Since 2018
For over 8 years, we've helped clients navigate Polish law, combining our solid legal knowledge with practical immigration experience.
ONE PLUS handles work permits and voivodeship work permits in Poland for foreigners and employers. We help choose the track that fits the role, citizenship and employment conditions, so the company can hire lawfully and the employee knows exactly what is filed with the office.
We check the company and employee document pack, prepare the application and explanations, align the order with a residence card if one is needed in parallel, and support filing so the office does not return the case over a common mistake. We work for the employer, for the foreign employee, or coordinate both sides.
At the start we explain which path makes sense now, what risks come with starting work too early, and what to prepare first. We do not promise a decision date: the office decides that. We give a realistic action plan. Based in Wrocław, we also work remotely across Poland.
Employment paths
Choose the work permit type
Two routes for foreigners and employers. Each page covers documents, filing and follow-up.
When employers and foreign staff need a work permit
Hiring a foreign national in Poland depends on citizenship, job title, contract type, industry and residence basis. Nationals of some countries may work without a separate permit for a limited time or under specific conditions. For most specialists from third countries, the employer must obtain a permit or follow a voivodeship track before employment begins.
The company is responsible for lawful employment. Fines, inspections and problems with extending residence often start not from bad intent but from choosing the wrong track or starting work before the office issues a decision. That is why we first check whether a separate document is needed at all, and only then build the filing.
Cases we see most often
- a company hires a specialist from abroad and must close office requirements before the start date;
- an employee changes employer, role or terms and needs a new permit;
- work must be arranged before or alongside a residence card application;
- a case is already filed and the office sent a request, a supplement demand or a refusal;
- an employer hires a foreign worker for the first time and does not know who prepares which documents.
Standard work permit vs voivodeship track
A work permit is the standard route for many roles and industries. The employer or an authorized person files the application. The voivode decides according to the company location or rules set for the specific case. The document is tied to the employer, job title and conditions stated in the filing.
A voivodeship work permit is needed when a voivodeship regime applies or when strict linkage to a specific employer and employment terms is required under separate rules. This is a different application type, a different annex pack and a different review logic. A mistake at this stage often leads to refusal or restarting the procedure from scratch.
In a consultation we compare options for your employer and employee pair. We do not force one scheme on everyone: facts first, then the route. We also consider residence card plans if the person already lives in Poland or intends to apply for temporary stay based on employment.
What we review when choosing a track
- citizenship and current residence status of the employee;
- contract form, salary, schedule, job title and duties;
- company location and industry;
- whether a residence card, visa or other document already exists;
- whether an employer change is planned in the coming months.
Documents for the company and for the employee
A work permit is a joint procedure. Part of the documents comes from the employer, part from the foreign worker. If one side delays the pack or sends outdated data, the whole filing suffers. We split responsibilities early and provide a checklist with clear deadlines for each side.
What the employer usually prepares
- company data, KRS or CEIDG entry, NIP and representative details;
- job description, duties, working conditions and salary information;
- confirmation that the company can hire the foreigner on the stated terms;
- labour market documents if required for the industry;
- contract or draft contract if the office asks to show the link with planned employment.
What the employee usually prepares
- valid passport and copies of required pages;
- diplomas, certificates and proof of experience if relevant to the role;
- information on current stay in Poland or planned entry;
- residence card or visa documents if they already exist;
- translations and supplements the office may request in the specific case.
The exact list depends on permit type and region. We do not use a universal template: after a short review we build a list for your case and check it before filing.
Steps to obtain a work permit
- Consultation and track choice: standard permit or voivodeship route.
- Review of employer data, job details and employee residence basis.
- Collection of company and foreign worker documents, translations if needed.
- Completion of the application and annexes under current office requirements.
- Filing the pack and recording the submission date for deadline control.
- Replies to office requests, supplements and corrections within deadlines.
- Receiving the decision and checking whether terms match actual employment.
At each stage we record what is ready, what is missing and who owns the next step. This makes it easier to coordinate HR, accounting and the employee, especially when people are in different cities.
Link with a residence card: order of procedures
A work permit and a residence card are separate procedures. The first regulates the right to work for a specific employer on stated terms. The second confirms lawful stay in Poland. They are often planned together, but documents, timelines and authorities differ. Confusion about order is one of the most common causes of delay.
Sometimes it makes sense to obtain the work permit first and then file for a residence card based on an employment contract. In other cases the person already holds a residence card and we must check whether a new permit is needed when changing employer. The reverse also happens: the employee stays in Poland on another basis and the employer must confirm whether the procedure can start without breaching the current status.
Typical scenarios we align in advance
- new hire from abroad: permit, visa formalities and residence card on separate timelines;
- employee already in Poland: status review before filing for employment;
- employer change with an active residence card: whether a new work document is required;
- residence card renewal: whether employment terms match what the permit states.
We build the sequence so one procedure does not block another and the company avoids claims for starting work too early. The exact route depends on citizenship, visa history and filing region.
Mistakes that most often waste time
- wrong job title, salary or working conditions in the filing compared with the real contract;
- incomplete annexes from the company or employee;
- mismatch between the permit and the residence basis;
- late or formal reply to an office request;
- filing with the wrong authority or under the wrong permit type;
- starting work before a decision when that is not allowed;
- using outdated forms or requirements from previous years.
Our job is to close these risks before filing. If a case is already stuck, we review office requests, prepare supplements or help appeal a refusal when grounds exist. We do not promise a positive decision: the office decides based on the case file.
How ONE PLUS works
We have handled work permit cases for foreigners and employers since 2012. We know office practice in different voivodeships and typical reasons for returning incomplete packs. We work transparently: the client sees what is done, what the company prepares, what the employee prepares and what comes next.
- Case review at consultation: citizenship, contract, status, region.
- Track choice and action calendar for company and employee.
- Document checklist with pre-filing verification.
- Preparation of application, annexes and explanations.
- Post-filing support: office requests, supplements, deadline control.
- Alignment with a residence card or other procedures running in parallel.
We can handle the case for the employer only, for the foreign worker only, or coordinate both sides. This reduces the risk of an incomplete pack or documents diverging between HR and the employee.
Remote support: Wrocław and nationwide
The ONE PLUS office is in Wrocław. Most stages can be handled remotely: scan exchange, video consultations, document preparation under power of attorney. An in-person meeting is not always required. This suits companies in Warsaw, Kraków, Gdańsk, Poznań and other cities, and employees who are still abroad.
Permits are reviewed by offices according to employer location or case-specific rules. Regional practice matters: which wording is accepted, which annexes are requested more often, which errors are sent back for correction. That is why we handle projects across Poland, not only in Lower Silesia.
How to start a work permit case
Contact ONE PLUS and briefly describe the situation: employee citizenship, role, work city, whether a residence card or visa already exists, and the planned start date. We will say which track likely fits, what to prepare first and which timelines are realistic given office practice.
ONE PLUS contact in Wrocław: contact form and phone on the website. After a short review you get a clear plan without empty promises and with a clean split of tasks between company and employee.
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