A foreigner with a permanent residence permit (zezwolenie na pobyt stały) can work in Poland without a work permit and without a declaration of entrusting work (oświadczenie o powierzeniu pracy). The exemption follows from Article 3 of the act of 20 March 2025 on the conditions for entrusting work to foreigners (ustawa o warunkach dopuszczalności powierzania pracy cudzoziemcom). For the employer this means employment without legalization procedures, the same as for a Polish citizen. Only checking and copying the residence card remains.

Permanent residence permit and work: what stops applying

A permanent residence holder has free access to the labor market. In practice, the following fall away:

  • the work permit application filed by the employer at praca.gov.pl and waiting for the voivode's decision,
  • the declaration of entrusting work, which allows work only after entry into the register at the district labor office (powiatowy urząd pracy),
  • a new application when changing employer (with an ordinary work permit, the existing document does not transfer to the new company),
  • another application before the permit expires, because since 1 June 2025 work permits can no longer be extended.

The employee can also change position, working time or type of contract without notifying the labor office. Residence is not tied to one employer, as it is with a single permit for residence and work, so losing the job does not affect the right of residence.

How permanent residence changes employment cost

With a foreigner holding a work permit, employment cost includes legalization procedures, HR staff time on applications, and the risk of an interruption in legal work if the next application arrives late. With permanent residence, these items disappear from the calculation. The same costs remain as for an employee from Poland: wages, contributions and medical checks. The full breakdown is in the text on the cost of employing a worker from abroad.

The same exemptions apply to holders of an EU long-term resident permit (rezydent długoterminowy UE) in Poland, refugee status, subsidiary protection, and holders of the Pole's Card (Karta Polaka). The full list is in the text on who can work without a permit.

How to check whether a residence card is based on permanent residence

Residence cards look similar regardless of the basis on which they were issued. The right to work is determined by the type of permit entered on the card, not by the document itself. When hiring:

  1. Check the type of permit on the card: permanent residence, temporary residence, or EU long-term resident.
  2. For temporary residence, check the labor market access annotation and any work permit.
  3. Note the card's expiry date and keep a copy in the employee's file.

The differences for temporary residence are covered in the text on the temporary residence card and work.

How many years a permanent residence card is issued for

The permanent residence permit is indefinite, but the residence card has an expiry date. Under Article 243 of the Act on Foreigners (ustawa o cudzoziemcach), a card issued for permanent residence is valid for 10 years from the date of issue. After that, a new card is issued, also for 10 years.

FeaturePermanent residence permitResidence card
Validityindefinite10 years from issue
What it confirmsright of residence and workidentity and status
What must be donenothingreplace before expiry

The card's expiry does not remove the permit itself, but the employee loses the document that confirms their status during employment and inspections. The employer should track the card's date just as carefully as the date of medical check validity.

Who can get a permanent residence permit

The grounds are listed in Article 195 of the Act on Foreigners. They include, among others:

  • marriage to a Polish citizen lasting at least 3 years before filing the application, with uninterrupted residence under a temporary residence permit for at least 2 years directly before the application,
  • a minor child of a Polish citizen under their parental authority,
  • the Pole's Card (Karta Polaka).

The list is longer, and the voivodeship office (urząd wojewódzki) assesses each case individually.

Frequently asked questions

Does permanent residence need to be renewed?

No. The permanent residence permit is indefinite. Only the residence card is replaced, and it is valid for 10 years from the date of issue.

Does a Pole's Card holder have to wait several years for permanent residence?

No. A Pole's Card (Karta Polaka) holder does not have to document an uninterrupted period of residence in Poland, unlike paths based on temporary residence. The office checks the conditions when the application is filed.

Does the residence card expiring remove the right to work under permanent residence?

No. The permanent residence permit continues, so the exemption from the work permit continues too. Without a valid card, though, the employee has nothing to confirm their status with, so they should apply for a new card before the 10 years run out.

Does a change of position have to be reported to the labor office under permanent residence?

No. A permanent residence holder can change position, working time or type of contract without notifying the labor office. Residence is not tied to one employer, so a change of job does not require a new application.

The rules on residence and employment of foreign nationals change often, and much depends on citizenship, the basis of stay and the situation of the particular person. This text describes the general course of the procedure. Before filing documents, confirm the current state of affairs at the voivodeship office.