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Turkish citizens in Poland: what is different for work permits
Turkish citizens follow the same residence rules as other non-EU nationals, with one verified difference for the temporary residence and work permit: the rule that your occupation must not be on the local list of occupations closed to foreigners does not apply to citizens of Turkey.
What is different
For the temporary residence and work permit, the portal lists the “no excess of employment in the occupation” requirement and states that it does not apply to Turkish citizens. Other requirements still apply: work must justify stay of over 3 months, health insurance, and pay not below the minimum wage and not below comparable employees.
What stays the same
- You apply online in MOS and sign the application yourself.
- Your employer completes and signs Annex No. 1 electronically.
- Stamp duty 440 zł (employee) or 340 zł (board member or commercial proxy), plus a 100 zł card fee, to separate accounts.
- The office summons you to show your travel document and give fingerprints, and you collect the card in person.
If you keep working in Poland
Turkish workers gain more rights the longer they work legally in the same country, under Decision 1/80 of the EEC–Turkey Association Council. According to MOS: after 1 year of legal employment you can renew with the same employer if the position is kept; after 3 years you can take a job in the same profession with any employer; after 4 years you have free access to the labour market. The conditions must be met one after another. Workers with these rights can apply for a dedicated temporary residence permit (art. 186(1)(5) of the Act on Foreigners). If you have not yet acquired these rights, you legalise your stay on the general rules.
Starting life in Poland
If you have just arrived, follow the order of steps: register your address (non-EU citizens within 4 days), get your PESEL, set up the trusted profile, then open a bank account and file your residence application in MOS. See the first-weeks checklist. We can guide you through each step.
Other rules for your case
Other special rules may apply to your personal situation, for example if you hold another type of permit or have family in Poland. We check this with you in a consultation rather than guess.
Read the full guide: Temporary residence and work permit.
Sources
- MOS: Temporary residence and work permit
- MOS: Information on fees
- Legal basis: Regulation of the Minister of Family, Labour and Social Policy of 16 Feb 2026, § 1 (Dz.U. 2026 item 209); Act on Foreigners art. 114, 186(1)(5), 189 (Dz.U. 2025 item 1079); Decision 1/80 of the EEC–Turkey Association Council
Facts checked against official government sources on 25 Oct 2026. Rules and amounts change, so check the source before you act.