Poland
Relocating to Poland.
After moving to Poland for work, the first weeks are a chain of registrations. In order: register the address, get the PESEL number, collect the residence card, register for health cover, open a bank account. Each step unlocks the next, so the order matters. Settio builds this plan for every person you move, with deadlines and a portal in their language.
After arrival
The registrations, in order
- 1Register the address
- 2Get the PESEL number
- 3Collect the residence card
- 4Register for health cover
- 5Open a bank account
Authorities
Who does what in Poland
urząd wojewódzki (wojewoda) (Voivodeship Office (the voivode))
Decides the work permit and the temporary residence and work permit, and issues the residence card (karta pobytu)
Official websiteurząd skarbowy (Krajowa Administracja Skarbowa) (Tax office of Poland's National Revenue Administration)
Income tax; an individual without a business is identified by the PESEL number
Official websiteZakład Ubezpieczeń Społecznych (ZUS) (Polish Social Insurance Institution)
Social insurance: the employer registers the employee and pays the contributions
Official websiteOther countries
- Sweden
- Germany
- France
- Netherlands
- Denmark
- Portugal
- Spain
- Belgium
- Norway
- Austria
- Czech Republic
- Slovakia
- Hungary
- Slovenia
- Finland
- Estonia
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Greece
- Cyprus
- Malta
- Croatia
- Bulgaria
- Romania
- Luxembourg
- Liechtenstein
- Switzerland
- United Arab Emirates
Official sources
- Sejm (Dziennik Ustaw 2025 poz. 621): Act of 20 March 2025 on the conditions for entrusting work to foreigners (art. 8: the employer applies on praca.gov.pl; art. 15: up to 3 years; art. 19–20: notifications within 7 days; art. 26: the voivode decides the work permit for a Polish employer)
- Mazowiecki Urząd Wojewódzki: new rules on work permits from 1 June 2025 (applications only on praca.gov.pl; no labour-market test)
- Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy: labour market laws in force on 1 June 2025 (the labour-market test replaced by the starosts' lists of occupations)
- Urząd do Spraw Cudzoziemców (MOS): temporary residence and work permit (filed and signed by the foreigner in MOS; stamp duty PLN 440; up to 3 years; appeal within 14 days to the Head of the Office for Foreigners)
- Urząd do Spraw Cudzoziemców (MOS): EU Blue Card (150 % of the average remuneration; PLN 160,264.08 a year for applications in 2026)
- Urząd do Spraw Cudzoziemców (MOS): temporary residence permit for seasonal work (no longer than 9 months in a calendar year)
- Urząd do Spraw Cudzoziemców (MOS): registration of residence of an EU citizen (no later than the day after 3 months from entry, in person at the voivodeship office)
- Urząd do Spraw Cudzoziemców (MOS): residence card of a family member of an EU citizen (no later than the day after 3 months from entry)
- gov.pl: register for permanent or temporary residence (zameldowanie) no later than the 30th day after moving in; PESEL assigned at registration
- gov.pl: obtain a PESEL number (foreigners)
- Sejm (Dziennik Ustaw 2026 poz. 151): Act on the registration and identification of taxpayers, art. 3: the PESEL number is the tax identifier of individuals without a business
- Krajowa Administracja Skarbowa: podatki.gov.pl
- Zakład Ubezpieczeń Społecznych: zus.pl
- Sejm (Dziennik Ustaw 2025 poz. 1682): Act on the posting of workers (art. 24: declaration to the PIP no later than the first day, a contact person in Poland; art. 25: documents kept; art. 4a: motivated notification for 18 months)
- Państwowa Inspekcja Pracy: National Labour Inspectorate
FAQ
Questions, answered.
What is the first thing to do after moving to Poland?
Register the address. It unlocks the steps after it.
Which relocation management software covers Poland?
Settio plans each move to Poland in one place: the permit, the registrations after arrival (register the address, get the PESEL number, collect the residence card), housing, school places and the first weeks, with client and employee portals, quotes and milestone invoices. It runs every EU country in the same workspace.
How does Settio help with relocation in Poland?
Settio builds the step-by-step plan for each person moving to Poland, checks documents before filing, tracks deadlines and gives the person a portal in their own language.
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Informational only. This guide is not legal advice. Always verify requirements with official government sources before acting. Reviewed by the Settio team. Facts checked 3 October 2026. About this information