Citizens of Georgia and Moldova with biometric passports can enter Poland without a visa. Many people assume this also means they can work here without extra paperwork. That is not the case, and in 2025–2026 the rules for Georgian citizens became much stricter. This article explains what you can do during a visa-free stay, which documents you need to work legally and how the situation of Georgian citizens differs from that of Moldovan citizens.
Visa-free travel is not a right to work
Visa-free travel allows you to stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. It lets you enter and stay, but it does not give you the right to work. To work in Poland, a foreigner also needs a document that legalises the work. Depending on nationality, this can be:
- an oświadczenie o powierzeniu wykonywania pracy cudzoziemcowi, an employer’s declaration registered with the district labour office;
- a zezwolenie na pracę, a work permit issued by the voivode;
- a zezwolenie na pracę sezonową, a seasonal work permit for agriculture, horticulture and tourism;
- a zezwolenie na pobyt czasowy i pracę, a combined residence and work permit, known as a residence card.
Since 1 June 2025, employers submit these documents only electronically, through the praca.gov.pl portal.
Moldovan citizens: what is allowed
Simplified rules apply to Moldovan citizens. They can work in Poland on the basis of an oświadczenie, which the employer registers with the district labour office for up to 24 months. Moldova remains on the list of countries eligible for this procedure, together with Armenia, Belarus and Ukraine.
In practice, the process looks like this:
- The employer or agency registers the oświadczenie through praca.gov.pl.
- You enter Poland visa-free or with a visa.
- You sign a contract in a language you understand and start work.
- The employer notifies the labour office that you have started work.
Keep the 90-day limit in mind. If you plan to work longer, you need to apply for a residence card or obtain a national visa before your visa-free stay ends. Residence card applications are now submitted online through the MOS portal.
If you have a Romanian passport
Many Moldovan citizens also hold Romanian citizenship. With a Romanian passport, you are an EU citizen. You do not need an oświadczenie or a work permit, and you can work in Poland on the same terms as Polish citizens. If you stay in Poland for more than three months, you need to register your stay as an EU citizen at the voivodeship office.
Georgian citizens: what has changed
There have been two major changes for Georgian citizens over the past year.
From 1 December 2025: no oświadczenie
Georgia was removed from the list of countries whose citizens can be employed on an oświadczenie. Since then, an employer can hire a Georgian citizen only on the basis of a work permit, a seasonal work permit or a residence card that includes the right to work. Oświadczenia registered before 1 December 2025 remain valid until the end of the period stated in them.
From 22 August 2026: no work during a visa-free stay
A new regulation came into force under which citizens of Georgia, Colombia and Venezuela cannot work in Poland during a visa-free stay, even if they hold a work permit. To work, they now need a national visa issued for work purposes or a residence card.
Transitional rules apply to people who were already working before 22 August 2026. If you started work on a permit during a visa-free stay, you may continue until that stay ends. If you applied for a residence card during that time while you were entitled to work, you may keep working while you wait for the decision. The transitional rules do not cover people who had not yet started work.
What this means in practice
For a Georgian citizen who wants to start work in Poland now, the route is:
- The employer obtains a work permit for you.
- With the permit, you apply for a national visa at a Polish consulate.
- You enter Poland on the visa and only then start work.
This route takes longer, so plan your trip well in advance. An offer along the lines of “come visa-free, we will sort out the papers when you arrive” now means illegal work for Georgian citizens.
What else to keep an eye on
Since 6 March 2026, the EU has suspended visa-free travel for holders of Georgian diplomatic, service and official passports. Ordinary passports are not affected. The suspension runs until 6 March 2027. The European Commission may extend it and apply it to all Georgian citizens. If you are planning a trip, check the latest information before you travel.
What to check with your employer before you travel
- Which document legalises your work: an oświadczenie, a work permit or a seasonal permit.
- From what date and for how long the document is valid.
- For Georgian citizens: whether you need a visa and who will help with the consular documents.
- What contract you will sign and whether it is in a language you understand.
- Whether the employer will report your start of work. We explain this in our article on the praca.gov.pl notification.
- What happens after 90 days and who will help you apply for a residence card.
Frequently asked questions
Can a Moldovan citizen work in Poland without a visa?
Yes, if the employer has registered an oświadczenie or obtained a work permit. A visa-free stay is limited to 90 days, so longer employment requires a residence card or a visa.
Can a Georgian citizen work in Poland during a visa-free stay?
Since 22 August 2026, no, except in transitional situations. A new job requires a work permit together with a national work visa, or a residence card.
Can I come first and look for a job later?
You can travel, but you cannot start work without a document that legalises it. Georgian citizens now need a visa for work, which must be obtained before entering Poland.
Working in Poland with HR Work
We employ foreign workers in warehouses and production facilities across Poland. Before you travel, we check on what basis you can work and explain which documents you need in your specific case. Browse job offers or contact us.
This article is for information only and reflects the rules as of September 2026. Entry and employment rules for foreigners change frequently. Before you travel, check the current information on gov.pl and praca.gov.pl.
