The employer says \u201cwe will do a declaration\u201d, friends advise you to \u201cask for a permit\u201d, and from the outside the difference between these words is not obvious. In fact, these are two different documents with different procedures, time limits and consequences.<\/p>\n
The full name is o\u015bwiadczenie o powierzeniu wykonywania pracy, a declaration of entrusting work. It is a simplified procedure available to citizens of a limited group of countries, and Ukraine is one of them.<\/p>\n
The employer registers the declaration at the district labour office (powiatowy urz\u0105d pracy). The procedure is short, usually a few weeks, and the official fee is small. The document allows you to work for up to twenty-four months.<\/p>\n
The main limitation: the working conditions stated in the declaration must match the real ones. If the document says one position and one pay rate, but you work in a different position for different money, this is a violation, and both sides are responsible.<\/p>\n
A work permit (zezwolenie na prac\u0119) is a full permission to work issued by the voivode (wojewoda). There are several types. The most common is type A, for work for a Polish employer.<\/p>\n
The procedure is longer, from a few weeks to a couple of months, and needs more documents. Since 1 June 2025, the information from the district head (starosta) on the local labour market, the so-called labour market test, is no longer required. Instead, there is a list of professions for which the permit may be refused, and it changes from time to time.<\/p>\n
The permit is issued for up to three years and is linked to a specific employer, position and pay conditions.<\/p>\n
If you are a citizen of a country that can use the simplified procedure, and the employer is ready to register a declaration, it is easier to start with that. It is faster and cheaper.<\/p>\n
You will need a work permit when the simplified procedure is not available to you, when the period of work under the declaration has run out, or when you apply for a residence card and need a document for a longer period. Many employers register a declaration right away and start the work permit process at the same time, so there is no gap.<\/p>\n
A residence card based on work relies on a document that gives you the right to work. This can be either a declaration or a work permit, but the card’s validity usually does not exceed the validity of that document.<\/p>\n
The practical conclusion: if you want a card for three years but have a declaration for one year, you will most likely get a card for a period close to one year. Sometimes it makes sense to get a work permit first and only then apply for the card.<\/p>\n
People start working right after signing the contract, without waiting for the document to be registered. Formally, the right to work does not start when the contract is signed, but when there is a valid legal basis.<\/p>\n
Illegal work hurts both sides: the employer gets a fine, and the worker gets problems when applying for legalization, because this period cannot be confirmed as legal.<\/p>\n
A declaration of entrusting work is a fast, simplified route for up to two years. A work permit is a full permit for up to three years with a longer procedure. The choice depends on your citizenship, your plans and what you need for your residence card.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n