Poland’s labour market has changed a lot in recent years. Some formalities were scrapped, others were narrowed to fewer countries. This is an up-to-date, 2026 guide for people job-hunting in specialized fields (IT, banking, corporate roles), rather than seasonal or construction work.

Do you need to speak Polish?

For a comfortable life in Poland, some level of Polish is practically essential. English is often enough to work in IT and multinational corporations, but outside the office, limited Polish can become a real obstacle, especially with older generations, public offices, or everyday errands.

If you plan to apply for permanent residence (pobyt stały) or EU long-term resident status, you’ll need to pass a mandatory Polish language exam at level B1 or above. Important 2026 update: from June 30, 2026, only an official state-issued B1+ language certificate will be accepted. School certificates and other non-state certificates, which were previously accepted under a transitional rule, will no longer qualify.

Where to look for a job in 2026

The main job-search platforms in Poland in 2026:

  • Pracuj.pl: Poland’s largest recruitment portal, where most serious employers post openings.
  • LinkedIn: actively used for professional recruitment, especially in IT, finance, and corporate roles.
  • OLX Praca (olx.pl): the jobs section of Poland’s largest classifieds site, increasingly used by younger and smaller companies.
  • Aplikuj.pl and ZnajdzPrace.plus: other major job boards worth checking.
  • praca.gov.pl: the government job platform, useful for skilled-trade and seasonal roles.

Interviews increasingly happen remotely (Zoom, Teams, Google Meet), so you usually don’t need to fly to Poland for a single, uncertain first meeting. It’s also worth reaching out directly to companies you’re interested in.

Work permits: what changed in 2025-2026

Important update versus older guides: the rules have changed substantially:

  • The “informacja starosty” (labour market test) was abolished on June 1, 2025 for new applications for a work permit or a combined residence-and-work permit. It’s still required only for cases opened before that date, if the office specifically requested it.
  • The simplified “oświadczenie” procedure (an employer’s notification of intent to hire a foreigner) is no longer open to all former USSR countries, as it used to be. As of 2026, it’s limited to citizens of four countries: Armenia, Belarus, Moldova, and Ukraine. Russia was excluded on October 28, 2022, and Georgia was excluded on December 1, 2025.
  • For Ukrainian citizens legally residing in Poland, the labour market test isn’t required for the combined residence-and-work permit either.

If your country isn’t one of those four, you’ll typically need a full work permit (zezwolenie na pracę) or, for highly qualified specialists, an EU Blue Card.

Residence permit through employment

If a Polish company wants to hire you and you’re not a Polish or EU citizen, you’ll typically need a work visa based on documents the employer prepares, followed by a temporary residence permit (Zezwolenie na Pobyt Czasowy, commonly called a “karta pobytu”). For specialists with strong, in-demand skills, this process is largely a formality in practice, though it still takes time and correctly prepared paperwork.

Employment contract or a B2B arrangement?

Some employers in Poland, especially in IT, offer cooperation not through an employment contract (umowa o pracę) but as B2B, i.e., through your own registered business (JDG). This can be tax-efficient, but since 2026 such arrangements face heightened scrutiny: if the actual working conditions match the features of employment (fixed hours, subordination to the client), the Labour Inspectorate (PIP) can reclassify the contract as employment, with consequences for the employer. We cover this in detail in our series on the PIP 2026 reform here.

FAQ

Do all Ukrainian citizens need a work permit in Poland in 2026? No, the simplified “oświadczenie” procedure is still available to Ukrainian citizens, and those legally residing in Poland don’t need a labour market test at all.

Was the labour market test abolished entirely? Yes, as of June 1, 2025, the “informacja starosty” is no longer required for new work-permit applications.

Can a Russian citizen use the simplified oświadczenie procedure? No, that option has been closed to Russian citizens since October 28, 2022.

Bibliography and Legal Basis

  • Changes to the rules on employing foreigners as of June 1, 2025: Act on Employment of Foreigners (consolidated text).
  • Information on which countries qualify for the simplified oświadczenie procedure in 2026: Powiatowe Urzędy Pracy, gov.pl.
  • Information on the B1 Polish-language certificate requirement from June 30, 2026: Office for Foreigners (mos.cudzoziemcy.gov.pl).

Author: MojaFirma team.

Rules on employing foreigners in Poland change frequently. If you’d like help with your specific situation, feel free to book a free consultation with our team.