Construction work for foreigners: what documents

Construction work for foreigners requires more documents than manufacturing or warehouse work. For work at height a medical certificate covering that work is required, for electrical installations a SEP qualification certificate. Without them, mostly auxiliary tasks remain.

The reason is simple: work at height, near construction machinery, in excavations and near electrical installations counts as particularly hazardous work. Health and safety rules respond with a requirement for medical exams of a defined scope, training and formal qualifications. These documents come on top of legal residence and the right to work, which every industry requires. How one differs from the other is described in the article on legalizing residence and legalizing work.

From what height does work at height count?

Under § 105 of the regulation on general occupational health and safety rules, work at height is work on a surface located at least 1 m above the floor or ground. Exception: a surface enclosed on all sides by full walls (or walls with glazed windows) up to a height of at least 1.5 m, or another permanent structure protecting against falls.

In practice, work from scaffolding, a ladder or an unenclosed floor slab qualifies if you stand at least 1 m above the floor or ground. What this means for the employee:

• the referral for the initial medical exam must explicitly mention work at height, because a general certificate does not authorize it,
• without that entry, the employee will not be admitted to work at height,
• before going to height, the employee undergoes training on the use of protective equipment.

What the referral looks like and who issues it is described in the article on initial medical exams for work.

Construction work for foreigners: what qualifications are needed?

It depends on the post. The most common groups below:

The SEP qualification certificate is issued by qualification commissions operating at scientific and technical associations or at workplaces, and the system is supervised by the Energy Regulatory Office. The certificate is valid for 5 years, after which it must be renewed. Details and the application are on the biznes.gov.pl page on qualification certificates.

Site manager, designer and supervision inspector are regulated professions. Engineering qualifications earned abroad are recognized by the Polish Chamber of Civil Engineers. It issues a decision within 3 months of filing a complete application (up to 4 months in complex cases). This route is open to citizens of the EU, EEA and Switzerland, and to some citizens of third countries, for example refugees.

Can you work on a construction site without qualifications?

Yes, but the choice is narrow. Without courses and exams, only auxiliary, cleaning and material transport work remains. This is a minority of offers and lower rates than for a fitter or electrician. Such a post makes sense as a start if you do the height medical exam in parallel and then gain qualifications for specific equipment or installations.

Before accepting an offer, ask who funds the courses and any exam. That depends on the specific plant and type of contract, so the answer should come before signing.

Work takes place outdoors regardless of weather, and seasonality is greater than in manufacturing. In winter, some works stop and there are fewer offers.

Protective equipment for work at height

For work at height, mandatory protective equipment against falls is required: a helmet, a harness, connecting and shock absorbing subsystems and anchor points. Before going to height, the employee undergoes training on their use and applies them throughout the work. More on the equipment for the post is in the article on work clothing and protective equipment.

Frequently asked questions

Are foreign electrical qualifications recognized in Poland?

Work on electrical installations in Poland requires a SEP qualification certificate, issued by a qualification commission after an exam. Whether a document from another country is enough is decided by the relevant office on a case-by-case basis. If you plan to work as an electrician, the surest route is the exam before a qualification commission.

How long is the SEP certificate valid?

The SEP qualification certificate is valid for 5 years, after which it must be renewed. It is issued by a qualification commission after an exam.

What protective equipment is needed for work at height?

A helmet, a harness and other protective equipment against falls. Before starting work, the employee undergoes training on their use, and must apply them on the post.

Can you work on a construction site without knowing Polish?

It depends on the post. Health and safety training and workplace instructions must be understandable to the employee, so ask about the language requirement before accepting the offer.

This text describes the general rules. What you are entitled to depends on your type of contract: an employment contract (umowa o pracę) or a contract of mandate (umowa zlecenie). Your own contract and payslip are what count.