Working in Poland

The short answer

Main routes	Work permit plus national (D) visa, EU Blue Card, combined temporary residence and work permit once in Poland
What changed	A new act on hiring foreigners took effect on 1 June 2025: applications are fully electronic and the labour market test was dropped
Language	English widely used in IT and shared services; Polish needed in most other roles
Who decides	The provincial governor (work permit), Polish consulates (visa), the provincial office (residence after arrival)

Where the opportunities are

Kraków, Wrocław, Warsaw, Łódź and Gdańsk host large IT, finance and business-services centres, including those of major Indian IT companies. Poland is also a logistics hub for Central Europe, and manufacturing, construction and transport report shortages.

How hiring works since June 2025

• The employer applies for the work permit online.
• The labour market test is no longer required, although regions can restrict hiring for certain occupations for set periods.
• The employer must send a copy of your contract to the authority before you start.
• Fines for illegal employment were raised to between 3,000 and 50,000 złoty.
• Visas issued by other Schengen countries no longer allow work in Poland.

Once the permit is issued, you apply for a national D visa for work at the Polish consulate in India.

Good to know

• Visa appointments in India can be in high demand; apply early.
• Salaries are lower than in Western Europe, but living costs are lower too.
• Check that your employer is registered in the National Court Register (KRS) or CEIDG and that the contract is an employment contract (umowa o pracę), which gives full social security cover.