Working in Poland from Brazil: Visa, Permit, Costs (2026)

Is Poland a realistic choice for Brazilian workers?

If you live in Brazil and hold practical trade skills in construction, welding, transport, or manufacturing, Poland is one of the most direct legal pathways into Europe. Unlike some Western European nations that restrict work authorization strictly to university graduates, Poland actively recruits foreign skilled and manual workers through a dedicated employer-sponsored work permit system.

Is Poland a realistic target for you right now? Yes. Poland faces ongoing labor shortages across several industrial sectors. However, moving from Brazil to Poland requires strict adherence to administrative procedures. You cannot simply buy a flight, land in Warsaw, and start working. You need an official work permit issued in Poland before you apply for your work visa in Brazil. Processing times can take several months, so understanding the timeline and true expenses upfront will protect you from fake job offers and lost savings.

The legal permit and visa process

To work legally in Poland as a Brazilian citizen, you must go through a two-step process involving your employer, the regional government in Poland, and the Polish consular offices in Brazil.

• Step 1: The Type A Work Permit (Zezwolenie na pracę typ A) - Your future employer in Poland applies for this document on your behalf. They submit the application to the Voivodeship Office (Urząd Wojewódzki) responsible for the region where the company is registered. You cannot apply for this permit yourself. The employer must prove the terms of employment and receive official approval before sending the original permit document to you in Brazil.
• Step 2: The National Work Visa (Wiza krajowa typ D) - Once you receive the approved work permit from your employer, you must apply for a Type D national visa. This visa allows you to enter Poland and work legally for the specific employer named on your permit.

Where do you submit your visa application in Brazil? You must register your application online through the official Polish consular booking system (e-Konsulat) and attend an in-person appointment. Depending on your state of residence in Brazil, your appointment will take place at the Embassy of Poland in Brasília, the Consulate General of Poland in São Paulo, or the Consulate General of Poland in Curitiba.

Required documents and Hague Apostille

When attending your visa appointment in Brazil, you must provide a clean and fully documented application file. Missing or unverified documents will delay your visa or cause a refusal.

• Official Work Permit: The original Type A Work Permit (Zezwolenie na pracę) issued by the Polish Voivode, provided directly by your employer.
• Employment Contract or Draft Agreement: A preliminary contract signed by the employer outlining your duties, working hours, and monthly remuneration.
• Valid Brazilian Passport: Your passport must remain valid for at least three to six months beyond your planned stay in Poland and contain at least two blank visa pages.
• Brazilian Criminal Record Check (Atestado de Antecedentes Criminais): Issued by the Polícia Federal in Brazil. This document proves you have no criminal history.
• Proof of Qualifications: Documents confirming your trade skills, such as professional certificates, vocational diplomas, or your Brazilian employment booklet (Carteira de Trabalho) showing relevant work history.
• Travel Health Insurance: Policy coverage meeting European Schengen requirements with a minimum coverage of €30,000 for emergency medical treatment and hospitalization.
• Biometrics and Photos: Standard passport photos meeting Polish consular specifications and fingerprint scans taken at the consulate.

Because Brazil and Poland are both members of the Hague Apostille Convention, your official Brazilian documents must be legalised before Polish authorities will accept them. Your Polícia Federal criminal record check and professional certificates must receive a Hague Apostille (Apostila de Haia) at a certified Brazilian notary office (cartório). After receiving the apostille, these documents must be translated into Polish by a recognized sworn translator (tłumacz przysięgły).

Official fees and processing timelines

Government fees and processing schedules vary depending on the workload of regional offices in Poland and consular availability in Brazil. You should plan your move with realistic ranges in mind.

• Work Permit Processing Time: Approximately 1 to 3 months for the Voivodeship Office in Poland to issue the Type A permit.
• Visa Processing Time: Approximately 15 to 30 days after your consular appointment in Brazil.
• Polish National Visa Fee: Set by the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, approximately €80 (around R$ 450 to R$ 500 depending on exchange rates).
• Work Permit Fee: Approximately 100 PLN (around €23), which must be paid directly by the employer in Poland during the application filing.

Real costs on the Brazil side

While European regulations require employers to handle recruitment and work permit expenses in Poland, you must cover your personal documentation and travel preparations in Brazil. Below are rough estimates in Brazilian Reais (R$) and Euros (€):

• Hague Apostilles (Apostila de Haia): Approximately R$ 120 to R$ 220 (€20 to €35) per document at a Brazilian cartório.
• Sworn Polish Translations (Tradução Juramentada): Approximately R$ 150 to R$ 350 (€25 to €60) per page or document.
• Federal Police Clearance Certificate: Free to issue online, though apostille and translation costs apply.
• Medical Examination and Passport Photos: Approximately R$ 100 to R$ 250 (€15 to €40).
• Travel Medical Insurance: Approximately R$ 300 to R$ 700 (€50 to €110) depending on coverage length.
• One-Way Airfare from Brazil to Poland: Approximately R$ 3,000 to R$ 5,500 (€500 to €900) depending on departure city and season.

Placement fees and recruitment scams

Under Polish labor laws and European Union regulations, no employer or recruitment agency is legally allowed to charge a worker money in exchange for a job offer or a work permit. The employer carries all costs related to job placement, labor market checks, and regional work permit filings.

Be extremely cautious of individuals or private agencies in Brazil claiming to sell guaranteed Polish visas or demanding high upfront money for processing fees. Scammers often use convincing documents with official-looking stamps to extract payments from trade workers. Never transfer funds to personal bank accounts for a guaranteed visa. Official visa decisions are made exclusively by Polish consular officers in Brasília, São Paulo, and Curitiba.

Trades actively hiring in Poland

Poland continues to hire international workers to fill labor shortages across industrial and logistics sectors. Three trades with stable demand include:

• Welders and Fabricators: Shipyards, industrial manufacturing plants, and heavy machinery workshops across Poland regularly seek certified MIG/MAG and TIG welders.
• Heavy Goods Vehicle (C+E) Drivers: Polish transport and logistics companies recruit experienced truck drivers holding valid commercial licenses for national and international European freight routes.
• Construction Workers: Large infrastructure projects and commercial builders hire experienced masons, formwork carpenters, and general site specialists.

Myths vs facts

• Myth: You can enter Poland as a tourist and convert your stay into a work visa.
  Fact: Brazilian citizens can visit the Schengen area without a visa for up to 90 days for tourism, but working on a tourist status is strictly illegal and leads to fines and deportation. You must secure a work permit and obtain a Type D visa before starting employment.
• Myth: Paying a broker in Brazil speeds up your consular appointment in Poland.
  Fact: Consular appointment slots are managed directly through the official e-Konsulat platform, and paying third-party intermediaries does not guarantee legal entry or priority processing.
• Myth: Your Brazilian employment credentials work automatically in Poland.
  Fact: Official Brazilian certificates and police records must have a Hague Apostille and an official Polish translation before Polish authorities accept them.
• Myth: You can work for any company once you arrive in Poland with a Type D visa.
  Fact: Your Type A Work Permit ties you legally to the specific employer named on the permit. Changing employers requires your new boss to apply for a brand new work permit.

Before you sign

Before agreeing to an offer or leaving Brazil, use this checklist to make sure your arrangements are clear and safe:

• Confirm employer identity: Verify that the legal company name on your job contract matches the official entity listed on the Polish work permit.
• Inspect working terms: Ensure your contract clearly outlines your job duties, basic working hours, overtime terms, and monthly base pay.
• Review accommodation details: Check whether your employer provides housing, whether rent is deducted from your income, and what living conditions are promised.
• Secure apostilles early: Obtain your Federal Police clearance and get Hague Apostilles attached at a cartório before booking consular appointments.
• Keep original documents safe: Carry printed copies of your work permit decision, job contract, insurance policy, and consular receipt in your hand luggage when traveling.

Set up your profile on Workuro

Taking the first step toward working legally in Poland starts with presenting your real background clearly. Create your profile on Workuro and include your practical trade skills, your certified work experience from Brazil, your language capabilities, and your target destination in Poland.

When employers search for qualified workers, having your documentation details, trade background, and passport readiness listed clearly helps legitimate European companies reach out directly. Workuro is free for workers - employers pay to search the register, and nobody may charge you for a job.