Hiring Non-EU Warehouse Workers in Poland: 2026 Employer Guide

7 min

The shortage in Poland and key logistics hubs

Poland serves as one of Central Europe's largest logistics and warehousing hubs. Major industrial corridors along the A2 and A4 motorways - particularly around Poznań, Wrocław, Łódź, Stryków, Upper Silesia (Gliwice, Katowice), and the suburban belts surrounding Warsaw (Pruszków, Nadarzyn) - face persistent labor deficits. High turnover, expanding fulfillment hubs, and shifting regional demographics leave warehouse site managers and HR teams struggling to staff night shifts, peak seasons, and specialized roles like certified forklift drivers.

Domestic labor pools are rarely sufficient to fill large-scale warehousing operations, especially outside primary metropolitan centers. Historically, Polish employers filled these gaps with Ukrainian workers using simplified registration procedures. While citizens of Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia, Armenia, and Moldova still form a significant part of the workforce, logistics companies increasingly recruit from Central Asia and South Asia to secure stable, long-term operational capacity. Hiring non-EU staff is now standard practice across Polish logistics, but navigating administrative timelines requires advance planning.

Legal routes: Work permits, tests, and UDT certifications

To employ a non-EU worker in Poland, the hiring entity must secure the legal right for that individual to work before they enter the country or begin duty. The rules are overseen nationally by the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Policy (Ministerstwo Rodziny, Pracy i Polityki Społecznej - MRPiPS) and executed locally at the Voivodeship level.

Type A Work Permit (Zezwolenie na pracę typ A): This is the standard authorization for non-EU nationals. The employer files the application with the Voivode (Wojewoda) appropriate for the company's registered address or operational site. The permit is issued for a specific worker, position, and wage floor, valid for up to three years.
Declaration Procedure (Oświadczenie o powierzeniu wykonywania pracy): Available only to citizens of Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine. The employer registers a declaration online via the local County Labor Office (Powiatowy Urząd Pracy - PUP). This grants work authorization for up to 24 months with significantly shorter processing times than a full permit.
Labor Market Test (Informacja starosty): Before applying for a Type A work permit, the employer usually must request a labor market test from the local PUP to prove no suitable local jobseekers are registered. However, many warehouse roles and regional deficit occupations listed in the national or regional Barometr Zawodów (Occupational Barometer) are exempt. Employers should verify current exemption lists with their local Urząd Wojewódzki before filing.
Equipment Certification (UDT Authorization): Foreign licenses for operating reach trucks or standard counterbalanced forklifts are not automatically recognized in Poland. Forklift operators (operatorzy wózków widłowych) must pass an examination administered by the Technical Inspection Authority (Urząd Dozoru Technicznego - UDT). Employers must arrange state-approved training and a UDT exam before placing a foreign worker on powered material handling equipment.

Realistic timelines: From offer to first shift

Hiring from outside the EU is not an overnight fix. Polish regional offices experience heavy administrative backlogs, meaning employers must factor in several months between candidate selection and the worker starting on site.

Labor Market Test (if required): 10 to 21 days at the County Labor Office (PUP).
Work Permit Issuance (Zezwolenie typ A): 1 to 4 months, depending heavily on the voivodeship. Voivodeship offices in Mazowieckie or Dolnośląskie generally face longer backlogs than those in Lubuskie or Opolskie.
Consular Visa Processing: 3 to 8 weeks. Once the employer mails the original work permit to the candidate, the worker must book an appointment at the Polish embassy or consulate in their home country to obtain a Type D national work visa.
Arrival and Onboarding: 1 to 2 weeks for travel arrangement, compulsory occupational medical checks, and safety training.

Total timeline: Expect 3 to 6 months for a standard non-EU candidate entering on a Type A work permit. For candidates eligible for the oświadczenie process, the total timeline reduces to roughly 6 to 10 weeks. If your facility faces seasonal spikes - such as e-commerce peak season starting in October - recruitment documentation must be initiated no later than May or June.

Pay, working hours, and housing obligations

Polish labor law sets strict equality principles: non-EU workers must receive remuneration equal to local employees performing the same work, and never below the statutory minimums.

Statutory Wage Floor: Pay must meet Poland's national minimum wage requirements. For 2026, the statutory monthly gross minimum is approximately 4,600 to 4,800 PLN (or a minimum hourly rate of approximately 30.50 to 32.00 PLN gross for mandate contracts).
Market Pay Rates: Standard warehouse associates (order pickers, packers) generally earn between 28.00 and 34.00 PLN gross per hour. Certified forklift drivers with UDT authorization command between 32.00 and 40.00 PLN gross per hour (roughly 5,200 to 6,800 PLN gross monthly depending on shifts and overtime).
Contract Types: Employers commonly use employment contracts (Umowa o pracę) or mandate contracts (Umowa zlecenie). Work permits explicitly lock in the contract type, position, hourly rate, and minimum hours. Decreasing hours or lowering rates below what is stated on the permit constitutes illegal employment.
Housing Customary Practices: Unlike office staff, foreign warehouse personnel frequently expect help with initial accommodation. Polish logistics employers typically provide or arrange dormitory-style housing (shared apartments or worker hostels near the industrial park) and deduct a fixed, reasonable fee directly from the payroll or subsidize a portion of the monthly rent (typically 400 to 800 PLN per bed per month).
Mandatory Pre-work Requirements: Every worker must undergo a pre-employment medical examination (badania medycyny pracy) and basic health and safety training (szkolenie BHP) before performing any tasks on the warehouse floor.

What this costs you, roughly

Budgeting for foreign recruitment involves direct state fees, legal compliance costs, and initial logistics expenses. Below are standard cost ranges per worker:

State Application Fee (Type A Work Permit): 100 PLN paid to the Voivodeship Office.
State Application Fee (Oświadczenie): 100 PLN paid to the County Labor Office.
Labor Market Test Fee: 0 PLN (free service provided by the PUP).
Medical Examination & BHP Training: 200 to 400 PLN per worker.
UDT Forklift Examination & Certification: 300 to 500 PLN state fee per driver, plus optional preparatory training (800 to 1,500 PLN) if needed.
Sworn Document Translations: 150 to 300 PLN for translating legal documents or contracts where required.
Housing Subsidy / Setup (Customary): 400 to 800 PLN per worker per month in shared logistics worker accommodations.
Inbound Travel Costs: 1,500 to 4,000 PLN (varies by country of origin; often paid directly by the worker or covered by the employer as a retention incentive).

Worker protection and legal compliance

Legitimate employers in Poland never charge job applicants fees for job offers, work permit filings, or contract issuance. Under Polish labor law and international recruitment standards, all administrative costs associated with securing a work permit are the legal responsibility of the employer.

Charging candidate fees, retaining original passports, or making unauthorized salary deductions creates grave legal liabilities under Polish law. Sites caught misrepresenting working conditions or deducting illegal recruitment fees face severe fines from the National Labor Inspectorate (Państwowa Inspekcja Pracy - PIP) and risk an administrative ban on future work permit applications. Ethically recruited workers who arrive under fair conditions show significantly higher retention rates and operational reliability.

Finding warehouse workers on the Workuro registry

Workuro operates a direct candidate registry where workers from non-EU countries publish their profiles, experience, and relocation preferences. Workuro is not a recruitment agency, does not charge per-hire fees, and takes no commission on your hiring decisions. You review profiles, contact potential candidates directly, and handle the employment process within your own HR structure.

Our database is young and growing. You can filter candidates interested in working in Poland by trade background, including general warehouse laborers, packing staff, and experienced machinery operators. Because candidates express direct interest in relocating to Poland, your HR team can quickly identify individuals ready to start the permit application process. Always confirm current immigration procedures directly with your local Urząd Wojewódzki or the Ministerstwo Rodziny, Pracy i Polityki Społecznej before finalizing employment contracts.