Type A Work Permit

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Today in our In Focus series we’ll tell you all about the Type A Work Permit. Keep reading to find out whether you are eligible for it and how to get it if you are!
You are eligible for a Type A Work Permit in Poland if…

  1. You are a foreign citizen from outside the European Union, the European Economic Area (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein), and Switzerland.

AND

  1. You have signed a contract to perform work in Poland for an entrepreneur whose registered office, residence address or branch is also located in Poland.

So, in short, to qualify you must not be from any of the 27 EU member states, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland and your employer must have an office OR residence address OR branch registered in Poland.

Okay, you check all the boxes and you are eligible. Now what? 

How do you apply?
Some general facts first:

  1. Applications for the Type A Work Permit are made by *the employer*. 

  2. All applications are sent to the voivodeship corresponding to the location of the employer’s registered office (or residence address or branch).

  3. Applications can be submitted in person, per post, or electronically.

  4. Applications are processed at different times depending on the voivodeship. For example, in 2021 in the Małopolskie Voivodeship the process takes up to a month, while in the Dolnośląskie Voivodeship it can take over a year.

Pro tip: One thing to keep in mind is that even though it is possible to submit applications electronically, they still require original documentation. Scans or photocopies are not accepted by the office and therefore applying online is just more unnecessary steps.
On to the specifics… 
What documents are required for the application?

  1. A complete Type A Work Permit application form

  2. *Employer’s* criminal record

  3. Proof of payment

  4. Original power of attorney (if an attorney is handling your case)

  5. A valid identity card or travel document for the *employer*

  6. Articles of association (if applicable)

  7. Photocopy of the *employee’s* passport (all written pages)

  8. Documents confirming the fulfillment of the requirements in the employee’s profession

  9. Documents confirming the foreigner’s compliance with the requirements for candidate’s specified in the information from the staroste on the inability to meet staffing needs

  10. Original information from the staroste about the impossibility to meet the employer’s staffing needs  OR documents confirming the exemption from the obligation to submit it

And there you have it: the Type A Work Permit at a glance! For more info on work permits you can reach out to us.
Good luck with your business endeavors in Poland!

The article does not constitute a source of law, its interpretation or legal advice. The materials are for informational purposes only.