Among the ministerial decrees that entered into force on 1 December 2025 is a long-awaited list of ‘specific cases’ where foreigners may work in Poland without a permit or employer declaration. The regulation, issued under Article 3(7) of the new Foreigners Employment Act, replaces a patchwork of guidance dating back to 2015 and introduces firm 30-day annual limits for several activities.
Business travellers benefit most: technicians posted to assemble or service equipment, lecturers giving occasional talks, accredited journalists and researchers can now rely on an explicit legal basis rather than ad-hoc border-guard interpretations. Foreign language teachers, athletes on short contracts and artists performing up to 30 days a year are likewise covered, provided employers keep evidence of the assignment’s scope and duration.
![Poland clarifies 12 categories of work-permit-exempt foreign assignments]()
The decree also codifies exemptions for EU and NATO defence projects and for staff seconded under international aid programmes. Companies must, however, count days carefully: exceeding the 30-day cap triggers the need for a standard work permit—even if time is split across multiple trips.
Global-mobility managers should update travel approval systems to flag trips that approach the new threshold and retain letters of assignment in case of spot checks at the border.
Business travellers benefit most: technicians posted to assemble or service equipment, lecturers giving occasional talks, accredited journalists and researchers can now rely on an explicit legal basis rather than ad-hoc border-guard interpretations. Foreign language teachers, athletes on short contracts and artists performing up to 30 days a year are likewise covered, provided employers keep evidence of the assignment’s scope and duration.
The decree also codifies exemptions for EU and NATO defence projects and for staff seconded under international aid programmes. Companies must, however, count days carefully: exceeding the 30-day cap triggers the need for a standard work permit—even if time is split across multiple trips.
Global-mobility managers should update travel approval systems to flag trips that approach the new threshold and retain letters of assignment in case of spot checks at the border.
