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Work permit or declaration — which route to choose
Two ways to legally employ a foreign worker in Poland, compared step by step.
An employer hiring a person from outside the EU has two main routes. They differ in time, cost and who is eligible.
Declaration (oświadczenie o powierzeniu wykonywania pracy)
- for citizens of selected countries (incl. Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia),
- registered at the district labour office — usually within days,
- work for up to 24 months.
Work permit (zezwolenie na pracę)
- for citizens of any country,
- issued by the voivode; takes longer,
- usually requires a labour-market test unless the occupation is on the exempt list.
How to choose
If the candidate’s nationality is on the declaration list and the job will not exceed 24 months, the declaration is faster and cheaper. Otherwise it is the work permit. In both cases the worker’s stay must be legal independently of the work document.
Rules and country lists change — we confirm them against current regulations before any decision.