Visa-free travel for Ukrainian citizens has been in place since 2017, but myths about what it actually allows are still common. Here’s a 2026 update: what changed in work-permit rules, what role the new EU Entry/Exit System (EES) now plays, and how to avoid accidentally becoming an overstayer if you decide to stay in Poland longer than the visa-free 90 days.

Can I work in Poland visa-free

Visa-free travel lets you visit Poland and other Schengen countries, but it does not give you the right to work or live in the country permanently. This hasn’t changed since 2017.

If you arrive visa-free and find a job, your employer must formalise the employment relationship under Polish law before you can legally start working in Poland.

While your residence permit application is being processed, you’re staying in Poland legally, even if your visa-free days have run out. This rule still holds in 2026.

What changed in work permits in 2025-2026

This is where the most significant changes in recent years took place:

  • The labour market test (“informacja starosty”) was abolished from 1 June 2025 for new work-permit applications and combined residence-and-work permit applications. Employers no longer need to prove no local candidates are available for the role.
  • The simplified “oświadczenie” procedure (a declaration of intent to entrust work to a foreigner) has, since 1 December 2025, applied only to citizens of four countries: Armenia, Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine. Russia was excluded back in 2022, and Georgia as of 1 December 2025.
  • Nationals of other countries, including those entering Poland visa-free from elsewhere, will need a full work permit.

The employer must register a zezwolenie na pracę (work permit) or an oświadczenie, or file for a combined permit, which lets you apply for a residence permit based on employment right away, but you can only work legally once you hold the residence card itself.

Can I live wherever and as long as I want

Visa-free status still doesn’t grant an automatic right to live in the EU. The same rule that applies to Schengen visas applies here: no more than 90 days within any 180-day period.

Since 10 April 2026, days spent in Schengen are no longer counted by a border guard reading stamps: they’re tracked by the electronic EES (Entry/Exit System), which makes an unnoticed overstay practically impossible.

If you want to stay in Poland longer, you’ll need a legal basis for a residence permit: studying, employment with a Polish employer, Polish origin (Karta Polaka), or another valid reason.

How not to get it wrong

Here’s a common scenario: someone already has an employer ready to sign a contract and wants to enter visa-free to finalise the paperwork locally.

The wrong way: you enter visa-free, sign the contract, and just keep living in Poland. Once your 90 days run out, you automatically become an overstayer, with the risk of deportation and an entry ban for the Schengen area.

The right way: you enter visa-free, sign the contract, immediately apply for a residence permit, and wait for the decision while staying in Poland on a legal basis.

FAQ

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

Can I register a business (JDG) in Poland while on visa-free status?
Visa-free status on its own doesn’t let you legally run a business beyond 90 days; you need a residence-permit basis for that too. JDG registration is available to people with the appropriate residence status; see our articles on registering a sole proprietorship (JDG) in Poland.

How are Schengen days counted now? Automatically, via the EES system, since April 2026. See our article “EU Entry/Exit System (EES) in 2026” for details.

Bibliography and Legal Basis

  • Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (list of visa-exempt countries) and the Schengen Borders Code (Regulation (EU) 2016/399), Art. 6(1): the 90/180-day rule.
  • Act of 20 March 2025 on the conditions for entrusting work to foreigners and the new act on the labour market and employment services: abolishing the labour market test from 1 June 2025.
  • Regulation of the Minister of Family, Labour and Social Policy: list of countries eligible for the simplified oświadczenie procedure, in force since 1 December 2025.

Author: MojaFirma team.

*This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If something about your own situation isn’t quite clear, feel free to book a free consultation with our team.*