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

The Polish work permit route for Kenyan workers

If you are a Kenyan worker looking to move to Poland for work in construction, transport, manufacturing, hospitality, or agriculture, there is a clear legal pathway. Poland is currently one of the most active destinations in Central Europe for recruiting workers from outside the European Union. However, you cannot simply travel on a tourist visa and look for work. You must secure a job offer first, and your employer in Poland must start the immigration process on your behalf before you apply for your visa in Kenya.

The standard route for skilled and manual workers requires two main steps: a local Polish work permit followed by a national work visa.

• Official permit name: The primary document you need is the Type A Work Permit (known locally in Polish as zezwolenie na pracę typ A). This permit applies when you are hired directly by an employer based in Poland under a standard contract.
• Seasonal work permit: For temporary roles in agriculture, farming, or seasonal tourism, employers use the Type S Permit (zezwolenie na pracę sezonową). This is valid for up to 9 months in a calendar year.
• Who applies first: Your employer in Poland applies first. They must submit the application to their local Voivodeship Office (Urząd Wojewódzki) in Poland. You cannot apply for a work permit yourself. Once the Voivode approves the request, your employer receives the official work permit document and posts the original copy to you in Kenya.
• The visa stage: After you receive the original work permit from your employer, you apply for a National Type D Visa (work visa) in Kenya. This visa allows you to enter Poland and work legally for the specific employer named on your permit.

Where to submit your application in Kenya

You do not travel to Poland to get your visa. You must complete the entire visa application process in Kenya before buying a flight ticket.

Your visa application must be submitted through the official channels designated by the Polish government in Kenya:

• Primary submission point: Applications are handled by the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Nairobi, or through an authorized Visa Application Centre such as VFS Global in Nairobi.
• Booking appointments: You must book an appointment online through the official Polish consulate portal (e-Konsulat) or the official VFS Global website for Kenya. Appointment slots fill up quickly, so you must monitor the booking system regularly once your employer sends your work permit.
• Biometric collection: During your appointment in Nairobi, you will submit your physical documents, pay the embassy visa fee, and provide your biometric data, which includes your fingerprints and a digital photograph.

Required documents and legalisation steps

To secure your Type D visa, you must present a complete folder of original documents and copies at your appointment in Nairobi. Missing documents will lead to long delays or visa refusal.

• Original work permit: The original zezwolenie na pracę document issued by the Voivodeship Office in Poland, signed and stamped by the authority.
• Employment contract or binding offer: A preliminary contract or job offer letter signed by your employer, stating your monthly wages, working hours, job role, and accommodation details.
• Valid Kenyan passport: Your passport must be valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure date from Poland, have at least two blank pages, and have been issued within the last 10 years.
• Police clearance certificate: A valid Certificate of Good Conduct issued by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Kenya. This proves you have no criminal record.
• Proof of qualifications and experience: Testimonials, reference letters from previous employers in Kenya, trade certificates (such as NITA certificates for welders or mechanics), or driving licenses (for commercial driver roles).
• Medical travel insurance: Schengen-compliant travel medical insurance covering emergency medical expenses and repatriation, with a minimum coverage of EUR 30,000, valid for the initial period of your stay.
• Document legalisation and Apostille: Public documents issued in Kenya, such as your DCI police clearance certificate and academic or trade credentials, must be legalised with an Apostille stamp from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nairobi before they are accepted by Polish authorities.

Official fees and actual costs from Kenya

Moving abroad requires planning for expenses on both the Polish official side and the local Kenyan side. You should be clear on what fees exist so you are not taken advantage of by brokers.

Official processing fees are set directly by government agencies:

• Work permit fee (paid by employer): Approximately EUR 20 to EUR 50 (approximately KES 2,800 to KES 7,000) paid directly to the Polish local authority by your employer.
• National visa fee (Type D): Set by the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this fee is approximately EUR 80 to EUR 135 (approximately KES 11,000 to KES 19,000), payable at your Nairobi appointment.
• VFS processing fee: If submitting through a visa centre, an additional service fee of approximately EUR 15 to EUR 30 (approximately KES 2,100 to KES 4,200) applies.
• Official processing time: The employer's work permit stage in Poland takes approximately 1 to 3 months. The visa application processing in Nairobi takes approximately 4 to 8 weeks after your appointment.

In addition to official fees, you must budget for personal expenses on the Kenya side:

• DCI Certificate of Good Conduct: Approximately KES 1,050 (approximately EUR 7 to EUR 8).
• Apostille and document legalisation: Approximately KES 3,000 to KES 8,000 (approximately EUR 20 to EUR 55) depending on the number of certificates stamped at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• Medical assessment: Approximately KES 5,000 to KES 12,000 (approximately EUR 35 to EUR 85) at an approved clinic in Kenya.
• One-way flight ticket to Poland: Approximately KES 70,000 to KES 130,000 (approximately EUR 500 to EUR 900), depending on the airline and season.

Under Polish law and European Union guidelines, an employer or recruitment agency is responsible for their own licensing and operating costs. In most EU countries, agencies cannot charge workers a fee simply for offering them a job or placing them with an employer. Be extremely cautious of local brokers in Kenya demanding hundreds of thousands of shillings as a guaranteed job fee or visa processing charge. These are almost always illegal scams targeting unsuspecting job seekers.

In-demand trades in Poland right now

Poland faces severe labor shortages in specific practical industries and actively recruits foreign workers who possess verified skills.

• Heavy vehicle drivers: Logistics firms recruit international drivers with valid commercial licenses for international haulage and local freight transport.
• Welders and metal fabricators: Shipyards, structural steel factories, and manufacturing plants regularly hire MIG/MAG and TIG welders with trade test certificates.
• Food processing and warehouse workers: Large logistics hubs and packaging factories employ workers for order picking, forklift driving, and agricultural product packing.

Myths vs facts

• Myth: You can pay an agent in Nairobi to instantly buy a Polish work permit.
  Fact: Work permits are issued only by Polish Voivodeship Offices to real registered employers in Poland. Agents cannot create or sell genuine permits independently.
• Myth: A Polish work visa lets you work legally in any country in Western Europe.
  Fact: A Polish Type D national visa allows you to reside and work legally only in Poland for the specific employer listed on your permit. Visiting other Schengen countries as a tourist is allowed, but working there is strictly illegal.
• Myth: You can travel to Warsaw on a tourist visa and change it into a work visa after finding a job.
  Fact: You cannot convert a short-stay tourist visa into a national work visa inside Poland. You must return to Kenya to apply for your work visa through the embassy or VFS in Nairobi.
• Myth: You do not need to speak English or Polish to work in skilled trade roles.
  Fact: While full fluency in Polish is rarely required for manual trades on day one, basic working English is essential for safety instructions, understanding contracts, and daily workplace communication.

Before you sign: Your protection checklist

Before you sign any paper or hand over your passport, review these essential safety steps:

• Check the employer registration: Verify that the company making the offer is a real business registered in Poland's official national register (KRS or CEIDG).
• Verify the work permit details: Ensure the name of the employer, the job title, work location, and salary listed on your work permit exactly match your contract offer.
• Never hand over your original passport: No agency, recruiter, or broker in Kenya has the right to hold your original passport. Only embassy officials inspect your passport during visa processing.
• Confirm accommodation terms: Ensure your employment contract clearly states who pays for your housing in Poland and how much will be deducted from your wage if accommodation is provided.
• Check net salary figures: Make sure you know your net pay (the amount you take home after Polish taxes and social security contributions are deducted), not just the gross figure.
• Keep payment receipts: If you pay for official document legalisation, police checks, or medical tests, always keep original official bank receipts.

Build your Workuro profile today

If you are ready to find a genuine job in Poland, create your profile on Workuro. Make sure to list your precise skill set, trade certificates (like NITA or vocational diplomas), valid driving categories, work experience, and your current level of English. Having your DCI police clearance and valid passport ready will help you move quickly when a Polish employer reviews your candidate profile.

Workuro is free for workers - employers pay to search the register, and nobody may charge you for a job.