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Poland is a fascinating country that serves as the geographical and cultural crossroads of Eastern and Western Europe. Located at the center of the Northern European plain, Poland has been a nation of survivors since the foundation of the first Polish state more than 1000 years ago. Through its turbulent history its people have managed to maintain their identity, and today, the country enjoys a crucial position as the largest of the former Eastern European states and one of the most populous members of the European Union.
The decision on issuing a permanent residence permit is issued for an indefinite period. The residence card itself is valid for 10 years, which means that the card must be replaced every 10 years as part of the card replacement procedure. However, there is no need to re-apply for a permit and go through the process of obtaining it.
This permit entitles you to work in Poland without the need to obtain additional documents. A permanent residence permit issued in Poland does not entitle you to work in a country other than Poland.
The permanent residence permit (permanent residence card) entitles you to travel to other countries of the Schengen area. However, a foreigner’s stay on this basis may not exceed 90 days in a 180-day period. If a foreigner intends to stay in a given country longer than the indicated limit allows, he should legalize his stay on the basis of the regulations in force in the given country.
CIRCUMSTANCES OF GRANTING A PERMANENT RESIDENCE PERMIT
A permanent residence permit may be granted to a foreigner who:
When you apply for a permanent residence permit, you are entitled to apply for a Pole’s Card, and enjoy the following benefits:
PROCEDURE AND DOCUMENTS
The procedure for obtaining a permanent residence permit takes place at the voivodeship office competent for the foreigner’s place of residence.
The application must be submitted by a foreigner legally residing in Poland, i.e. not later than on the last day of legal stay (e.g. on the last day of validity of their temporary residence card or visa).
The basic set of documents necessary to submit a complete application for a permanent residence permit:
Note! The original passport must be presented when submitting the application. The passport will be returned during the same visit, it is not kept at the Office at any stage of the procedure.
Additionally, the application should be accompanied by:
Note! The Pole’s Card should be returned to the voivode competent for the place of stay, no later than within 14 days from the date on which the decision to obtain a permanent residence permit became final. More information on this issue can be found in the POLE’S CARD tab.
Note! The above list cannot be considered complete. The set of documents necessary to obtain a permanent residence permit may differ due to the given foreigner’s situation and the office where the foreigner applies for this permit.
Duration of the permanent residence permit
The permanent residence permit is issued indefinitely, however, it is necessary to replace the residence card every 10 years. The application for another residence card should be submitted at least 30 days before the expiry of the residence card.
In 2017, Poland issued the maximum number of Visas to Foreign Skilled Workers in Europe. It has been the scenarios in recent times as well where immigrants are identified ad job seekers who are planning to create a future in the new country. With the country GDP on the rise, Poland is expected to witness a sharp increase in the immigrant’s population in the coming years as well.
A lot of people are opting for Poland immigration from India because of the following reasons:
Through many ways one can work in Poland (obtaining temporary residence or work Permit). Read further, if you are interested to learn about the ways to accomplish Poland Immigration.
For all those who are citizens of the EEA countries, which includes the European Union, Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland, and Switzerland, they need not worry about the work permit to work in Poland. If you belong to Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Russia or Ukraine, you can work in Poland legally for six months. However, for other countries like India, there are some rules and policies which are set to be followed.
Ideally, the correct procedure is to apply for temporary residency first and then apply for a work permit in Poland. Or, you can apply for temporary residency and work permit at the same time. The temporary residency and work permits are valid for three years, but a lot can depend on your employment contract as well.
The Pole’s Card is proof that you are a part of the Polish nation, though not a Polish citizen. You will get a Pole’s Card if you have permanent residency in Poland. Your Pole’s Card is valid for ten years, calculated from the date you acquire the card.
You are required to apply for an extension at least three months before your card expires. The card will then be valid for an additional ten years. If by any chance your Pole’s Card gets damaged or lost, you can apply for a replacement at the Voivodeship.
You can also get a Pole’s Card if:
The process for applying and acquiring a Pole’s Card is free of charge.
The difference between a Polish permanent residence permit and a temporary residence permit is as follows:
| Temporary | Permanent | |
| Duration: | Max. 3 years, with the possibility of extension. | Indefinite. Has to be renewed every ten years. |
| Conditions: | You need an employment offer, acceptance in a Polish university, etc, to apply for a temporary residence permit. | You must have lived in Poland with a temporary residence permit for at least 5 years. |
| Benefits: | Allows you to live and work in Poland, according to the conditions of the permit. | You do not have to re-apply for a residence permit after it expires. You only have to notify the government of your stay extension. |
| Cost: | Around €94 | Around €140 |
You can apply for Polish citizenship if you have lived without interruptions for at least 2 years in Poland with a permanent residence permit. The permanent residence permit does not allow you to work in any other country besides Poland.
With its strong economic position within Europe, low costs of living and graduate jobs available in a range of fields, Poland is a great option for those who are job hunting.
You’ll also enjoy a lower cost of living than most European countries, have the chance to learn a new language and, thanks to Poland’s central location, experience the mix of the western and eastern European cultures.
There are plenty of jobs available for foreigners who are considering Poland as a work destination – in fact, it’s become one of the largest business process outsourcing/shared services centres (BPO/SSCs) in Europe.
Although the majority of the country’s workforce is in the services sector, other industries include beverages, chemicals, coal mining, food processing, iron and steel, glass, machine building, shipbuilding and textiles.
There are several multinationals based in Poland as well as major local companies, including:
The following graduate industries are suffering shortages:
There are many vacancies related to manual labor in Poland, yet local residents are not eager to fill in such positions. Among immigrants, this segment remains the most popular. Freight movers, unskilled workers, cooks, and caregivers receive a quite decent salary. In construction, there is an acute shortage of concrete layers, steel fixers, tile layers, engineering structure installers, bricklayers, and plasterers, operators, and mechanics of excavation equipment, finishing works specialists. In the industrial field, one may be sure to find a job as a machine operator, welding operator, tailor or clothing sewing specialist, woodwork specialist, locksmith, electrician, electrical engineer, and electric fitter.
The Polish labor market needs trade specialists in various fields. Companies dealing in the sale of medicines, electronic equipment, food, cosmetics, construction materials, tours, and real estate need sales agents, salespersons, and brand representatives. There are also many vacancies available in Polish network supermarkets.
There are many jobs available for drivers. However, to get one of such jobs, a candidate will have to purchase a license, which is rather expensive. There is a significant shortage of drivers of buses and trucks with an elevating capacity of over 3.5 tones.
Polish plants and factories experience a shortage of both workers and managers. They need product engineers, managers of workshops, laboratories, and warehouses. The storekeeper is one of the most needed professions in the Polish labor market. The Polish consider a salary at Polish enterprises too low, therefore factory HR departments are forced to hire foreigners.
An engineer is one of the most needed occupations in the world. In Poland, a qualified engineer is guaranteed to find a job. Engineers in the field of electrical installations, mechanics, and construction are especially needed. Many companies are ready to hire as managers foreigners who have a degree in engineering, extensive experience, and know Polish. Polish science flourishes and the government invests huge amounts of money in researches. Biologists, genetic engineers, pharmacists, engineers in the chemical and food industry, may count on finding a job in Poland.
A lack of qualified IT specialists characterizes all Western states. The Polish labor market badly needs competent programmers, mobile app, and desktop software, developers. The programmer is obviously one of the leading professions in 2019. IT industry is constantly looking for qualified specialists, and there are no signs indicating any changes in the nearest future.
There are many vacancies for candidates in the Polish financial and economic sectors. However, the Polish say there is an abundant number of economists in the country. It is not difficult to get a job at a Polish company, but one will have to make efforts to do it. Requirements include work experience and knowledge of Polish.
Poland needs a workforce, and recruiting companies in this country need HR specialists. Many agencies are looking for recruiters, HR specialists, and staff managers. Employees must possess extensive knowledge not just in human resources management, but also in the field of law, administration, and training.
Chefs, pastry chefs, cooks, and bakers will have no problem finding a job in Poland.
Most vacancies offer jobs for managers and workload managers. There are also jobs for forwarding agents, delivery managers, and transport managers dealing with the distribution of vehicles for a particular group of goods.
Due to the increased number of foreign employees in Poland, a new trend is emerging – services for foreigners. Qualified hairdressers and cosmeticians, physical therapists, and masseurs will have no problem finding a job in the service industry.
If you’re a citizen of a country within the European Union (EU), you can move to Poland and begin your hunt for work immediately, without the need for a work permit. However, as you’ll likely be working for more than three months, you’ll need to obtain a temporary residence permit, which lasts for up to three years. This can be arranged at your nearest Voivodeship Office.
