Student work rights in Poland
Rules for working while studying in Poland, including work limits, internships, tax steps and post-study routes where covered by the guide.
Read the complete Poland study abroad guide.
Part-time Jobs
A third-country national studying full-time at a Polish higher-education institution can work without a separate work permit when the stay is based on the qualifying Polish study visa or temporary residence permit for studies. The exemption can also continue during a properly filed residence application in the circumstances set out by the Office for Foreigners. There is no separate statutory student-hours cap attached to that exemption, but your study progress must remain genuine. Part-time study and other residence bases can fall under different rules, so do not reduce the rule to 'any enrolment equals work permission.'
Source: https://www.gov.pl/web/udsc-en/work-student
Post-study Work
Eligible graduates of Polish universities can apply, during legal stay and directly after graduation, for a temporary residence permit to seek work or start a business. It is granted once for nine months. Graduates of full-time studies at Polish universities are exempt from the separate work-permit requirement, but they still need a lawful residence basis. If you already have a job and need a different residence route, use the appropriate work/residence procedure rather than assuming the graduate-search permit is always the right bridge.
Source: https://www.gov.pl/web/udsc-en/permit-for-temporary-residence--graduate
Common questions
What should international students know about work in Poland?
Qualifying full-time students can work without a work permit; the exemption follows study and residence status, not enrolment alone.
What should international students know about post study in Poland?
The graduate job-search permit is granted once for nine months; full-time Polish university graduates are exempt from the work-permit requirement.