From 1 July 2026, international students will only be permitted to work following verification of their teaching institution
The transitional period regarding the employment of certain types of foreign students in Poland will come to an end on 1 July 2026. Student status alone will no longer be sufficient to qualify for exemption from the requirement to obtain a work permit.
These new rules will only apply to foreign students attending teaching institutions that meet the conditions set out in the regulations, particularly public universities and institutions approved by the minister responsible for admitting foreign nationals.
After 30 June 2026, employers will need to verify not only that a foreign national is a student, but also that their teaching institution is on the relevant list. If this condition is not met, the standard basis for work authorisation will need to be applied (notification, declaration or permit), depending on the employee’s nationality.
Therefore, it is advisable to verify the documents of foreign students and the status of their teaching institution before signing a contract. After 1 July 2026, failure to comply with this obligation may result in the illegal employment of a foreign national.