Who is exempt from needing a Polish single permit to work?

The single permit is the standard route for third-country nationals who need both residence and work authorisation. However, Polish law lists categories of foreigners who already have access to the labour market and therefore do not need this combined permit.

These can include graduates of full-time studies at Polish institutions, beneficiaries of international protection, and people holding certain other residence permits such as those for researchers or for family reunification. If you fall into an exempt group, you may be able to work on a different basis, so it is worth checking your status before applying for a single permit you may not require.