Legalization of Foreign Employment
Constantly shifting migration laws and the necessity of meeting rigorous deadlines mean that fulfilling these formalities requires not only specialized legal knowledge but also a significant investment of time. However, correctly executed procedures are the foundation of a stable business, allowing for the safe and fully compliant utilization of foreign talent. In the face of local labor market shortages, properly matching a residence title with the correct work authorization has become a priority for many growing enterprises.
How Does the Legalization Service Work?
At Bifrost Group, we prioritize total transparency and expert support at every stage of the bureaucratic journey, as we understand how taxing red tape can be. We begin this process with a thorough analysis of your company’s needs and a verification of the candidates’ current legal status. This includes both their residency status and permissible forms of employment, allowing us to select the optimal course of action and avoid errors right from the start. We then take over the task of compiling the necessary documentation, preparing applications for the relevant authorities, and actively monitoring the status of cases at Voivodeship Offices or District Labor Offices. Through this approach, we offer you real time savings and the certainty that the legalization of foreign labor proceeds without unnecessary delays, in full compliance with current regulations. Thanks to our work, your HR teams can focus on operational goals instead of tedious correspondence with administrative offices.
Work Authorization for Foreigners
We understand that work permits are more than just documents; they are, above all, a guarantee of continuity for your business processes. As part of our service, we ensure that every employee holds a valid residence title appropriate for their form of employment, along with the correct authorization to provide services. This eliminates the risk of severe financial penalties during inspections by state supervisory bodies. We select solutions for our clients that best correspond to the planned employment period and the nature of the assigned tasks, while taking the specificities of individual industries into account. Our support covers production workers as well as highly qualified specialists and management staff, ensuring full compliance with the Act on Employment Promotion and Labor Market Institutions and the Act on Foreigners.
Methods of Legalizing Foreign Labor
The Polish legal system provides several primary modes that allow for the legal employment of individuals from outside the European Union, each with specific requirements regarding salary, education, or working conditions:
- Standard work permits issued by the competent Voivode.
- Simplified declaration procedures for citizens of selected countries (e.g., Ukraine, Georgia, Belarus).
- Comprehensive unified permits, which combine the right to reside and work within a single administrative decision.
- Seasonal work permits, specifically dedicated to industries such as agriculture, catering, and hospitality.
- Temporary residence permits for intra-corporate transfers (ICT), constituting a distinct category of residence decision for management and specialists seconded within international structures.
Residence Cards:
- Temporary residence
- Permanent residence
- Long-term EU resident residence
Work permits:
- Declarations of entrustment of work
- Type A permits
- Type S seasonal work permit
Business Permit:
-Type B Permit
* required if you intend to run a business while staying in Poland for more than 183 days
Contacts with offices:
As part of our comprehensive service for companies, we handle contacts with provincial offices, district offices, and other administrative institutions.
Work Permit
This is the fundamental document issued by the Voivode at the employer’s request, authorizing a specific individual to work for a given employer under strictly defined conditions. The most common “Type A” permit concerns foreigners performing work on the territory of the Republic of Poland based on a contract with an entity whose registered office is in Poland. In our daily advisory practice, we ensure that the content of the application is precise and consistent with the actual scope of duties, which minimizes the risk of requests to supplement formal deficiencies and significantly shortens the waiting time for a final decision. We also monitor the necessity of conducting a so-called “labor market test,” if required in a given case, assisting in obtaining information from the Starosta.
Unified Temporary Residence and Work Permit
This is a solution we particularly recommend when seeking to engage an employee for a period longer than a few months. It allows a foreigner to legally reside and work in our country based on a single decision, which significantly simplifies the management of HR documentation in your company. As part of our cooperation, we oversee the process of applying for a residence card, ensuring the foreigner fulfills the obligation of personal appearance and submits all necessary attachments, such as current health insurance or proof of a stable source of income.
Unified Temporary Residence Permit for Highly Qualified Employment
We also offer comprehensive support in obtaining the so-called EU Blue Card, which is dedicated to specialists with high-level competencies. This path requires documenting superior professional qualifications (e.g., a university degree or a minimum of 5 years of professional experience) and ensuring a salary at the level specified by law. We offer assistance in verifying foreign educational documents and preparing a substantive business justification that confirms the need to employ a specific expert from outside the EU within your structures.
Declaration of Entrusting Work to a Foreigner
For citizens of selected countries (Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine), we organize the fastest and simplest method of legalization: an entry of a declaration into the registry at the District Labor Office. This allows for the commencement of cooperation in a very short timeframe, as this procedure typically does not require a complex verification of the local labor market.
The declaration enables a foreigner to perform work for a maximum of 24 months, within applicable limits and under the conditions specified in the specific declaration. We verify the available limit of the foreigner’s working time under this mode for you and handle the timely reporting of the commencement or non-commencement of work.
Temporary Residence Permit Based on Business Activity
If your business partners, subcontractors, or key associates plan to implement projects through their market activity, we assist in the effective process of demonstrating the benefits of their actions for the Polish economy. This requires documenting an appropriate level of company income, possessing funds for investment, or showing real potential to create new jobs. Our consultancy includes a detailed analysis of the business plan in light of official requirements and assistance in gathering complete financial and tax documentation for the company.
Which Work Permit is Best?
Choosing the right path depends on many parameters, such as the candidate’s nationality, the planned duration of the contract, or the salary budget. During consultations at Bifrost Group, we analyze each case individually to identify the most cost-effective and time-efficient solution. Below is a comparison of the most popular variants we utilize in our daily practice:
| Type of Solution | Characteristics and Application | Practical Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Declaration of Entrusting Work | The fastest form of work legalization for citizens of selected third countries. Best for short-term projects and rapid onboarding. | Work can be performed for up to 24 months, exclusively under the conditions specified in the declaration (employer, position, period). Available only to citizens of specific countries. |
| Work Permit (e.g., Type A) | The standard solution enabling legal employment of a foreigner with a specified employer in a specific position. | A more time-consuming procedure than the declaration. Can serve as a basis for obtaining a visa or residence card, depending on the foreigner’s residence status. |
| Unified Residence and Work Permit | A single administrative decision combining the right of residence and work. Most often chosen for long-term cooperation. | Requires the personal appearance of the foreigner and complete documentation. Changing employment conditions may require additional formalities. |
| EU Blue Card | A form of unified permit intended for highly qualified specialists performing work in professions requiring high qualifications. | Requires meeting additional criteria, including documented qualifications and an appropriate salary level. Not suitable for positions not requiring high competencies. |
| Temporary Residence for Business Activity | A solution for foreigners running a business in Poland or implementing projects in a B2B model. | Requires demonstrating that economic criteria are met and showing a real impact of the activity on the Polish economy. |
Why Choose Specialists in Foreign Labor Legalization?
Attempting to navigate migration procedures independently often leads to costly formal errors, which can result in a prolonged decision-making process or, in the worst-case scenario, the necessity for the employee to leave the country and sanctions for the enterprise. At Bifrost Group, we support companies facing the legalization of staff employment—from the correct powers of attorney and stamp duties to the timely filing of appeals. You will find a team of experts here who continuously analyze changes to the Act on Foreigners and the judicial practice of individual offices, ensuring we always offer up-to-date knowledge and effective legalization strategies. Working with us is not just a matter of convenience; it is, above all, the legal security of your business and the peace of mind that your foreign staff can carry out their assigned tasks without hindrance, supporting the growth of your company in the Polish market.
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