Work in Poland for Hong Kong SAR China citizenship

Foreigners from Hong Kong can take advantage of Poland’s simplified system for short-term employment without needing a work visa. Thanks to the Employer’s Declaration (Oświadczenie o powierzeniu pracy cudzoziemcowi), visa-free nationals can legally work in Poland for up to 180 days within a 12-month period.

This option is particularly suitable for those seeking temporary jobs, seasonal employment, or trial work before considering long-term opportunities in Poland.

How Hong Kong citizens can work in Poland for up to 180 days

1️⃣ Find an employer in Poland 🏢

Before starting work in Poland, Hong Kong citizens must secure a job with a Polish employer who is ready to hire them under the short-term employment scheme.

✔️ The job can be full-time or part-time, but it must be officially registered.

✔️ The employer must apply for an Employer’s Declaration (Oświadczenie) at the local Labor Office (Urząd Pracy) before the worker starts the job.

✔️ The position must comply with Polish labor laws, including minimum wage and legal working conditions.

2️⃣ Employer applies for the work declaration 📄

Before a foreigner can begin working, the Polish employer must register the employment by submitting a Declaration of Employment (Oświadczenie o powierzeniu pracy cudzoziemcowi) to the Labor Office.

✔️ Processing time: Normally up to 7 business days.

✔️ Validity period: The declaration is valid for a maximum of 180 days within 12 months.

✔️ The employer must ensure legal compliance, including registering the worker for social security (ZUS) if applicable.

🔹 Information required for the declaration:

• Worker’s passport details and personal information.

• Job title, salary, and employment duration.

• Employer’s business registration details.

• Location of the job in Poland.

3️⃣ Enter Poland and begin work ✈️

Once the Employer’s Declaration is approved, the worker can legally enter Poland and start their job.

✔️ No work visa is required for the 180-day period.

✔️ A valid biometric passport is necessary for legal entry.

✔️ No residence permit is needed for short-term employment.

🔹 Rules to follow:

• Workers must not exceed 180 days of employment within any 12-month period.

• To continue working beyond 180 days, they must apply for a residence permit or obtain a Type D work visa from a Polish consulate.

• Employers are obligated to report the worker’s employment start and end dates to the Labor Office.

Important advice for Hong Kongers working in Poland

✔️ Find a reliable employer – Ensure your job offer is legal, and your contract is correctly registered.

✔️ Understand your rights – Make sure your salary, job conditions, and working hours comply with Polish labor laws.

✔️ Keep track of your work period – Monitor your employment duration to avoid exceeding the 180-day limit.

✔️ Plan ahead for long-term employment – If you want to stay longer, prepare for a residence permit early.

✔️ Improve your language skills – Learning some Polish can be helpful in daily interactions and workplace communication.

Foreigners from Hong Kong who wish to stay and work in Poland for more than the short-term period can apply for a Temporary Residence and Work Permit (Karta Pobytu Czasowego). This permit allows workers to live and work legally in Poland for up to 3 years, with the possibility of extension, making it an excellent option for long-term employment in the country.

How Hong Kong citizens can secure long-term work in Poland

1️⃣ Obtain a full-time job offer 🏢

Before applying for a Temporary Residence and Work Permit, visa-free nationals must first secure a full-time job offer from a Polish employer who is willing to offer them a legal work contract.

✔️ The employer must provide a signed contract (umowa o pracę or umowa zlecenie).

✔️ The offered salary should meet or exceed the Polish minimum wage.

✔️ The job must be officially registered with Polish labor authorities and comply with all labor laws, including social security contributions.

2️⃣ Submit the application for Temporary Residence and Work Permit 🏠

Once a valid job offer is obtained, the next step is for the worker to submit an application for the Temporary Residence and Work Permit at the Voivodeship Office (Urząd Wojewódzki) in the region where they will work.

🔹 Required documents for the application include:

• A completed application form.

• A valid passport (both original and copies).

• The signed employment contract.

• Proof of stable income (evidence that the salary will cover living expenses).

• Proof of accommodation (such as a rental agreement or housing provided by the employer).

• Health insurance (either private or via ZUS registration).

• Recent biometric photos.

✔️ Processing time: The processing time for the application can take between 2 to 6 months, depending on the region and the specific office.

✔️ Important: If the application is submitted before the worker’s visa-free stay expires, the worker can legally stay in Poland during the processing time, even if the standard 90-day visa-free period has passed.

3️⃣ Receive the Temporary Residence Card (Karta Pobytu) 📬

Once the application is approved, the worker will receive a Temporary Residence Card (Karta Pobytu), which will serve as both their identity document and work authorization in Poland.

✔️ Validity: The residence card will be valid for up to 3 years, depending on the terms of the employment contract.

✔️ Job changes: If the worker changes employers, they will need to apply for a new work permit.

✔️ Travel benefits: The Karta Pobytu allows visa-free travel within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in a 180-day period.

4️⃣ Work legally and enjoy the benefits 👨‍💼

Once the Temporary Residence Card is obtained, visa-free nationals can legally:

✔️ Work full-time in Poland under the terms of their employment contract and work permit.

✔️ Contribute to social security and taxes, which grants access to benefits such as healthcare, pensions, and unemployment support.

✔️ Open a bank account in Poland.

✔️ Apply for family reunification (if eligible).

✔️ Live and travel freely within the Schengen Zone without needing additional visas.

📌 Important considerations for long-term work in Poland for Hong Kongers

✅ Job stability – Long-term employment provides stability and the opportunity to integrate into Polish society.

✅ Permit renewal – The Temporary Residence and Work Permit can be renewed before it expires, allowing continued stay and work in Poland.

✅ Changing jobs – If a worker wants to change employers, they must apply for a new work permit, which can take additional time.

✅ Path to permanent residence – After 5 years of continuous legal residence, foreigners can apply for a Permanent Residence Card (Karta Stałego Pobytu).

✅ Path to Polish citizenship – After 8 to 10 years, foreigners may be eligible for Polish citizenship if they meet the language and integration requirements.

A temporary residence permit for seasonal work may be granted to a foreigner if the purpose of his/her stay is to work on the basis of a seasonal work permit. 

A temporary residence permit for seasonal work may be granted to a foreigner who:

• Entered the territory of the Republic of Poland on the basis of a visa issued in connection with seasonal work or under the visa-free regime, in connection with an application for a seasonal work permit entered in the register of applications;
• Holds a seasonal work permit or an extension of a seasonal work permit valid for a period exceeding the period of stay specified in the visa or the period of stay allowed under the visa-free regime;
• Has a source of stable and regular income;
• Has a source of stable and regular income;
• Has health insurance;
• Has a guaranteed place of residence in the territory of the Republic of Poland.

—

In order to obtain the permit, a foreigner must apply to the Voivodeship Office at the place of residence.

It should be added that a temporary residence permit for seasonal work is granted for a period not exceeding 9 months from the date of the first entry for the purpose of performing seasonal work.  

Please note that a temporary residence permit for seasonal work is granted even if the circumstances of the application for such a permit do not require the foreigner to stay in the territory of the Republic of Poland for more than 3 months.

Compared to other temporary residence permits issued in connection with employment, the fee for issuing this type of permit is lower and amounts to PLN 170.

Please note that work on the basis of consecration (oświadczenia) is no longer available for Russian citizens. At the same time, Russians who worked legally before the introduction of the amendments may do so, but only until the expiry of the permit (zezwolenia) or consecration (oświadczenia).

—

Who can work in Poland without a work permit?

The following foreigners can work in Poland without a work permit

• have been granted refugee status in Poland;
• have been granted subsidiary protection in Poland;
• obtained a residence permit in Poland
• obtained a conditional residence permit in Poland;
• citizens of EU member states or EEA states (European Economic Area, in Polish EOG), or family members of such citizens;
• victims of human trafficking, if the relevant conditions are met - more information on this topic can be found here.
• have been granted a fixed-term residence permit in Poland on the basis of marriage to a Polish citizen or a foreigner who has been granted refugee status, subsidiary protection, a settlement permit, a long-term EU resident's permit, a conditional residence permit and temporary protection in Poland;
• hold a valid Pole's Card 
• studying, participating in professional internships, performing functions in programs implemented within the framework of EU activities or other international assistance programs;
• who are teachers of foreign languages;
• who work up to 30 days during a calendar year as researchers or creators;
• full-time students at universities in Poland who study in Poland on the basis of a residence permit issued for the purpose of studying for a whole year.

Note: For more detailed information, please contact the Voivodeship Office.

Employment contract: A written employment contract is mandatory for employees. The contract should contain information on working conditions, salary, work schedule, contract duration, and other details.

Working hours: Total working hours in Poland should not exceed 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week for a full working Sunday. Extended working Sunday may be up to 48 hours per week, but in this case, the employee must be compensated in the form of overtime pay.

Vacations: According to Polish law, employees are entitled to an annual paid vacation of at least 20 working days. In addition, there are special types of leave, such as parental leave, sick leave, and others, which are also paid.

Salary: Starting from January 01, 202, the minimum wage in Poland was revised. The minimum wage is PLN4,806 per month.

Poland allows you to choose between different types of business structures. The list below describes the main characteristics of the main types of companies in Poland: 

• Limited Liability Company: Also known as Sp. z.o.o., this is a business form suitable for small and medium-sized businesses, where the founders are liable only to the extent of the capital invested in the company.
• Joint Stock Company: A SA is also a limited liability company; investors are liable only to the extent of the capital invested, but a public joint stock company can also be listed on a stock exchange.
• Partnerships: These come in several forms, such as limited and general partnerships. The founders have different degrees of responsibility.
• Sole proprietorship: the simplest form of business and also the one with the highest degree of responsibility for the founder.

—

The process of registering a company in Poland is simple. Each company will have to register and obtain a special identification number REGON and NIP, as well as register as a VAT payer, depending on the activities it carries out.

Below are the main steps to start a business in Poland:

1. Choose the type of company: as mentioned above, investors can choose between several business forms and this will affect the overall process of setting up a company.
2. Decide when the business will start: the company registration application will indicate the start date; make sure you have enough funds to start the business.
3. Choose a company name: each company must have a unique name that is suitable for marketing purposes and also meets local requirements; the name must be unique.
4. Select PKD codes: these are codes that will indicate the type of business activity that the new legal entity will carry out.
5. Prepare for incorporation: one of our lawyers in Poland can help you collect and prepare all the documents required for company registration.
6. Open a bank account: in some cases, investors can open a bank account before the company is registered; in other cases, the business must be registered before this step.
7. Apply for VAT and social security registration: these are the two main steps that must be completed after business registration; after registration, the company is automatically registered with the social security institution. 
8. Obtain a business license: this step is only necessary in some cases, for those businesses that operate on the basis of special permits and licenses, such as those that sell alcoholic beverages. 

 —

Not all businesses need to be registered. Small enterprises with annual revenues not exceeding a certain amount (usually half of the annual minimum wage) can operate as unregistered enterprises that do not have to report. In addition, trading companies will need to obtain an EORI number in Poland, and our lawyers can assist businessmen in this matter.

Notary fees depend on the authorized capital of your LLC - the larger the authorized capital, the higher the fee. For the authorized capital of 5,000 PLN, the fee is 160 PLN. If the capital is PLN 2,000,000, the cost will be around PLN 6,800.

The fee for making an entry in the NCR is set at PLN 500 per entry. The fee for entry in the CCP is an additional fee of PLN 100.

You will also need to pay a tax on civil law transactions. The amount of tax is equal to the authorized capital (minus notary fees and fees for making entries in the NCR and CCM) multiplied by 0.5%. For example, if the authorized capital is PLN 5,000, the tax will be about PLN 20. If the capital is PLN 100,000, the tax will be about PLN 500.

More details are available here: https://www.biznes.gov.pl/en/firma/doing-business-in-poland

—

Poland.Business Harbor is a program that allows IT professionals, startups and other companies from Belarus, Ukraine, Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Moldova to move to the territory of the Republic of Poland without hindrance. Thanks to the programs, you can, for example, learn how to start a business in Poland quickly and efficiently and get help with visa application. Holders of visas marked with the Poland.Business Harbor mark can perform work in Poland without a work permit. 

—

Documents required to apply for a Poland.Business Harbor visa

1. application for a national visa - completed and signed,

2. up-to-date biometric photos,

3. passport - issued within the last 10 years, with at least two free pages for visas,

4. health insurance for the duration of the visa (minimum insurance amount is 30 thousand euros),

5. documentation confirming the purpose of the trip:

• for freelancers - a document confirming technical education or at least one year of experience in the field of IT,
• for startup founders - a document confirming enrollment in the program by the Startup Hub Poland Foundation,
• if you own a small/medium/large company - a document confirming enrollment in the program by the Polish Investment and Trade Agency.

More information about the program can be found here: https://www.gov.pl/web/poland-businessharbour-en, https://www.gov.pl/web/poland-businessharbour-en/startup

1. You can find a job in Poland on your own using the data from the Central Database of Job Offers. You can also search for job offers using a special mobile application ePraca (Android and iOS). About 70 thousand job vacancies are available in the database every day.
2. You can also take advantage of free assistance from a powiat employment office (340 units) or a voivodeship (regional) employment office (16 units), which includes support in job search, primarily through mediation and career counseling. A list of employment bureau contacts can be found here.
3. On Facebook, hundreds of vacancies are posted in groups dedicated to foreigners or people with knowledge of foreign languages. You can try looking for a job on the websites Language job, praca z językami obcymi (polska), Language jobs Poland, Language jobs in Kraków, Language jobs in Wrocław, or even in local groups for foreigners, such as Krakow expats or Expats in Warsaw. Last but not least, try using LinkedIn to find your potential employer. This huge professional social network is a resource for making contacts in the field and location you are interested in. Employers often use online searches to vet potential employees.