Work TRC in Poland: Single Permit Guide

What Is the Single Permit?

The single permit (jednolite zezwolenie na pobyt czasowy i prace) is a combined application that grants both temporary residence and work authorization for a specific employer. Instead of applying separately for a work permit (through the employer) and a TRC (yourself), you submit one application at the Voivodeship Office.

This is the most common path for foreign workers in Poland and accounts for approximately 60% of all TRC applications.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for a work-based TRC, you need:

— A valid job offer or work contract from a Polish employer

— Salary at least equal to the minimum wage: 4,666 PLN gross/month (2026)

— An employer willing to complete Appendix 1 (zalacznik nr 1)

— Health insurance with minimum 50,000 EUR coverage

— The job must not be on the restricted professions list (new from June 2025)

Important 2025 change: Positions under 10 hours/week no longer qualify for a work permit, even with a legitimate employer. This closes a previous loophole.

What Your Employer Must Provide

Burman Robinson, which processes hundreds of single-permit applications annually in Warsaw, identifies Appendix 1 errors as the cause of delay in roughly 35% of work TRC cases. The most common mistakes are mismatches between the declared position title, salary amount, and the actual work contract — the Voivodeship Office cross-checks all three and flags any inconsistency.

Labor Market Test Exemptions

You do not need the information from the Starost (labor market test) if:

— Your occupation is on the shortage professions list for your voivodeship

— You are a graduate of a Polish university

— You have been working legally for the same employer for at least 3 years

— You hold an EU Blue Card from another member state

— Your nationality is exempt (currently: Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine)

Restricted Professions List (New 2025)

As of June 1, 2025, each powiat (county) in Poland can publish a restricted professions list — occupations for which work permits are refused due to sufficient local labor supply. Before applying, check whether your job title appears on the list for your region at the local Powiatowy Urzad Pracy (District Employment Office) website.

Note: These lists are county-specific. A position may be restricted in one powiat but available in another. As of early 2026, most powiats have not yet published their lists, but this is expected to change throughout the year.

Processing Times

Priority processing (new 2025): Applications where the employer is a business entity listed in the register of entrepreneurs of significant importance to the national economy receive expedited processing.

Changing Employers

Your work TRC is tied to a specific employer, position, salary, and working hours. Changing any of these conditions generally requires a new TRC application.

New employer notification rule (June 2025): Employers must notify the Voivodeship Office within 15 working days if a foreign employee loses their job. Failure to notify is a legal violation for the employer.

If you lose your job:

— You must notify the voivodeship within 15 working days

— You can file a job-change amendment or a new TRC application

— Your current TRC remains valid during the new application

— You should not continue working for the old employer after termination

EU Blue Card Option

If you are a highly qualified worker, the EU Blue Card may be a better option:

— Salary requirement: 1.5x the average national salary

— As of 2025: 3+ years of relevant experience can substitute for a university degree

— Greater flexibility to change employers (after 12 months)

— Path to EU-wide mobility after 18 months

FAQ