Changing employer and the residence card — the deadlines you must know

Changing jobs while holding a residence card is not just a new contract — it also means obligations towards the authority and deadlines that start running from day one. What costs most here is not the change of employer itself, but the mistaken belief that "the authority will sort everything out". Check what to do so that a new job does not take away your legal stay.

1. Can you simply start working for a new employer?

It depends on the type of your permit. With full access to the labour market there is more freedom. But if you hold a temporary residence and work permit "tied" to a specific employer, position and conditions, you cannot simply take up work elsewhere on that basis — an application to change the permit is usually required.

2. How does the 15-day deadline after losing your job work?

The regulations provide for an obligation to notify the voivode within 15 working days about the loss of work with the employer named in the permit; the obligation is also deemed fulfilled if within that time you file an application to change the permit (Act on Foreigners; verify the detailed numbering of the provision against the current text). The clock runs regardless of whether you have a complete set of documents from your former company.

3. What happens if you do nothing?

Loss of control over the legality of your work and stay. At first everything looks fine, but after a few weeks it turns out that the formalities were not completed — and then problems tend to pile up: work inconsistent with the permit, no response to letters and, in extreme cases, withdrawal of the permit.

4. How to change employer safely?

• establish exactly what type of permit you hold and what follows from it,
• do not start a new job "assuming it will be sorted out later",
• keep to the 15-day deadline after losing your job,
• secure the documents from your current employer — see how to recover residence card documents,
• carry out the change with someone who knows the procedure and represents you, not the company — comparison of representatives.

We also describe the legal basis of the change procedure itself in the article changing employer and the residence card — the procedure.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Do I have to report the loss of my job if I already have a new one?

Yes — the obligation to notify the voivode concerns the loss of work with the employer named in the permit. It is also deemed fulfilled if within 15 working days you file an application to change the permit.

Can I work for the new employer while the permit is being changed?

It depends on your individual situation and the type of permit — do not assume in advance that you can. Starting work in breach of the conditions of the permit is one of the most common and most costly missteps.

My former employer will not return the documents — does that block the change?

Not necessarily. Some documents can be reconstructed from the case file (Article 73 of the Code of Administrative Procedure), and the deadlines run anyway — which is why the notification to the voivode is filed regardless of whether the papers are complete. See the article on recovering documents in our series.