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Poland’s labour market has been absorbing non-EU workers at scale for years, and Filipino workers — known for discipline, English proficiency, and adaptability — have become a sought-after profile among Polish manufacturers, logistics companies, and service sector employers. As an immigration agency or visa consultant, your role is to make this process as frictionless as possible for your Polish employer-clients. That starts with understanding exactly which documents are required, in what order, and from which authority.
Step 1: Secure the Type A Work Permit from the Voivodeship Office
Every placement begins on the employer’s side, not the worker’s. Under Poland’s employment law, the Polish company must apply for a Type A Work Permit at the Voivodeship Office (Urząd Wojewódzki) in the region where the company is registered. This permit is tied to a specific position, employer, and set of employment conditions — it cannot be transferred to another job or company later.
Since June 2025, all work permit applications are submitted exclusively online via praca.gov.pl. Paper applications are no longer accepted. The employer must have a registered praca.gov.pl account and submit a full digital dossier including passport scans and a signed employment offer. As of December 2025, the standard fee for a Type A permit exceeding three months of work is PLN 400.
Also note: the labour market test (a statement from the local Starosta confirming no qualified Polish or EU candidate is available) was formally abolished on 1 June 2025. However, local Voivodeship authorities can now publish lists of professions where work permits for non-EU nationals will not be issued. Your employer-clients should verify this for their specific sector and region before proceeding.
- KRS or CEIDG company registration printout
- Proof of employer’s income and tax payments
- Number of persons currently employed
- Draft employment contract or binding offer
- Salary specification (must meet minimum thresholds)
- Accommodation confirmation for the worker
- Digital copy of all completed passport pages
- Proof of professional qualifications or experience
- Employment history / CV (if required by sector)
- Completed work permit application form
- Declaration of intent to employ (signed by authorised person)
Step 2: Prepare the Filipino Worker’s Documentation Package
Once the Voivodeship Office approves the work permit — which typically takes between one and two months — the permit is issued in three copies: one for the office, one for the employer, and one for the worker. The employer then provides the permit to the worker, who uses it to apply for a Type D National Visa at a Polish BLS Visa Application Centre in the Philippines.
As of July 2025, the Polish Embassy in Manila no longer accepts walk-in visa applications directly. All applications must be submitted in person at a BLS Poland Visa Application Centre — either in Makati City (Metro Manila) or Cebu. Appointments are booked via appointment.blspolandvisa.com.
- Valid passport (min. 2 blank pages, valid 90+ days after departure)
- Original Type A work permit (+ copy)
- Completed visa application form
- Recent passport-sized photographs
- Philippine government-issued ID
- Preliminary employment agreement (original + copy)
- Employer declaration letter (position, salary, social insurance)
- Bank statements — last 6 months showing account activity
- Proof of accommodation in Poland
- Health / travel insurance covering full visa period
- KRS/CEIDG printout of employer (scope of business)
Step 3: Understand the POEA/DMW Requirements on the Philippine Side
Filipino OFW deployments are regulated not just by Poland, but also by the Philippine Department of Migrant Workers (DMW). The Polish employer must work with a licensed Philippine recruitment agency, which acts as the liaison with the Philippine government. The foreign principal — your Polish employer-client — must execute accreditation documents confirming their willingness to be bound by Philippine OFW employment regulations. The Philippine Embassy in Warsaw plays a role in endorsing accreditation and job order requests, including verifying permits from Polish authorities.
Employment contracts and work permits that need to be submitted to Philippine authorities must also be authenticated via the Philippine Embassy’s red ribbon procedure. The fee is PLN 100 per document (original plus translation counts as one document). This step is non-negotiable for workers being deployed under official OFW channels.
Step 4: Visa Processing and Worker Arrival
Visa processing at a Polish consulate generally takes between 10 and 30 days, though advisors recommend applying at least two months before the intended start date to allow for any delays. The Type D national visa is issued for a period corresponding to the work permit duration (typically up to one year). It may be issued for single, double, or multiple entries depending on the consulate’s decision.
Once in Poland, the worker can begin employment immediately. If they intend to stay longer than the visa validity, the employer should initiate the application for a temporary residence and work permit (combined single permit) at the Voivodeship Office — now filed via the MOS e-portal. If a worker changes employer, the new employer must apply for a fresh work permit; the existing permit is employer-specific.
How Macro Work Visa Supports Your Agency
Preparing a complete and compliant documentation package for a Filipino worker placement in Poland requires coordination across multiple authorities — the Polish Voivodeship Office, praca.gov.pl, the Philippine BLS VAC, and the Philippine Embassy. A single missing or inconsistent document can delay the entire placement by weeks.
Macro Work Visa is a Warsaw-based B2B documentation partner that prepares and quality-checks the full dossier on behalf of immigration agencies, visa consultants, and recruitment partners. We handle employer-side documents, worker document checklists, contract translations, and correspondence with voivodeship offices — so your agency can focus on client relationships and volume, while we handle compliance.
All fees and procedural details in this article reflect regulations in force as of March 2026. Polish immigration rules are subject to frequent updates — always verify current requirements with official sources or contact Macro Work Visa for the most recent guidance before submitting applications.
