Work legalisation for foreign nationals – Gdynia and Pomerania

Routes to legal work – overview

• Work permit – issued by the voivode at the request of the entity entrusting the work. For employers in the Pomorskie region, this is generally the Pomeranian Voivode.
• Declaration on entrusting work to a foreigner – a simplified procedure for citizens of Armenia, Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine. The declaration is entered in the register by the starost, acting through the competent county labour office (PUP). Since 1 December 2025 the fee is PLN 400, and Georgian citizens are no longer covered (declarations registered earlier remain usable on the previous terms).
• Seasonal work permit – issued by the starost for seasonal work listed in the regulations. Declarations and seasonal permit applications are filed only electronically, through praca.gov.pl.
• Temporary residence and work permit – a single procedure before the voivode covering both residence and work. The foreign national applies in MOS and the employer completes and signs the required attachment electronically. More on the residence side: residence card.
• EU Blue Card – a temporary residence permit for highly qualified employment.
• Ukrainian citizens – a Ukrainian citizen staying legally in Poland can generally work on the basis of a notification that the employer files through praca.gov.pl within 7 days of the start of work. Details: UKR status and CUKR card.

Some foreign nationals do not need a Polish work permit – for example holders of a permanent residence permit or an EU long-term resident permit issued in Poland, or a CUKR residence card. We always check this against the specific residence document.

For employers in the Tricity and Pomerania

The employer is responsible for making sure that a foreign worker works on the correct basis and on the terms stated in the document. We help you:

• choose the right basis for each employee, taking into account citizenship, residence document and type of work;
• prepare work permit applications and declarations, and the employer's attachments to applications filed in MOS;
• check the residence and work basis of staff already employed;
• assess the effect of changes in position, working hours, pay or type of contract.

Employing a foreign national without the required document carries penalties, so doubts are best resolved before the contract is signed, not after an inspection.

For foreign nationals

If you have a job offer in Gdynia, Gdańsk or elsewhere in Pomerania, we will check whether a permit is required and who should apply for it. Changing employer or working conditions may require a new document or an amendment to your permit – this should be checked before you start the new job. We consult in English, Polish, Ukrainian and Russian.

Frequently asked questions