I recently received the following question on my website:
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Dear Joe,
Next year, I will be working in Warsaw permanently. Currently I have a passport and living in Sweden as a permanent resident.
Can you tell me about work permits in Poland?
Thanks, Vince
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It was interesting, since Vince may be able to qualify for a special permit that he didn't even know about... The permanent EU residency permit. (
here's a few more details) In fact, very few people know about it!
I told Vince that Council Directive 2003/109/EC of 25 November 2003 says that if you qualify, you can move between any EU member state (except Ireland, Denmark or the United Kingdom) with nearly the same rights as European nationals. Sweden and Poland are signed up to this Directive, and he may (emphasis on may) be able to use it to move to Poland, without having to get a work permit. Now, I know that Sweden is giving out these EU-level permanent residency permits (if you meet the right conditions, and it sounds like you do). The trick is, though to find out if Poland is allowing those permits holders to actually work without permits or not. It's up to individual countries to decide how they want to implement the Directive.
The Netherlands, for example, tells people that they not only need a work permit, but have to pay Euro 880 for a residency permit. (For a country that says that it wants talented expats, you have to wonder...) Other countries want you to have a work contract and housing (among other things), but don't impose such conditions. (The next edition of the DIY Expat Guide will highlight individual countries and how they see the EU permanent residency permit.)
One of the things to keep in mind if that some countries have a local permanent residency card an the EU one as well.
