Access to the labour market · Employing foreigners

Short-term mobility — working in Poland on a status from another EU country

Published: 31 August 2026 · Author: Dariusz Włodarczyk Kancelaria TRC · Reading time: approx. 7 min

A foreigner holding a status in another EU country (EU Blue Card, ICT, researcher, student) may to a certain extent work in Poland under mobility rules. We explain the categories, conditions and required notifications.

Table of contents
  1. What short-term mobility is
  2. Types of mobility
  3. Conditions and notifications
  4. Risk
  5. Legal basis and sources

1. What short-term mobility is

A foreigner holding a particular status in another EU country (e.g. an EU Blue Card, a status under an intra-corporate transfer, a researcher or a student) may to a certain extent perform work in Poland under mobility rules, on the terms set out in the Act on Foreigners.

2. Types of mobility

CategoryIn brief
EU Blue CardHigh qualifications — short-term mobility of a holder from another EU country
ICT (intra-corporate transfer)Management staff, specialists, trainees
ResearcherConducting research on the statutory terms
StudentStudent mobility within a defined scope

3. Conditions and notifications

Making use of mobility usually involves notifications and the fulfilment of certain conditions (including a valid document from another EU country, and the scope and duration of the work). The details are set out in the Act on Foreigners.

To be verified: the scope and procedures of mobility are formalised and differ between categories — confirm them before starting work.

4. Risk

Work outside the scope of mobility or without the required notifications may be found to be illegal. For longer work, consider a single permit or a work permit.

Show more: what the EU Blue Card involves
The rules of short-term mobility (EU Blue Card, ICT, researcher, student) are discussed in detail in: I. Gęsicka, P. Majka, M. Rydzewska, J. Wantoch-Rekowski, Zatrudnianie cudzoziemców. Problematyka prawa pracy, administracyjnego i finansów publicznych, Wolters Kluwer, Warsaw 2026.

The EU Blue Card in brief

The EU Blue Card concerns work in a profession requiring high qualifications. A holder of a Card from another EU country may make use of short-term mobility in Poland on the statutory terms and, ultimately, apply for a Polish Blue Card.

Is an employee coming to Poland on a status from another EU country?

We will check whether mobility is permissible, complete the notifications and indicate when a permit or a single permit is required.

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Legal notice: this article is for information purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Legal status: 2026 (Act of 12 December 2013 on foreigners — provisions on mobility, the EU Blue Card, ICT).

Sources: Act of 12 December 2013 on foreigners, Journal of Laws 2013, item 1650; Office for Foreigners. The above commentary is our own; the provisions cited should be verified against the current text of the act before taking action.