When deciding to come to Poland, a foreigner should first consider the purpose of stay. Depending on the reason for which he plans to stay in Poland, it is required to apply for various permits. The most important of these are a visa, a work permit and a residence permit. The issuance of each of these documents is a separate procedure that requires the fulfillment of certain conditions and the presentation of documents proving that the prerequisites specified in the requirements are met.
Below are the most important differences:
Residence permit
A temporary residence permit entitles the holder to legally reside in the Republic of Poland. A temporary residence permit is not tantamount to the right to legally perform work in Poland. Unlike a visa, a residence permit is issued for a longer period of time (up to a maximum of 3 years). As of the date of application, you must be residing in the territory of Poland. A correctly completed application, together with a set of documents, is submitted to the provincial office having jurisdiction over the foreigner’s place of residence. During the entire application procedure, the foreigner stays legally on the territory of Poland. The cost of granting such a permit is PLN 440 (in the case of a uniform temporary residence and work permit) or PLN 340 (in the case of other types of temporary residence permits).
National visa
Depending on the type, a visa can be issued for work or travel reasons, among others. Note that a work visa alone does not entitle you to perform work in Poland, you need an additional document, such as a work permit or statement of assignment. A national visa entitles you to travel within the Schengen member states maintaining a limit of 90 days within a 180-day period. The cost of obtaining a visa varies between 280 and 380 zlotys, depending on the diplomatic post. The visa is issued for a maximum of one year.
Work permit
A work permit is a document confirming the legal performance of work in the territory of Poland. A work permit does not entitle a foreigner to cross borders or travel within the Schengen zone. The application for a work permit is submitted by the employer, and the foreigner’s residence in Poland on the day of the application and during the labor legalization procedure is not required. The waiting period is about 1-2 months. It is worth remembering that there are several types of work permits, depending on the nature of employment. To learn more about the types of permits, please see the separate articles at the link:
A correctly completed application with a set of documents is submitted to the Provincial Office competent for the location of the company where the foreigner will provide services. The cost of obtaining a work permit is PLN 100.
Visa, work permit vs. residence permit’s differences:
When deciding to come to Poland, a foreigner should first consider the purpose of stay. Depending on the reason for which he plans to stay in Poland, it is required to apply for various permits. The most important of these are a visa, a work permit and a residence permit. The issuance of each of these documents is a separate procedure that requires the fulfillment of certain conditions and the presentation of documents proving that the prerequisites specified in the requirements are met.
Below are the most important differences:
Residence permit
A temporary residence permit entitles the holder to legally reside in the Republic of Poland. A temporary residence permit is not tantamount to the right to legally perform work in Poland. Unlike a visa, a residence permit is issued for a longer period of time (up to a maximum of 3 years). As of the date of application, you must be residing in the territory of Poland. A correctly completed application, together with a set of documents, is submitted to the provincial office having jurisdiction over the foreigner’s place of residence. During the entire application procedure, the foreigner stays legally on the territory of Poland. The cost of granting such a permit is PLN 440 (in the case of a uniform temporary residence and work permit) or PLN 340 (in the case of other types of temporary residence permits).
National visa
Depending on the type, a visa can be issued for work or travel reasons, among others. Note that a work visa alone does not entitle you to perform work in Poland, you need an additional document, such as a work permit or statement of assignment. A national visa entitles you to travel within the Schengen member states maintaining a limit of 90 days within a 180-day period. The cost of obtaining a visa varies between 280 and 380 zlotys, depending on the diplomatic post. The visa is issued for a maximum of one year.
Work permit
A work permit is a document confirming the legal performance of work in the territory of Poland. A work permit does not entitle a foreigner to cross borders or travel within the Schengen zone. The application for a work permit is submitted by the employer, and the foreigner’s residence in Poland on the day of the application and during the labor legalization procedure is not required. The waiting period is about 1-2 months. It is worth remembering that there are several types of work permits, depending on the nature of employment. To learn more about the types of permits, please see the separate articles at the link:
A correctly completed application with a set of documents is submitted to the Provincial Office competent for the location of the company where the foreigner will provide services. The cost of obtaining a work permit is PLN 100.
Author: Julia Królik
