prepared in strict accordance with Polish legislation, eliminating the risk of refusal by the voivode.
- 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 Type A work permit for a long-term employee
Employing a foreign citizen without a valid Type A work permit (when this specific type is required) is a serious violation 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.
- Inability to legally retain a valuable employee on a long-term basis.
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.
- Loss of stability and confidence in the future.
Contact us – and get a Type A work permit processed professionally
Do not risk the stability of your business due to the lack of a work permit for a long-term foreign employee. We will promptly assess your situation, prepare a complete document package for the Type A permit, and submit the application to the voivode — so you can calmly develop your business in Poland, knowing that employment relationships with foreign employees are fully legal and protected for up to 5 years.
Consultation in English, Polish, Ukrainian, or Russian.