Poland · Work
Poland Graduate job-search permit
First stay: 9 mo
Temporary residence permit for graduates of Polish universities (art. 186(1)(6))
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Graduate job-search permit is a work route for Poland. You can work locally. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source.
- Government fees
- PLN 340 ≈ $87 · PLN 100 ≈ $25
- Processing
- Up to 60 days
- First stay
- 9 mo
Cost, time and long term
To apply: government fees PLN 440 ≈ $110 in total (2 fees); decision: up to 60 days. No lawyer or agent fee is included.
Government feesPLN 340 ≈ $87 · PLN 100 ≈ $25
- PLN 340 (≈ $87)Stamp duty for a temporary residence permit in other cases.
- PLN 100 (≈ $25)Fee for issuing the residence card.
Renewal9 months max, no extension
Granted once for 9 months and cannot be extended.
ProcessingUp to 60 days
Decisions on temporary residence permits are due within 60 days of a complete file and, where required, the fingerprint visit.
Where to applyInside the country
Filed with the Province Governor during legal residence in Poland, directly after graduation.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Can't be renewed: 9 months in total at most
- Needs earlier residence or an existing status in Poland
- Not open to EU, EEA or Swiss passports
What you'll need
Who can apply2
- Applicants are third-country nationals with a Polish bachelor, engineer, master, master-engineer or doctor diploma or an equivalent.
- The diploma can come from first-cycle, full-time second-cycle or postgraduate studies or a doctoral school.
What you must show2
- Sufficient funds for subsistence and for the return to the home country are shown.
- The stamp duty is PLN 340 (≈ $87) and the residence card fee is PLN 100 (≈ $25).
Documents1
- Medical insurance and an address of residence in Poland are shown.
Steps2
- Applicants apply in person to the Province Governor.
- The application is made during legal stay, directly after graduation.
After you arrive2
- The permit is granted once, for 9 months.
- Full-time graduates need no work permit and are exempt from the labour market test.
What happens at day 183
How Poland decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
Up to 9 months in total
- Tax residence
- More than 183 days in a tax yearStaying in Poland more than 183 days in the tax year makes the person a Polish tax resident.
- Foreign-source income
Persons resident in Poland for tax purposes have unlimited tax liability and settle all income in Poland, earned both in Poland and abroad, using the treaty exemption or credit method for foreign-source income.
All tax rules for Poland Tax records checked
Full official text
For holders of a Polish bachelor, master or doctoral diploma who want to seek work or run a business; the work-permit requirement is waived for full-time graduates and the labour-market test is skipped. 1
What you must show and pay
- A fee of PLN 340 (≈ $87) · Stamp duty for a temporary residence permit in other cases. 2
- A fee of PLN 100 (≈ $25) · Fee for issuing the residence card. 2
Requirements
- Applicants are third-country nationals with a Polish bachelor, engineer, master, master-engineer or doctor diploma or an equivalent. 1
- The diploma can come from first-cycle, full-time second-cycle or postgraduate studies or a doctoral school. 1
- Sufficient funds for subsistence and for the return to the home country are shown. 1
- The stamp duty is PLN 340 (≈ $87) and the residence card fee is PLN 100 (≈ $25). 2
- Medical insurance and an address of residence in Poland are shown. 1
- Applicants apply in person to the Province Governor. 1
- The application is made during legal stay, directly after graduation. 1
- The permit is granted once, for 9 months. 1
- Full-time graduates need no work permit and are exempt from the labour market test. 1
Stay
- Granted once, for 9 months.
- Initial permitted stay: 9 months.
- Not renewable according to our source.
Nationality
Non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals. Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.
Work
No work permit needed for graduates of full-time studies.
Official sources
- Permit for temporary residence – graduate · Office for Foreigners (gov.pl/udsc-en) · checked 2026-10-10
- Fees / Stamp duty · Greater Poland Voivodeship Office (Poznan), Migrant Service · checked 2026-10-11
- Zezwolenie na pobyt czasowy i prace - Karta informacyjna (decision within 60 days) · Voivodeship Office (gov.pl information card) · checked 2026-10-11
Graduate job-search permit and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate job-search permit | – | 9 mo | Yes |
| Work permit (single permit) | – | 3 yr | Limited |
| Blue Card | – | 3 yr, renewable | Yes |
| Blue Card Portugal | Needs income from €1,726 a month ≈ $1,930 | 2 yr, renewable | Limited |
| Employee visa Spain | – | 1 yr, renewable | Limited |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Graduate job-search permit?
A fee of PLN 340 (≈ $87). Stamp duty for a temporary residence permit in other cases. A fee of PLN 100 (≈ $25). Fee for issuing the residence card.
How long can I stay on the Graduate job-search permit?
Granted once, for 9 months.
How long does the Graduate job-search permit take to process?
Decisions on temporary residence permits are due within 60 days of a complete file and, where required, the fingerprint visit.
Can I work on the Graduate job-search permit?
Yes. No work permit needed for graduates of full-time studies.
Who can apply for the Graduate job-search permit?
Non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals. Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.
More in Poland
Work visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-11 against 3 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Permit for temporary residence – graduate · Office for Foreigners (gov.pl/udsc-en) · checked 2026-10-10
- Fees / Stamp duty · Greater Poland Voivodeship Office (Poznan), Migrant Service · checked 2026-10-11
- Zezwolenie na pobyt czasowy i prace - Karta informacyjna (decision within 60 days) · Voivodeship Office (gov.pl information card) · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.