Working visas to Poland for foreigners: provincial and seasonal visa - advantages and disadvantages

In recent years, Poland has become a center of labor migration. A work visa to Poland is required for foreigners who intend to get an official job in the country. It gives the right to stay in Poland for a period of not less than six months and not more than three years. To obtain a visa, you need an invitation letter from a Polish employer.

What does a foreigner need to work in Poland?

In order for a foreigner from a country outside the EU/EEA to be able to legally work in Poland, the following conditions must be met:

• Possess residency documents (such as an appropriate visa or residence permit) that include the right to work.
• Work only under the conditions specified in the document and declaration of the employer.
• Have an appropriate employment contract with the employer.
• Have the documents required to enter the Polish labor market.

These documents include: a work permit, a seasonal work permit, a signature stating that the applicant wishes to be transferred to work by a foreigner, a temporary residence permit and a work permit.

On the other hand, employers employing foreigners must ensure that they have a document authorizing the foreigner to work in Poland and have obtained a work visa or temporary residence permit for this. The employer is obliged to keep a copy of the document confirming the legal stay of the foreigner in Poland.

Foreigners whose stay is not proven can be fined or fired. In addition, they are not allowed to work if they are in the country on a tourist visa.

Voivodship and seasonal visas: characteristics, advantages and disadvantages

There are several types of visas available for foreigners to work in Poland. Each of them has both advantages and disadvantages.

Voivodship (regional)

Allows the owner to stay and work in Poland for 365 days. It is issued at the invitation of the governor. The invitation is valid for one, two or three years. However, visas for more than one year are not issued.

Main advantages:

• This visa allows the holder to officially stay and work in Poland for one year.
• If an annual pass is issued and a template letter of invitation is available, the visa corridor may be cancelled.
• Minors can get permission and travel with their parents.
• The permit is issued independently of the consulate.

Since it is the voivode who decides on the invitation to work, the consular officer is obliged to issue it. This is the biggest plus of this type of visa.

Voivodeship visa also has disadvantages:

• They are difficult to obtain urgently. It takes 1 to 4 months to obtain a work permit.
• The place of work is only the voivodeship where the visa was issued.
• If the place of work changes, a new invitation letter is required.

A regional visa allows work in a Schengen country only if the Polish employer has given official consent to perform the contract work. The duration of the trip cannot exceed three months and can be re-appointed after a break.

List of documents for applying for a regional visa:

• national passport + photocopy of all pages;
• international passport + photocopy of all pages (print on all pages), if you have two passports, both copies are required;
• TIN of the applicant (original + photocopy);
• valid insurance certificate;
• payment receipt (original);
• survey;
• local invitation letter + photocopy;
• photograph (3.5 x 4.5) taken within the last month.

Seasonal

A Polish seasonal visa issued on the basis of such an invitation allows foreigners to engage in only seasonal work (for example, harvesting, hotel or tourism business).

The main advantages of a Polish seasonal visa are the short processing time and the fact that after any type of visa there is no “corridor” for it. This means that a D05a visa can be opened immediately after:

• visits to Poland with a visa-free stay;
• official employment within 3 months based on biometric data;
• expiration of a 6-month work visa;
• expiration of a one-year regional visa;
• return from irregular work in Poland or a Schengen country.

Disadvantages of such a visa: you can only work for a certain time up to 9 months. In Poland, a foreigner can engage in seasonal work only with the appropriate permit.

A seasonal work visa to Poland has certain features when issued. It is issued only for the remaining period until the end of the current year. This means that in January visas are issued for nine months, and in August until the end of December. Applications for the next 9 months can be submitted as early as October.

Documents required to apply for a seasonal visa:

• photocopy of all pages of the passport;
• a photocopy of all pages of a civil passport (with a seal);
• identification code and a copy of the code;
• one photograph (3.5 cm x 4.5 cm), in which the face occupies at least 70% of the area;
• completed visa application form;
• check for payment of the visa fee;
• a copy of an insurance policy issued only by an insurance company associated with the Polish consulate (insurance premiums vary depending on the type of insurance).

Foreigners should be careful when hiring as seasonal workers. In the invitation, you need to carefully read the points:

• name of the inviting party (company) and contact phone number;
• the person to whom the invitation was sent: name, surname, date of birth;
• the location of the event;
• validity period of the invitation;
• wet print.

A thorough check of all documents is an important part of obtaining a visa. For example, a visa may not be issued if the insurance policy was issued by another company that is not related to the Polish consulate.