The Labour Ministry has confirmed that Poland’s national minimum wage will increase to PLN 4,806 per month (PLN 31.40 per hour) on 1 January 2026. Because work-permit and single-permit regulations link eligibility to the statutory minimum, every application decided after New Year’s Day must meet the higher gross-salary threshold. City-specific floors for Intra-Company Transfer permits will also climb—Warsaw to PLN 5,926.63, Kraków to PLN 5,084.37 and Wrocław to PLN 5,210.45.
While the headline hike is only three percent, it compounds February’s larger jump in the EU Blue Card benchmark to PLN 12,273. Experts predict a surge in refusals during Q1 2026 for applications that under-document remuneration, as labour inspectors traditionally test the market immediately after wage rises. Benefits-in-kind, offshore payments and stock grants will not count toward the minimum; gross salary must be paid in zloty via a Polish payroll.
![Minimum-Salary Floors for 2026 Work and Residence Permits to Rise on 1 January]()
Global mobility managers must now audit pending offers, shadow-payroll arrangements and posted-worker allowances. Low-margin manufacturers around Łódź and Katowice may need to renegotiate packages or consider local-hire models. Immediate action items include updating budget forecasts, flagging offers below the new threshold and briefing recruiters on revised salary expectations.
A failure to adjust could delay start dates or trigger fines of up to PLN 30,000 for underpayment, making early compliance essential.
While the headline hike is only three percent, it compounds February’s larger jump in the EU Blue Card benchmark to PLN 12,273. Experts predict a surge in refusals during Q1 2026 for applications that under-document remuneration, as labour inspectors traditionally test the market immediately after wage rises. Benefits-in-kind, offshore payments and stock grants will not count toward the minimum; gross salary must be paid in zloty via a Polish payroll.
Global mobility managers must now audit pending offers, shadow-payroll arrangements and posted-worker allowances. Low-margin manufacturers around Łódź and Katowice may need to renegotiate packages or consider local-hire models. Immediate action items include updating budget forecasts, flagging offers below the new threshold and briefing recruiters on revised salary expectations.
A failure to adjust could delay start dates or trigger fines of up to PLN 30,000 for underpayment, making early compliance essential.
