O. R. SalahudeenLIVING AND WORKING IN POLAND – NON-EU CITIZENS
Here we at facts36.com are delighted to analysing to you comprehensively living and working in Poland, especial for non-EU citizens.
Poland a member of the European Union situated in Eastern Europe, is becoming a preferred destination for many young people willing to study and stay for employment and some considering long term relocation, due to improved quality of life currently prevailing in Poland. Because things are changing quickly and Poland is rapidly expanding economically, which is creating a lot of opportunities and life is good.
As chances of employment opportunities are becoming narrower and the chance of getting a decent job becoming slimmer in Western and Northern Europe, it’s about time any hard-working guy start thinking seriously of better alternative destinations to realise their dream. Aside from the language difficulty, you may encounter at the onset, Poland presented to you workable alternatives due to the flexibility of the system. Any determined foreigner can navigate his way to success if the right approach is followed diligently, hence the main purpose of this piece.
ADVANTAGES OF CHOOSING POLAND
1. For foreigners coming to Poland to study, the school fees are relatively cheap compared to other advanced economies. About €2,000- €5,000 per academic year, may be enough to pay for your school fees.
2. Cost of living is not expensive.
3. There are employment opportunities for non-EU citizens currently in the IT sector of the economy.
4. Foreign students are allowed to work without a working permit.
5. The greatest advantage of choosing Poland is that you don’t have to exit Poland after graduation. Hence you don’t need a special work permit to work. All you need is your student residence permit to stay and work as long as your heart desired.
6. Living and working in Poland you’re safe because the rate of crime in Poland is considerably low.
7. Although there is a language barrier, you can move freely and communicate with people because many Polish do speak English fluently.
8. Life in Poland is very pleasant, generally, people are friendly and discriminations are not on the high side.
9. As a member of the Schengen agreement, your visa is valid and usable in all western European countries. You are free to travel to most of the member States and beyond, the choice is yours.
LIVING AND WORKING IN POLAND – NON-EU CITIZENS
For any highly determined foreigner who is interested in living and working in Poland, there are 3 viable options readily available worth considerations:
1. Obtain a work visa
2. Go on a short-term visa
3. Use the study to stay approach
LIVING AND WORKING IN POLAND – OBTAINING WORK VISA For a qualified person willing to relocate to Poland, a work visa is a prerequisite to work in Poland. A work visa is a straightforward option in living and working in Poland. All non-EU immigrants are expected to process it right from their country of residence before departure for Poland to qualify for a work permit.
HOW TO PROCESS A WORK VISA:
The foremost thing to do is to search for a job using the following technic:
1. Search the internet: Start searching for job vacancies in Poland by yourself. If you cannot do it alone, there are many links on the Internet you can make use of such as Sagar Recruitment, Migrant Service, Europe Solutions Polska, Helpers, Human Resources International Polska, Doc International Poland, Recruitment International Poland, Work Wonders, Diverse Consulting Group, Europeople International etc.
2. Employ the service of a licensed agent in your country, to assist in searching for jobs of your choice, provided you can trust them and be ready to pay for their service. Be careful some may be exploitative and unreliable. These are mister know it all, that usually delivers nothing good.
3. If you have a reliable relative or friend in Poland or a nearby country beg them to assist you because they are in a better position to know the existing job vacancies in the right company or organisation in Poland. Because of the fact that they do understand the terrain and have sound knowledge of the current happening in that area, all things being equal, they’re in a better position to get you a job offer. If you succeeded in getting a job offer from Poland, the next step is to apply for a work visa from your country of residence.
HOW TO APPLY FOR POLAND WORK VISA
1. Download the Polish work visa application form online.
2. Carefully fill in your details in the online application form.
3. Attach the following documents: 1. Your International passport with at least 12 months validity and unused visa pages. 2. Original copy of the acceptance of the offer from a company in Poland 4. Photocopy of the data page of your passport. 5. Two recently acquired passport sized photographs. 6. Evidence of accommodation arranged by you or your employer. 7. Evidence of flight booking. 8. Evidence of health travel insurance. 9. Photocopies of all documents used in processing the job applied for. 10. Evidence of basic travelling allowance. 11. Documents from your employer confirming the necessity of long-term employment. 12. Evidence of Police clearance certificate.
Please note that all documents must be duly authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
After the collation of all the required documents please be sure you submit them personally at the Polish Embassy in your country of residence. Please note the following at the point of submission:
1. Pay the visa application processing fees and biometrics charges.
2. Do the biometric fingerprint scans.
3. Be sure you tender an active email address for correspondence.
4. Enquire about the possible date of an interview because it is a long-term visa.
5. Make sure you inform your employer about the proceedings.
STILL ON LIVING AND WORKING IN POLAND GO ON SHORT TERM VISA.
The second option is to travel to Poland on a visiting visa if the work visa is difficult to arrange. Importantly, most recruiters in Europe do not take seriously applicant sending a CV by proxy, they preferred physical appearance, therefore if you believe there is a chance of getting a job, it’s advisable you take a short-term visa and go there to pursue the job, that’s the best way to get a quick result. The advantage is that it will allow you the opportunity of attending a job interview and make on the spot assessment of the exact situation on the ground and make a decision.
STILL ON LIVING AND WORKING IN POLAND
STUDY TO STAY APPROACH
If all the quick fixes failed in your struggle to relocate to Poland, it’s advisable to explore the third option, the study to stay approach, which is a realistic approach and sure win possibilities.
This approach involves systematic preparations to Poland by embarking on a course of study you believed strongly will lead to the right employment after graduation.
The downside of this approach is that it involves heavy financial investment. However the future gains out ways the burden of preparations.
The advantages of the study to stay approach include
1. The biggest advantage is the opportunity to study the language. Your ability to learn the language will be of immense benefit in future. Polish is the official language and if you understand it every other thing will fall in place.
2. You will have the chance to know exactly the right course that is required to secure employment in Poland, importantly, you will not study anyhow course.
3. While studying you have the opportunity of working part-time to support your education.
4. If you have all the required documents, obtaining a student visa is usually easier to get than a work visa.
5. Due to the fact that the system allows a graduating student to stay afterwards, you stand a better chance to get a job than an Immigrant coming newly.
6. Studying in Poland will allow you to know the day-to-day happening in the country, nowadays things do change quickly because you’re on the ground you can flow with the tide.
7. If you study in Poland it’s possible to earn a good salary because you have a general knowledge of the country.
8. Because you stayed and study in the country for some time you can choose to be self-employed by processing the necessary paperwork.
9. Finally, if you choose Poland you’re sure of paying lower school fees compared to many Western European countries.
HOW TO PROCESS UNIVERSITY ADMISSION.
If you intend to study in Poland, the first step is to search for a government-approved University or College. Secondly, apply for admission, send your credentials including your test of English scores. If you meet their requirement, a letter of acceptance of the offer will be sent to you. This and other documents are warts you’re to take to the embassy for a students visa application.
HOW TO APPLY FOR A POLAND STUDENT VISA
1. Download the Polish online student visa application form.
2. Carefully complete the form and append your signature.
3. Attach the following required documents:
1. Original copy of the letter of acceptance of offer or student admission.
2. Your International passport with at least 12 months validity and unused visa pages.
3. Photocopy of the data page of your passport.
4. All the credentials used in processing the University offer.
5. Police clearance certificate.
6. Evidence of payment of school fees ( bank transfer, include all Bank details)
7. Evidence of accommodation arranged by the University or yourself.
8. Proof of Flight booking.
9. Two recently taken passport sized photographs.
10. Statement of account for 6 months duly endorsed by the Bank.
11. Statement of the reason for travelling to Poland.
12. Evidence of health insurance certificate.
After the compilation of all the required documents ensure you take them personally to the Polish Embassy in your country of residence:
At the point of submission please note the following:
1. Pay the visa application processing fee.
2. Do the biometric fingerprint scans.
3. Because you’re applying for a long-term visa enquire about the possible date of the interview.
4. Finally, submit your application well ahead of your travel to allow for application processing to avoid disappointment.
CONCLUSION ON LIVING AND WORKING IN POLAND
Regardless of the approach adopted, the important thing is to remain focus on your objective of living and working in Poland. Getting there and be living legally should be the main objective. Importantly, investing in moving to today’s Poland is the right decision, pursue a course of studies that can generate employment in the end should be your priority, therefore go for it.
That’s all for now on living and working in Poland.
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