Poland’s Labour Ministry has confirmed that the national minimum wage will increase to PLN 4,806 per month (PLN 31.40 per hour) on 1 January 2026. Because work-permit, single-permit and ICT-permit regulations peg 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 transferees will also climb—to PLN 5,927 in Warsaw, PLN 5,084 in Kraków and PLN 5,210 in Wrocław.
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 launch targeted audits immediately after wage increases. 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 Work and Residence Permits to Rise on 1 January 2026]()
Global-mobility managers are urging immediate audits of 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. A failure to adjust could delay start dates or trigger fines of up to PLN 30,000 for underpayment, officials warn.
The rise also affects tax equalisation budgets and cost-of-living allowances for seconded staff. HR teams are updating assignment calculators and briefing recruiters on revised salary expectations so that offers issued in December remain viable once processed in January.
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 launch targeted audits immediately after wage increases. 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 are urging immediate audits of 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. A failure to adjust could delay start dates or trigger fines of up to PLN 30,000 for underpayment, officials warn.
The rise also affects tax equalisation budgets and cost-of-living allowances for seconded staff. HR teams are updating assignment calculators and briefing recruiters on revised salary expectations so that offers issued in December remain viable once processed in January.
