AfriPulse
Poland has updated wage rules impacting local and foreign employees.
New minimum salary requirements will take effect in January 2026.
Revised thresholds for certain work permits are already in place.
Poland has announced updated wage rules that will affect both local employees and foreign nationals working in the country under various permit categories.
The new guidelines, issued by Polish authorities, introduce revised minimum salary requirements that employers must follow starting January 2026, along with updated thresholds already in force for certain work permits.
Minimum wage changes for 2026
Beginning January 1, 2026, Poland’s national minimum wage will rise for both Polish citizens and foreigners employed under Work Permits and Single Permits:
Monthly minimum wage: PLN 4,806 (up from PLN 4,666)
Minimum hourly rate: PLN 31.40 (up from PLN 30.50)
These increases do not apply to permit types that follow separate pay structures, such as the EU Blue Card and Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) Permits.
Key compliance reminders for employers
Polish authorities emphasized that companies hiring foreign workers must ensure job offers comply with the updated wage standards. Key rules include:
Salaries must align with what Polish workers earn for comparable roles.
Income levels must be sufficient to support the foreign worker and any dependents living in Poland.
Employers must adjust wages to meet the new rules, including for ongoing cases and renewal applications.
Benefits, bonuses, and allowances cannot count toward minimum salary requirements.
Foreign employees must be paid in Polish zloty (PLN) through a local payroll system.
Updated salary rules for ICT permit holders
New minimum salary benchmarks for employees on Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) Work Permits took effect on November 19, 2024. The revised monthly salaries are:
Warsaw: PLN 5,926.63 (up from PLN 5,255.99)
Kraków: PLN 5,084.37 (up from PLN 4,487.73)
Wrocław: PLN 5,190.16 (up from PLN 4,593.43)
Gdańsk: PLN 4,965.30 (new baseline)
These rates also apply to EU ICT Permit holders. Authorities noted that some applications may be assessed individually to ensure salaries reflect current market standards.
Higher pay requirement for the EU Blue Card
Earlier in 2024, Poland raised the minimum salary for the EU Blue Card to PLN 12,272.58 gross, up from PLN 10,733.22. This amount equals 150% of the national average wage.
Applications submitted before February 2025 but decided afterward must still meet the increased threshold.
Additional rule changes you should know
GistLover reports that Poland has also revised the process for obtaining a Single Permit, which combines work and residence authorization.
Starting July 1, 2025, individuals entering Poland with student visas or holding long-term residency from other Schengen states must first obtain a Polish national work visa (D-type) before they can apply for the Single Permit.
This marks a major change from previous guidelines, which allowed:
Holders of Polish student visas
Individuals with long-term Schengen visas issued by other EU states
Residents of other EU countries with valid residence cards
…to apply for the Single Permit from within Poland.
Under the new rules, these applicants must now return to their home country or their country of legal residence to secure a Polish work visa at a consulate before starting the Single Permit process.
Source: GistLover | Read the Full Story…
