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Recruiting skilled workers from Poland: what employers should know
Short answer: Whether a worker can take a job abroad depends mainly on their nationality and the destination country's rules, not simply on living in Poland; Polish and other EU/EEA citizens can generally work across the EU/EEA without a work permit, while other nationalities need destination-country authorisation.
What “skilled” can mean
Skilled does not only mean certified tradespeople. Practical experience, reliability, adaptability and readiness to work abroad count too, alongside any licences or certificates a role legally requires. Say what matters for the role when you describe a need.
Start with nationality, not location
Employers often ask for “workers from Poland”. The first practical question is: which nationality are they?
- Polish and other EU/EEA citizens have free-movement rights. In most EU/EEA countries they can take up work without an employment permit, though registration steps can apply. Rules and registration steps differ by country, so check the destination authority.
- Non-EU nationals living in Poland do not gain EU free movement by living there. They typically need the destination country’s own work authorisation. See EU citizens vs non-EU nationals in Poland.
- Destinations outside the EU/EEA, such as the UK, Australia or the USA, have their own visa systems that apply to EU citizens as well.
The role of a recruitment agency
In Poland, employment agencies providing services such as job placement must be entered in the national register of employment agencies (KRAZ), maintained under the supervision of the provincial authorities. An agency’s registration can be checked on the public register. See how to find a registered Polish recruitment agency.
Questions to settle before you approach an agency
- In which country will the work be performed, and are your workers required to have an existing right to work there?
- What trade, qualifications and language level do you need?
- What are the timing and contract length?
- Who arranges travel, accommodation and onboarding?
- What are the fees and when are they due? See costs and responsibilities.
Next step
Talk to us about your situation, with or without a defined requirement.