A visa-free stay and work

Visa-free travel is a stay without a visa. Citizens of the states in Annex II to Regulation 2018/1806 may stay this way when their stay does not exceed 90 days in any 180-day period (Art. 4 para. 1 of Regulation 2018/1806). The rules of entry are described in the guide visa-free travel, and counting the days in the guide 90 days in a 180-day period.

The right to a visa-free stay alone does not give the right to work. A foreigner's work is illegal if their basis of stay does not entitle them to work or they do not have the required permit or declaration (Art. 2 point 3 of the Act on the Conditions for Permitting the Entrusting of Work to Foreigners, hereinafter: the Act on Entrusting Work).

When you can work

  • A work permit or a declaration. If you have a work permit or a declaration on entrusting work entered in the register of declarations and you are staying under visa-free travel, you can work in accordance with them (Art. 3 para. 3 point 6 of the Act on Entrusting Work). A declaration can concern only citizens of Armenia, Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine. See: declaration on entrusting work.
  • Seasonal work. The employer submits an application for a seasonal work permit and the starost enters it in the register of applications. The permit is issued after your entry under visa-free travel (Art. 50 para. 1 and Art. 51 para. 1 of the Act on Entrusting Work).
  • Without a permit. You do not need a permit, among others, as the holder of a valid Karta Polaka (Pole's Card) or a graduate of a Polish university (Art. 3 para. 5). Other cases are described in the guide when work is possible without a permit.

The ban for Venezuela, Georgia and Colombia

The Minister of Labour may indicate the states whose citizens with a work permit cannot work under visa-free travel (Art. 3 para. 4 of the Act on Entrusting Work). The regulation of 31 July 2026 (Journal of Laws 2026, item 1072) lists citizens of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Georgia and the Republic of Colombia (§ 1). It applies from 22 August 2026, that is 14 days after its publication on 7 August 2026.

Art. 3 para. 3 point 6 has an exception for citizens of the states on this list: visa-free travel is not a basis for work for them. Anyone who started work before the regulation entered into force may continue it until the end of the period of visa-free stay (§ 2).

A visa when entering for work

From 15 August 2026 citizens of Georgia, Colombia and Venezuela entering in connection with being entrusted with work must have a visa (regulation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of 10 August 2026, Journal of Laws 2026, item 1086, § 2 and 3). This also applies to contracts of mandate and other civil-law contracts (Art. 2 point 9 of the Act on Entrusting Work). Anyone who crossed the border before this date is subject to the previous rules (§ 4). Details: work visa.

Consequences of work without a basis

A foreigner who performs work illegally is subject to a fine of not less than 1 000 PLN (Art. 84 para. 2 of the Act on Entrusting Work). A decision obliging them to return is also issued (Art. 302 para. 1 point 4 of the Act on Foreigners). The employer who illegally entrusted the work is also liable.

A stay longer than 90 days

Visa-free travel does not replace a residence permit. You can apply for temporary residence during your legal stay - see residence application during visa-free travel.