Employment in Poland: new rules that Ukrainian refugees should know about

Poland remains one of the main countries where Ukrainians found temporary refuge after the start of the war. A significant part of those who came to Poland not only received protection status, but also actively work. However, from June 2025, updated rules for the employment of foreigners, which also apply to Ukrainian refugees, began to apply in Poland. These changes primarily concern the procedure for notification of employment, employers’ rights, nuances of contracts and legal formalities, which are important for everyone working or planning to work in Poland to be aware of.

Legal grounds: who has the right to work in Poland

Ukrainian citizens can work in Poland legally if their stay in the country is legal. These can be different categories:

— persons who are under temporary protection in accordance with the Polish special law (Ust.1, art.2);
— citizens of Ukraine who are on the territory of Poland on the basis of valid visas, humanitarian permits, residence cards, residence permits;
— persons who have entered visa-free, with the commandant’s permission, or have documents that allow them to stay without obtaining additional work permits.

A key feature of this issue is that these categories do not require a separate work permit (zezwolenie) or a special statement (oświęcza). It is sufficient for the employer to submit a notification of the start of work through the electronic system praca.gov.pl no later than 7 days after the start of work.

To whom the simplified procedure applies

Simplified registration applies to all Ukrainian citizens who have a legal status of stay. This includes:

— refugees with temporary protection (UKR status);
— holders of visas issued under humanitarian or code programs;
— persons with valid cards;
— citizens of Ukraine who entered Poland without a foreign passport, but received permission to enter from the commandant of the border service;
— spouses and relatives of Polish card holders.

In addition, these rules apply to citizens of third countries who have received UKR status in Poland.

What changed after June 1, 2025

From June 2025, Poland introduced additional obligations for employers who hire foreigners. The most important innovation is the mandatory uploading of copies of concluded labor contracts to a special state system.

Previously, only an electronic notification of the fact of employment was sufficient. Now the state bodies will have access to the texts of the contracts themselves. At the time of introducing the changes, the technical system is still being refined, but the requirement to download contracts is already fixed in regulatory documents.

For employees, these innovations do not create new obligations — all responsibility for the correctness of registration lies with employers.

How to get a job under the new rules

The employment procedure for Ukrainians is as follows:

1. Job search (through labor exchanges, announcements, acquaintances, recruiters).
2. Coordination of all working conditions: schedule, amount of payment, duties.
3. Conclusion of a written contract. Depending on the nature of the work, it can be:
   — umowa o pracku (standard employment contract);
   — umowa zlecenie (agreement of civil legal mandate);
   — umowa o dzieło (subcontract for a specific result).
4. The employee begins to perform work.
5. Within 7 days from the start of work, the employer must register employment through the praca.gov.pl portal and upload a copy of the signed contract.

For the employee, it is enough to make sure that the employer has completed all the necessary formalities.

What will happen if the employer does not give notice on time

In case of violation of the deadline for submitting a notification to the relevant authorities, the employer bears all responsibility. The employee is not held liable for such a violation. However, from a legal point of view, employment relations that are not properly declared may be considered illegal.

What is the minimum wage for Ukrainians in Poland?

The size of the minimum wage in Poland from 2025 is:

— PLN 4,666 gross per month at full-time employment (full rate);
— PLN 2,333 gross at half-time (0.5 rates).

Important: the employer has no right to pay a Ukrainian employee less than he pays Polish citizens for the same work. Pay discrimination is a direct violation of labor law.

What to do if the permit or certification expires

For Ukrainians who fall under the special law (temporary protection), no additional actions are required to extend the work permit. Their right to work is automatic throughout the period of temporary protection.

In the case of other categories of foreigners – those who do not have a special status – in the event of the expiry of the validity period of the documents, it is necessary to renew the certificate in time or get a new card with a damaged card.

Is it possible to change the place of work?

For Ukrainians with temporary protection, the procedure for changing employers is simplified as much as possible. It is enough just to submit a new notification about the change of place of work to the Uzhund — no additional permits or fees need to be paid.

For those who work on the basis of a beaten card, a change of employer already requires a separate official notification submitted to the job application.

For most foreigners in Poland, there is a general limitation of seasonal work — no more than 270 days a year. However, these rules do not apply to citizens of Ukraine who use special protection. They can work seasonally during the entire period of legal stay in Poland, with no restrictions on duration.

Despite the new bureaucratic details, the Polish labor market remains one of the most open for Ukrainians. The correct execution of all necessary notices and contracts by the employer remains key. The employee must carefully monitor that the employer fulfills its obligations, since it is on this that the legal status of the work depends.