Type A work permit

It is a decision issued by the voivode allowing a foreign national to legally work under a contract with an entity established in Poland. The employer files the application, and the permit is tied to a specific employer, position, working time and salary. Type A is the most common permit type – it covers ordinary employment in a Polish company.

The employer, meaning the entity entrusting the work, always files the application. The foreign national only provides personal documents: a passport copy, proof of qualifications and, if already in Poland, a residence document. We handle all correspondence with the voivodeship office on the employer's behalf under a power of attorney.

In practice from a few weeks to a few months – it depends on the workload of the specific voivodeship office and on how complete the application is. Straightforward cases are usually decided in about a month; in high-volume regions it takes longer. Most time is lost on requests to supplement missing documents, which is why we review every application before filing.

A type A permit is issued for a fixed term of up to 3 years and can be extended. The period stated in the decision matches the employment period declared in the application, so it is worth applying for the longest sensible horizon instead of repeating the procedure every year.

The 2025 reform of the rules on employing foreign nationals removes the labour market test (the starosta's opinion) for work permits and moves case handling to an electronic system. Before every case we verify the current legal state and the requirements of the specific office, so that we neither file documents that are no longer required nor omit those that are.

The cost consists of the fee paid by the employer when filing the application, a stamp duty on the power of attorney where applicable, and sworn translation costs. Our fee for running the case is agreed upfront as a flat rate per worker – with no charges for correspondence, office visits or supplements.

No. The permit legalises work, not stay. A foreign national outside the Schengen area uses it to apply for a national type D visa (purpose 06) at a Polish consulate, and after arrival applies for a temporary residence permit when the visa period ends. We run both tracks in parallel within our legalisation service.

A change of position, a salary reduction below the level stated in the decision or a change of working time require a new or amended permit. A change of the employer's name or legal form, a transfer of the workplace or a pay rise do not require a new decision, but certain events – including the worker not taking up the job or ending the employment – must be reported to the voivode within the statutory deadline.

An extension application is filed no earlier than 90 days and no later than 30 days before the current permit expires. Filing on time allows work to continue until the case is decided. We maintain a deadline calendar and remind you about extensions well in advance.

A declaration registered by the district labour office covers only nationals of selected countries and shorter employment periods. A type A permit covers nationals of all third countries and can be valid for up to 3 years. For workers from Asia – the Philippines, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka or Indonesia – the type A permit is the right route.

Illegally entrusting work to a foreign national is an offence punishable by a fine, and since 2025 the sanctions and the inspection powers of the National Labour Inspectorate have been tightened. It can also result in being barred from employing foreign nationals for a period of time. That is why we set the start date only once the full set of documents is in place.

Yes. We can run the permit procedure alone for candidates you have found yourself – with no recruitment on our side. We then take responsibility for documentation, contact with the voivodeship office and deadlines, while you decide on the worker and the terms of employment.