Work legalisation for foreigners in Poland
Work legalisation for foreigners at Back2Work means preparing documents, submitting applications and handling the stay and work formalities on our side. So far, 100% of our legalisation applications have been approved.
Employment agency listed in the KRAZ register, no. 31286.
Employing a foreigner requires a proper legal basis for work and valid residence documents. Since 1 June 2025 a new Act on the conditions for allowing foreigners to be entrusted with work (ustawa o warunkach dopuszczalności powierzania pracy cudzoziemcom) has been in force, and applications for work permits (zezwolenia na pracę) are submitted exclusively electronically through the praca.gov.pl system.
The entity that entrusts the work is responsible for illegal entrustment of work, and inspections are carried out by the National Labour Inspectorate (Państwowa Inspekcja Pracy, PIP) and the Border Guard (Straż Graniczna). We take over the preparation of formalities: from verifying the candidate's documents, through applications, to monitoring the validity of permits. You run production, and we prepare and organise the documentation.
What work legalisation for foreigners covers
- 01
Document verification before the start
We check the completeness and validity of the candidate's documents before they arrive at your plant. This way we check the basis for work before the first day, not after it.
- 02
Choosing the legal basis for work
We select the path for the specific person: a work permit, a seasonal work permit, a declaration on entrusting work to a foreigner (oświadczenie o powierzeniu wykonywania pracy cudzoziemcowi, for citizens of Armenia, Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine) or a residence permit entitling the holder to work.
- 03
Applications and documentation
We prepare applications and attachments in the required electronic system and follow up on requests to supplement applications and on replies to the authority. Who formally submits the application depends on who entrusts the work, and we establish this before the start.
- 04
Residence and its extension
We coordinate residence formalities and monitor deadlines, including submitting applications for a further residence permit before the current one expires.
- 05
Monitoring the validity of documents
We track the deadlines of workers' permits and residence documents so that we can react in advance, before they expire. We help keep documentation in line with the obligations of the entity entrusting the work.
- 06
A dedicated coordinator
One coordinator is responsible for the project and is in constant contact with your company and with the workers. We organise accommodation near the plant as part of cooperation.
When to entrust legalisation to an agency
You employ several dozen foreigners or more
At a larger scale, formalities take up HR time and it is easy to miss a deadline. We take over the preparation of documents and monitoring of deadlines.
You are preparing for an inspection or audit
When you want to be sure that workers' documents are complete and up to date, we put them in order before an inspection by PIP or the Border Guard.
You lack knowledge of the new rules
The rules changed in 2025, and some obligations fall directly on the employer. We rely on current official sources.
You need staffing quickly and with a full set of documents
We combine recruitment with legalisation, so the candidate is checked and formally ready before the start, not only after it.
Types of legal basis for a foreigner's work
A work permit for a foreigner working for a Polish entity is issued by the voivode (wojewoda) competent for the employer's registered office or place of residence. Since 1 June 2025, applications for work permits and the accompanying documents are submitted exclusively through the praca.gov.pl system.
A foreigner may also work on the basis of a seasonal work permit, a declaration on entrusting work, a single permit combining stay and work, a residence permit with access to the labour market, or in situations exempt from the obligation to hold a permit. The right path depends on the citizenship, the type of work and the residence status of the specific person, so we select it individually.
Before work begins, the entity entrusting the work must require the foreigner to present a valid document entitling them to stay, and keep a copy of it for the entire period of work and for 2 years counted from the end of the year in which the contract ended.
The entire process, handled by us
Recruitment
We reach candidates through our own database, job ads and referrals.
Verification
We verify qualifications, experience and the completeness of the documents required for employment.
Legalisation
We coordinate the work legalisation process and prepare the necessary documentation in line with applicable regulations.
Accommodation
We arrange accommodation close to the plant.
Coordinator
A dedicated coordinator supports employees and the client, oversees work organisation and responds to ongoing operational needs.
Frequently asked questions
The bases for legal work include a work permit, a seasonal work permit, a declaration on entrusting work, and a single permit or residence permit with access to the labour market. A work permit is issued by the voivode, and since 1 June 2025 applications are submitted through praca.gov.pl. The choice of path depends on the situation of the given person, so we determine it for the specific candidate.
Illegally entrusting work to a foreigner carries a fine of PLN 3,000 to PLN 50,000, not less than PLN 3,000 for each foreigner. Under the fixed-penalty procedure (postępowanie mandatowe), a PIP inspector or the Border Guard may impose a fine of up to PLN 10,000. Inspections are carried out by the National Labour Inspectorate and the Border Guard, so every worker's documents must be complete and up to date.
The entity that entrusts the work is responsible. If you employ the person yourself, it is your company, and in temporary work the foreigner's formal employer is the agency. The rules also place some obligations on the user employer, for example checking whether the agency is entered in the register of employment agencies. Back2Work is entered in the KRAZ register under number 31286, and we discuss the division of tasks before the start.
Yes, we coordinate residence formalities together with the legalisation of work. If an application for a temporary residence permit is submitted no later than the last day of legal stay and without formal deficiencies, the foreigner's stay is considered legal until the day on which the decision on the permit becomes final. That is why we monitor deadlines and the completeness of applications.
The entity entrusting the work keeps a copy of the document entitling the foreigner to stay for the entire period of work and for 2 years counted from the end of the year in which the contract ended. The document must be requested before work begins. We help organise and monitor this documentation.
No, work permit applications submitted from 1 June 2025 must be filed electronically through the praca.gov.pl system. We prepare the documents in this system.
So far, 100% of our legalisation applications have been approved. Before we start a project, we discuss the required documents and deadlines with you.
Legal basis and sources
- Zezwolenia na pracę cudzoziemców (gov.pl)
- Ustawa z dnia 20 marca 2025 r. o warunkach dopuszczalności powierzania pracy cudzoziemcom (Dz.U. 2025 poz. 621, brzmienie pierwotne) (dziennikustaw.gov.pl)
- Nowe przepisy dotyczące zatrudniania cudzoziemców: uproszczenia i wyższe kary od czerwca 2025 r. (bialystok.pip.gov.pl)
- O legalności zatrudnienia cudzoziemców ze Strażą Graniczną (pip.gov.pl)
- Kiedy praca cudzoziemca w Polsce jest legalna (biznes.gov.pl)
- Zezwolenie na pobyt czasowy a braki formalne (zielonalinia.gov.pl)
- Ustawa o warunkach dopuszczalności powierzania pracy cudzoziemcom, tekst ujednolicony w ISAP (isap.sejm.gov.pl)
Sources checked on 1-4 October 2026. Regulations may change, so check the current legal status before making a decision. (documents in Polish)
Read before you decide
- Work permit for a foreignerWork permit for a foreigner in Poland: who applies and to which voivode, filing only via praca.gov.pl since 1.06.2025, documents and employer's duties.
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Request a quote for work legalisation for foreigners
Tell us how many workers you need and in which positions, and we will prepare an offer for legalisation and staffing.
+48 515 682 163 [email protected]