30.11.2020 – Work permit for foreigners holding the so-called humanitarian visa

Since 1 December 2020, foreigners staying in Poland, inter alia, on the basis of so-called humanitarian visas or with the annotation “Poland. Business Harbour” will be able to work without a work permit. This may be of particular importance for Belarusian citizens who leave their country as a result of repressions.

Amendment of the Act on foreigners of 28 October 2020 (Journal of Laws 2020, item 2023⁾¹, which enters into force on 1 December 2020, extends the catalogue of situations in which a foreigner is entitled to perform work in Poland.

These changes are complemented by a Regulation²which assumes, inter alia, exemption from the obligation to have a work permit for foreigners staying in Poland on the basis of the so-called humanitarian visas³, visas with the annotation “Poland. Business Harbour”, doctors and dentists, nurses and midwives and paramedics with the right to practise (in accordance with the relevant laws).

Another change is that all foreigners applying for a national visa and entering Poland are obliged to have travel medical insurance for the entire period of their stay (in the case of lack of health insurance). The minister in charge of foreign affairs will publish information on insurers and the insurances they offer that meet the statutory conditions.

1. The Act of 28 October 2020 amending the Act on foreigners and certain other acts (Dz. U. item 2023).
2. Regulation of the Minister of Development, Labour and Technology of 20 November 2020 amending the Regulation on cases in which entrusting work to a foreigner on the territory of the Republic of Poland is allowed without the need to obtain a work permit (Dz. U. item 2081).
3. Visas issued for the purpose referred to in Article 60 par. 1 item 23 of the Act of 12 December 2013 on foreigners (Dz. U. of 2020, item 35 and 2023), i.e. visas issued for humanitarian reasons, due to state interest or international obligations.

Source: https://udsc.gov.pl