Poland has announced significant updates to its minimum wage structure and salary requirements for both local and foreign workers, with most changes taking effect from January 1, 2026.
The Polish government has raised the national minimum wage that applies to Polish citizens and foreign nationals holding standard Work Permits or Single Permits (combined residence and work permits).
New National Minimum Wage from January 2026:
– Monthly gross minimum salary: PLN 4,806 (previously PLN 4,666)
– Hourly minimum rate: PLN 31.40 (previously PLN 30.50)
These figures do not apply to highly qualified categories such as EU Blue Card holders or Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) permit holders, who follow separate, higher salary thresholds.
Key obligations for employers hiring foreigners:
– Offered salary must be at market rate and comparable to what Polish workers earn for the same position
– Benefits, allowances, bonuses, or accommodation cannot be counted toward the minimum salary threshold
– Payment must be made in Polish zloty (PLN) through a Polish payroll system
– Employers must adjust existing contracts and new job offers to meet the updated requirements, including for permit extensions and renewals
Updated salary thresholds for Intra-Company Transfers (ICT) – already in force since November 19, 2024:
– Warsaw: PLN 5,926.63
– Kraków: PLN 5,084.37
– Wrocław: PLN 5,190.16
– Gdańsk: PLN 4,965.30
These regional benchmarks also apply to EU ICT permits.
EU Blue Card salary requirement
The minimum gross monthly salary for the EU Blue Card (highly skilled workers) was increased earlier in 2024 to PLN 12,272.58 – equivalent to 1.5 times the average national salary.
Applications submitted before the change but finalized after February 2025 must also meet the new threshold.
Tighter rules for international students and long-term residents of other Schengen countries
From July 1, 2025, foreign nationals entering Poland on student visas or holding long-term residence permits from another Schengen country can no longer apply for a Single Permit from inside Poland.
They must first return to their country of origin or legal residence, obtain a Polish national D-type work visa at a consulate, and only then apply for the Single Permit.
The Polish government stated that the changes are intended to ensure fair wages, protect the local labour market, and align foreign worker remuneration with living costs in Poland.
Employers and foreign workers are advised to review current contracts and upcoming permit applications to ensure compliance with the new regulations before the deadlines take effect.
