Is it possible to go to Poland. How to move to live and work in Poland - legal options. Basic medical care is free

Mobility! The car is always available and there is no need to wait for the arrival of a bus or train, purchase tickets, link your schedule to the public transport schedule, etc.

The traveler can independently build a route, change it, there is no connection to transfers and other inconveniences.

In general, a trip by car to Poland costs 10-15% cheaper than a train or bus. The savings compared to air travel are even more significant.

The main requirement for the car is technical serviceability. Customs officers pay special attention to the work of headlights(low beam must be on around the clock!), So it's better to stock up on extra bulbs.

There may be problems with the obvious violation of the integrity of the car - there were cases when travelers were turned around when crossing the Polish border due to impressive cracks in the windshield or damage to the body. Correction of these shortcomings must be taken care of before the trip.

When traveling in winter, be aware that studded tires are prohibited in Poland! The use of various "anti-radar" and similar equipment is also not allowed.

In addition to the requirements of the laws of Poland and the EU, there are also common sense arguments: you have to drive more than one thousand kilometers, which means that you need to carry out all routine maintenance and full maintenance of your car.

What to prepare for a trip on your own transport?

Standard kit consisting of a first aid kit and a fire extinguisher, an emergency sign and a spare wheel. It is very important to check the status of expiration dates.! Expired medicines or a fire extinguisher will be considered unsuitable by customs officers and may not let the car through.

There are other requirements that drivers are not so familiar with. Polish regulations prohibit getting out of the car at night outside the city limits without a vest with reflective stripes. Therefore, the presence of such vests will be checked at customs.

There are two important points related to this:

The number of vests must match the number of passengers. These accessories must be present for both infants and people with reduced mobility.
Vests must be placed in the car. Their presence in the trunk does not count and raises the question: “How are you going to get to the trunk if you can’t leave the car without a vest?”.

One more thing about winter tires. Studs are prohibited, but in cases of snowy roads it is allowed to use chains on the car.

Documents on the car

The entire generally accepted package of documents, of course, is required:

Rights. Moreover, if national documents are not recognized abroad, you should take care of obtaining an international certificate. Belarus, Poland, Russia and Ukraine are signatories to the 1968 Vienna Convention on the Recognition of National Rights, so replacement of certificates is not required.
Vehicle registration certificate.
If management takes place by proxy - the relevant documents.
International car insurance.

Documents for passengers

The list of necessary items may vary depending on the purpose of the trip to Poland, but must always include:

with a correctly issued and currently valid visa;
if you are going to work;
for every visitor.

Where can I cross the border with Poland by car?

From the territory of Ukraine you can get to Poland through 5 road border crossings(in a pair of the first settlement of Ukraine, the second - Poland):

Yagodin - Dorogusk;
Smilnitsa - Krostsenko;
Shegini - Medyka;
Rava-Russian - Grebenne;
Krakovets - Korcheva;
Ustilug - Zosin.

Passenger vehicles are allowed to enter Poland at all crossings, there is a restriction for heavy vehicles: Ustilug passes only cars up to 3.5 tons.

For Belarusians

Motor vehicles leave Belarus through the following points:

Domachevo - Slovatics;
Berestovitsa - Bobrovniki;
Kozlovichi - Kukuryki;
Brest - Terespol;
Peschatka - Polovtsy;
Bruzgi - Forge Belostotskaya.

Please note that crossing the Belarusian-Polish border through Kozlovichi is possible only for trucks.

Russian

Russia has a border with Poland only through the exclave of the Kaliningrad region. If travelers live in this region, then it is not difficult to resolve the issue through automobile points:

Bagrationovsk - Bezledy;
Mamonovo - Gronovo (up to 6.5 tons);
Mamonovo II - Grzechotki;
Gusev (Ozersk) - Goldap.

From other territories, crossing the Russian-Polish border is possible through Belarus or Ukraine.

So, let's figure out how to cross the border.

The procedure for crossing the border begins with a trivial queue of cars.

It is necessary to wait for the approach of the customs officer from the departure side.

Issuing a ticket, checking the car and documents

The customs officer will specify the number of passengers and be sure to issue a control card- a document that will indicate the parameters of the car, people, date and time. The coupon will be needed at all stages of the border crossing, so be sure to check the correctness of its filling.

All marks in the document are entered by customs officers - neither the driver nor the passengers fill in anything in it.

The next stage is the Polish customs. In principle, the process is identical (checking the car, documents, marking in the ticket), but the control can be more thorough, and, therefore, take more time.

Baggage check

It is very important to know what is allowed for import into Poland and what is strictly prohibited. The presence of prohibited items(products) may be the basis for a ban on entry.

What to pay attention to?

After passing all the checks, it is imperative to check the correctness of filling out the documents, personal data of passengers and the vehicle.

As practice shows, it is not uncommon for customs to forget to put stamps on entry and exit. This needs to be controlled.

Some features of the traffic rules of Poland have already been mentioned, but it is worth dwelling on this in more detail:

Vests with reflective elements are required.
The movement must be accompanied by a lit dipped beam, but during daylight hours running lights are allowed.
The use of the front fog lamps is only permitted in rain or fog.
Rear fog lights may be switched on when visibility is up to 50 m (otherwise a fine of PLN 100).
The speed limit within the city is limited to 50 km/h, but from 11 pm to 05 am the limit increases to 60 km/h.
Outside residential areas, the speed limit is usually up to 90 km/h, but there are also roads with restrictions up to 100-140 km/h.
Fines for exceeding the speed limit are about PLN 115, for violations of more than 10 km/h. When exceeding 50 km / h. and more threatens deprivation of rights up to 3 months.
On some routes, the speed is limited to two limits. For example, not more than 140 km/h, but not less than 40 km/h.
PLN 200 you will have to pay for overtaking on a zebra crossing (pedestrian crossing). The same penalty is imposed for overtaking on the right, violation of the markings (two continuous) and obstruction of public transport.
PLN 300 there is an exit to an intersection where traffic is difficult.
Incorrect parking will cost PLN 400, and taking a place intended for a disabled person is estimated at PLN 800.
Don't let a pedestrian pass is priced at PLN 350.
Unfastened seat belt - PLN 100
Talking on the phone without hands free – PLN 200
Transportation of children is allowed only in a special chair in the back seat - a fine of PLN 150.

There is an opinion that In Poland, a small amount of alcohol is allowed while driving. Indeed, the allowable rate is 0.2 prom.

However, even a small dose of alcohol can show great results!

Sanctions for serious violations:

for the interval 0.21 - 0.5 prom., a fine of PLN 5,000 and deprivation of rights from three years;
for large indicators - 10,000 and deprivation for the same period.

Toll highways in Poland

High-speed autobahns are a convenient, but paid opportunity to travel by car. Average rates are 20 groszy per 1 km. Payment is collected at the entrance to the highway (toll section) - in cash in zlotys, euros or dollars, as well as by credit cards.

Another way to collect fees is to pay at the exit from the toll section. In this case, upon entry, the driver is obliged to receive a special receipt, keep it until departure, and, on its basis, make payment at the end of the route.

There are currently three highways:

A1 Gdansk-Torun (PLN 29.90 for the entire route);
A2 Vasava-Swiecko (PLN 78.90 for the entire journey);
A4 Zgorzelec - Krakow (PLN 36.20 for the entire highway).

A car trip to Poland is convenient and easy. If you study all the details of passing the border and the rules of conduct within the country, you will be able to have a good time without being distracted by problems.

We told you about all the nuances of this process. But if some details remain unclear - ask in the comments and leave your feedback.

In contact with

The advantage of such a trip is savings. A trip to Poland on your own car is delightfully cheap. A week's rest, including gasoline (which is more expensive than ours), toll roads in Belarus and Poland, paid parking, hotels, restaurants and entertainment - will cost 50 euros per person per day. And if you still spend the night in campsites and eat semi-finished products, you can even meet 25. Here, there is no limit to perfection!

Not to mention the complete freedom to manage time and position in space is also a pleasant state, and it is worth a lot.

However, embarking on this venture, it is necessary to think over and prepare in advance. We offer you a win-win algorithm of actions that should precede your trip. So that it brings you only pleasant surprises, and does not turn into a continuous “resolving” of various kinds and degrees of severity of problems.

1.Route

First of all, we determine the route. Literally - from the threshold and ... where the soul calls. Decide after consulting with friends and acquaintances, after surfing the Web in the evenings, leafing through colorful guidebooks and albums ... - where you want to go. This is the first - and most serious - step.

We will tell you that northern Poland is good for a beach holiday - the soft Baltic coast with moderate temperatures and cool water, picturesque beaches. These are routes for the summer, passing through the ancient coastal cities of Gdansk, Solot, Slupsk, Gdynia.
And in winter they will beckon you, and the most popular of them is Zakopane.

Poland literally breathes with living history, all of it is an embodied chronicle of centuries - from knightly times to the present day. very, very diverse and numerous, because no matter what city you take, there will definitely be a historical monument in it, and more than one. In order to get acquainted with the history and culture of Poland, you should definitely visit Warsaw. Then come Krakow, again Gdansk, located in the heart of the country Lodz, Poznań, living evidence of the Polish Renaissance, and of course, the ancient capital - Gniezno.

To the attention of the most inquisitive and energetic! Do not even try to embrace this immense splendor in one trip. Poland is too big to discover in a week's vacation. Decide what you would like to see first. .

For a complete acquaintance with the country, it is better all the same. For a complete acquaintance with the country, it is better to buy a sightseeing tour. Then the trip will be arranged in an optimal way so that in the minimum time you get the maximum impressions from this trip.

2. Book a hotel

Ideally, you need to book hotels in advance in all cities through which the route will run. This is not easy to do, there are too many factors to consider. If you entrust this part of the preparation to a travel agency, you will gain time and save energy.

In any case, it is necessary to book a hotel in advance, where you will arrive first, once in Poland. Because confirmation of the reservation from the hotel will be required for visa processing.

3. Issuance of a visa

It is not difficult for Russians to obtain a visa to Poland. To do this, you need to contact the embassy or consulate of the Republic of Poland. In order not to stand in queues and not waste time on working days before a vacation, order a visa from a tour operator. It is not much more expensive, and if you are traveling with the whole family or a large company, discounts on this service are possible, and for very little money you will gain time and save energy, which will be useful for both preparation and travel.

The best part is that Poland is part of the Schengen zone, which means that after receiving a visa to Poland, you can proceed to any European country of the Schengen agreement. Therefore, many experienced car tourists have chosen Poland as an ideal start for a big trip around Europe.

4.Documents required for travel

So, in addition to the visa, you need:

Green card and medical insurance for the Republic of Belarus (purchased at the Russia-Belarus border). Green card and health insurance for Poland (bought at the border in Brest).

However, if you are transiting through Poland, medical insurance is not required. In the absence of medical insurance, entering the territory of Poland, you must have 300 zlotys per person per day (this is about 75 euros).

If you are accompanied by a child, and you are not a parent or the second parent is not with you, then you need a notarized permission to take the child abroad.

Driver license. Not necessarily international. Enough Russian.

Registration certificate. Attention! The owner of the vehicle must be present. Even if he's not driving. But management by proxy in the absence of the owner will not work.

Car: no tinting, especially on the front doors. Entry on studded tires is prohibited. Don't forget the first aid kit. And be sure to remove radar detectors and other tricks. The Polish traffic police will not forgive you for this.

5. What else to take with you?

Important: restrictions on the import of tobacco products and alcohol. To avoid problems, it is better not to take cigarettes with you in reserve. Gasoline too - only in the gas tank. You can not import some types of food - meat, for example. So finish your sandwiches before crossing the border.

Money. If you have health insurance - 100 zlotys per person per day (about 25 euros) - a minimum. Take 1500 euros with you for a week - you will surely have enough for a family or a small company.

Be sure to buy a road map of Europe in Moscow - it is difficult to find it in Poland.

6. How to go?

From Moscow it is easier to go along the M1 highway to Brest itself. Border crossing - Brest-Terespol. There are more border guards here, which means that the queue moves faster. From Moscow to the border, the journey is 11-12 hours. The transition procedure takes from half an hour to four hours - depending on the time of day and day (weekends, holidays, weekdays). It is best to cross at 2-3 am - there are almost no people. South of Brest there is a passage to Domachevo. There are fewer queues, but there are also few border guards, so the time is longer than in Brest itself.

When asked about the purpose of the trip, the answer is tourism. Present your passport with a visa. Show a printout of the email as confirmation from the hotel.

And now you are in Poland. Be careful on the narrow Polish roads, follow the rules of the road and use common sense. We hope that these tips will make your trip easier and allow you to devote maximum attention and time to active recreation, vivid impressions and wonderful discoveries. Bon Voyage!

Modern realities, namely the sharp depreciation of the national currency, force Ukrainians to seriously consider the option of leaving to work in Poland in order to find a decent wage.

Why exactly Poland? Main criteria:

Relatively easy to get permission
Not far to go
Easy-to-understand language of the Slavic group
The level of remuneration (salary in Ukraine - from 100 Euro / in Poland - from $ 700 Euro)

GDP in Poland shows a record growth among European countries - over 4%. Compare with other countries - in France this figure is 3.7%, in Italy - 0.8%, and in Germany, which is considered the strongest economy in Europe - 0.9%.

Another factor that made us look towards Europe is the need to obtain a patent for work from January 1, 2015 for “migrant workers” who went to work in Russia (and this is about 6 million of our compatriots), and the depreciation of the Russian ruble played an important role. In a word, it has become profitable to earn abroad and spend at home.

"To go or not to go?" - that is the question

Since 2007, the registration procedure has been simplified. Citizens of other countries are required to obtain a work permit, and for Ukrainians, an invitation from an employer is sufficient. In addition, today Poland is the only country in the European Union that issues work visas and legally accepts workers from Ukraine.

Neither the Czech Republic, nor Germany, nor Canada, and even more so the United States, are waiting for labor migrants from our country, unless you are an outstanding scientist or a specialist of the highest class. Want to make sure? Just call the Ministry of Social Policy and specify to which EU country how many work visas were issued by our fellow citizens over the past year and all questions will disappear by themselves.

Today, everyone who has been affected by the crisis is traveling from Ukraine to Poland – both middle managers and leaders and teachers, everyone needs work. And here lies the first unpleasant surprise. If you have worked in an office in your home country, this does not mean that you will get a similar position in Poland. Work in the specialty is the lot of technical specialists (programmers, turners, drivers), where knowledge of the language is not the main requirement.

The first job in Poland for a humanitarian or office worker is a laborer or any other job that does not require high qualifications (factories, warehouses, etc.).

However, if you are not used to physical labor, it will be difficult for you at first, and many simply cannot cope with the “sense of self-importance” and return. You should not judge life and work in Poland by videos from social networks, in fact everything is much more prosaic. If you are not ready for drastic changes in your life - think again, maybe you should not be disappointed and it is better to look for good luck at home.

Important! Without knowledge of the language and experience, earning above the minimum wage (PLN 8-10 per hour) will be very difficult, if not impossible. Yes, there are exceptions, but it's better not to count on them.

Reviews about earnings in Poland:

I have decent experience in earning money abroad, I have visited many places: Italy, Germany, Poland. However, the best option for me was to work in Poland on road construction. The work cannot be called easy, but the salary is decent - more than 4,000 zlotys per month (although you had to pay about 600 zlotys separately for accommodation and meals). Working day - from 6 am to 4 pm. I will definitely go again next season. Andrey, 44 years old, Rivne

Who better not go to work in Poland?

Let's face the truth! If you have been sitting in the office all your life and are afraid of physical labor, if you are waiting for a miracle in the form of a well-paid job where you can “not strain”, immediately upon arrival, Poland is not for you.

Poland is waiting and will not disappoint those who want and love to work. Here we welcome those who will work and develop, invest in themselves, their education and future. I hope these lines will help you make the right decision and prevent another negative review from appearing on the Internet.

How to go to Poland for work?

To officially leave for Poland to work, a Ukrainian must, which gives the right to stay and work on the territory of the state for 180 days in a year 180/365 (or 90 days in a half year).

There are few options for obtaining such a visa:

Option 1. Departure by invitation to work

To obtain a visa to the consulate or embassy of Poland in Ukraine, you must provide an invitation to work from a Polish employer with a mark from the voivode.

You can get this permission:

By contacting an intermediary (recruitment agency for finding work abroad)
By independently contacting an employer in Poland and convincing him to send you an invitation

Option 2. Obtaining an annual visa D (360/360) based on the POLE'S CARD

It is no secret that a significant percentage of the population of Ukraine (especially those from the western and central regions) and Belarus are of Polish origin, that is, their close relatives (parents or grandparents) were Poles by nationality.

If you can confirm the fact of having Polish roots, according to the law, you have the right to receive the so-called POLE CARD (KARTA POLAKA), and on its basis a long-term national visa free of charge.

In addition, the Pole's card makes it possible to obtain permanent residence under a simplified procedure and subsequently Polish citizenship.

Read more : and is it possible to get such a card without Polish origin?

These are not all ways to go to work in Poland, but the options given are the least expensive in terms of finances and time.

Where to go to work in Poland?

There are enough vacancies for our compatriots. There are offers, both for qualified employees, and the opportunity to get a job that does not require qualifications. The Poles are happy to hire Ukrainians - because they have to pay less than the local population. The Polish workers themselves go to Ireland, Sweden, Austria, where wages are higher.

Here is a list of the most popular vacancies with working conditions, requirements and average salaries -

Four universities in Russia, moved to Poland and did not regret it. Big Village publishes her honest story about employment, paperwork, income and price levels: why Poland is the best European country to live in and Warsaw is the city of dreams.

Reasons for moving

I always wanted to leave Russia - however, I dreamed of America, but life brought me to a completely different country. At that time, I worked as a web designer for about a year, lived with my fiancé and two cats, and slowly drowned in a routine. From time to time I was pulled to move to Kaliningrad, then to Odessa, then somewhere else, just not to hang around in nauseating Samara with an unbearably cold winter and the cult of Zhiguli beer.

One day I saw a design studio in an illustration competition for Vkontakte and just fell in love. It turned out that these were Ukrainian guys working in Warsaw. At first I just wrote them an admiring review. Then for another week now and then I looked at their work - and could not tear myself away. Then I thought: why not? In three nights after work, I built myself a portfolio of the highest level that I was capable of, honestly explaining my goals and desires, namely, to grow under the wing of people who inspire me. A year and a half later, the manager of the company will tell me that even then he and his boss realized that I was the person you could rely on. I think that's why the boss then decided to hire me, although my level frankly did not reach their work.

We did two test weeks, and after that I started to prepare for the move. When I told my mother that I was doing a portfolio for a company in Warsaw, she was not enthusiastic about this, but later admitted that she knew from the very beginning that I would succeed, and she was sad to realize the impending separation. I am very grateful to her for the fact that she morally let me go.

Paperwork

The company sent me a work invitation, with which I went to apply for a national visa type D, which allows me to live and work in Poland for six months. To receive it, you don’t need anything unusual: an application, photos, a passport, medical insurance, and an invitation, of course - without it you can’t even travel later - they may not be allowed back. Insurance is needed with coverage of at least €30,000, but it costs about three thousand rubles and it is enough to do it for some time from the moment of entry, and deal with the rest on the spot.

Now the fees for issuing a visa in Samara are approximately four thousand rubles (60 euros). Intermediary agencies ask for about eight thousand, but you can collect the entire package of documents yourself. True, my employer helped me a lot with advice - not everyone is so lucky, so if you are not confident in your abilities, it may be worth overpaying.

When the visa expires, you make a "stay card" (Karta Pobytu) - a document that gives you the right to live and work in Poland and move freely within the Schengen area. This card is made for a period of one and a half to three years and can be extended. If you lose your job, you get a month to find a new one. The only problem is that the production of this card takes longer than the promised three months - sometimes up to six months. All this time you can stay in Poland with a special stamp in your passport, but you cannot leave the country - this is how I traveled a good half of Polish cities.

Moving and finding housing

I traveled by train via Moscow. I chose the train for two reasons: firstly, I hate fussing with luggage on planes, and secondly, I would have to take the cat to the luggage compartment, and this is inhumane.

By the way, the cat also had to make documents: a veterinary passport with a rabies vaccination at least a month old and a veterinary certificate from the Rosselkhoznadzor with a Euro supplement. I steadfastly endured the feline bureaucracy, which turned out to be a novelty in our city, and in return the cat steadfastly endured a long and difficult trip. Travel time was about thirty hours.

On the day of my arrival, the boss (!) met me at the station, and we went all day to look at the apartments. Before the arrival of each new employee, our super-boss looks for all available options, arranges viewings, and then drives with the new employee in his car, helps to move in, fill out the contract and comply with other formalities. In the evening, we chose a wonderful one-room apartment for me with a clean entrance, a concierge and a gorgeous view of the city - there were even windows in the bathroom!

My first apartment cost 1,700 zlotys (27,000 rubles), the next - in a slightly better area - 2,100 zlotys (33,500 rubles), now we pay about 2600-2900 zlotys (41,000-46,000 rubles) for a kopeck piece for two, the price varies depending on the communal apartment .

It should be borne in mind that here you always need to make a deposit in the amount of the cost of one month of rent, that is, at first be prepared to pay double the price. In addition, now there are few apartments from the owners, so it is worth preparing another 50% of the rental price for agency services.

I was looking for the second and third apartments on my own - there are quite convenient sites here (www.olx.pl, www.gratka.pl, www.gumtree.pl). Poles love cats, so renting a house with them is not a problem. Another question is that if the beast spoils something, the owner will have to pay for it. But with a dog it can be more difficult.

Income and price level

My medical insurance cost 450 zł (7,100 rubles) for six months - this is a basic package without highly specialized specialists such as an oncologist, for example, but with all the main doctors and tests, even ultrasound. And, of course, dentistry is not included in any package, so it is worth treating your teeth in advance. There are also monthly insurance options, as well as free public clinics, but you need to make an appointment with doctors there for several months.

Now we have insurance from the company, so we won't have to pay for medicine anymore. And the company fully covers taxes, so we get a salary already taking into account all deductions.

The cost of food very much depends on what and where to eat. I make about 1,000 zlotys (16,000 rubles) a month, despite the fact that I hardly cook at home and eat every day in a cafe.

A monthly travel card costs 110 zlotys (1,700 rubles) or you need to pay 4.40 (70 rubles) for one trip of 75 minutes on any type of transport. There are no conductors at all - everything is on your conscience. Controllers can swoop in at any moment and issue a fine for stowaways for 400 złoty (6,000 rubles).

Initially, I had with me the amount of my first remote salary - about 70,000 rubles, plus about the same amount of savings. There was enough money to pay for an apartment and a deposit, as well as for the first month of a comfortable life. Now I earn significantly more, besides, the company recently introduced bonuses for employees.

In total, my income is enough for a life in which I have to deny myself nothing, as well as for travel. This is financial heaven! In Samara, I barely reached the salary of 25,000 rubles and constantly counted money, and during the first year in Poland I bought myself an iPhone, a MacBook, visited five countries, completely updated my wardrobe. Now I don’t care much about buying clothes, appliances or products often - most of the funds are spent on traveling and developing my hobbies and skills.

Food and entertainment

Products in Poland differ from Russian ones: instead of pierogi dumplings - fatty Polish dumplings, instead of shawarma - Turkish kebab; there is no normal borscht, Lays chips with cheese, some Russian-made sweets, doctor's sausage, Borodino bread, condensed milk. But there are a lot of good and tasty products: pastries, sweets, cheeses, fresh vegetables, berries and fruits - including exotic ones. At the same time, Polish cuisine itself is so-so: sour soups, dough mixed with potatoes, a lot of fried meat - I don’t like that.

In Poland, they are attentive to vegetarians and vegans: there are special departments with gluten-free and bio-food in the shops, and vegan cafes on the streets. There is just an endless number of kebab, Indian restaurants and food with a huge amount of spices - Varsovians love Eastern and Middle Eastern cuisine. But sushi is not very popular and good ones are hard to find.

I really like that there are many affordable cafes in Warsaw - much more than pretentious restaurants. There are quite cheap ones, for example, Bar Mleczny - a local analogue of a canteen where you can buy disgusting soup for 3 zlotys (50 rubles) - homeless people often hang around there. But there are also simply cozy places where you can have an inexpensive and tasty lunch in a beautiful interior. When my mother came to visit me, she was surprised that everyone here constantly sits in cafes, and some even stand in line.

Poles have fun just like Russians - at parties, concerts, in cafes; but it is not customary to visit here. A lot of people keep dogs and play with them in the park. They generally love animals here: there is almost a queue for volunteering in shelters.

Language and mentality

I arrived completely without knowledge of the language and at first I begged my colleagues to make orders for me in a cafe. But they were relentless. I had to overcome the panic and order myself. And this turned out to be the most correct tactic: any language learns faster when you speak it.

Contrary to stereotypes, Polish cannot be learned overnight. It seems to Russians that they understand it by ear, but it is no less nuanced than in any other language, and you run the risk of sitting in a puddle at the first mention of the word sklep (shop) or uroda (beauty). My colleagues and I hired a teacher who comes to our office twice a week in the evenings. Now, a year and a half later, I speak Polish normally. I calmly solve medical, financial and other everyday issues, make purchases, I can read not very complicated literature, documents and recipes. And I can still read the name Grzegorz Brzęczyszczykiewicz - this is my personal pride.

My level could be much higher if I communicated with the Poles more often. Alas, I never found any friends among them, and Ukrainian society is very relaxing. Ukrainians are the official national minority of Poland, and recently there are especially many of them: I catch myself thinking that I hear Ukrainian and Russian on the streets and in shops as often as Polish. I cut my hair with a Ukrainian, work with Ukrainians, do theater and vocals with Ukrainians, maximum with Belarusians.

Poles are somewhat reminiscent of Russians - they also drink vodka and yell at football, but there are more differences. This is a surprisingly educated and cultured nation. Intelligence is especially noticeable when communicating with children - here it is an absolute norm to say to a child: “Daughter, I love you so much, you are the joy of my life,” and the remarks sound like: “Beloved, please don’t scream.” Schoolchildren also behave much more cultured than Russians: they speak very cleanly and competently, make moderate noise and behave more like adults.

Poland is not a huge, but very diverse country: there is a sea, mountains, and unrealistically beautiful lakes. I have visited completely different Polish cities, and each has something interesting in its own way. I liked Gdansk the most - I advise everyone who loves the cold sea, ships and breathtaking architecture to visit there.

From Poland it is quite easy to travel around Europe: on planes or buses. Ticket prices are always available and traveling to Austria, Germany, Sweden or Denmark for the weekend is in the order of things. Yes, and you can fly to England for 500 rubles (however, after suffering with a visa).

At the same time, of all the European countries I have been to, I like Poland the most as a place to live: a temperate climate, security, good infrastructure, pleasant architecture and society. I still think about moving further west in the future, but I no longer want to mindlessly take off from my place, because it really is nice to live here.

Relocation options

There are many different ways to move, legal and illegal - ranging from invitations of fictitious employers (not our method), to official residence based on national roots. There are quite a lot of people with Polish roots in Russia and Ukraine, so if you have a Polish grandmother or grandfather (great-grandparents are also good), you can apply for a "Polish card" - it's almost citizenship. After living here for 5 years on any legal grounds, you get a "steel residence card" - this is also almost citizenship, which opens the door to life in the European Union.

If it didn’t work out with relatives, you can, like me, get a work invitation from a specific employer. For freelancers there is a business incubator that provides official employment in Poland, legal services, accountants and the right to live in the country.

There is an option to enter a certain type of educational institution (Szkoła Policealna), where attendance is not checked - not so much in order to study, but simply to get the opportunity to gain a foothold in Poland, having settled for the first time as a courier or worker. But you can officially enter the university. Contrary to the myths about crazy European education, a year of study in some universities here costs 3,500 zlotys (56,000 rubles). It is much cheaper than even provincial universities in Russia. True, you need to be ready to study in Polish. You can also speak English, however, knowing Polish, you can apply for a budget place or a scholarship - quite tangible bonuses.

Is it worth it to go to Poland for work? What are the advantages and disadvantages to consider? How are foreign workers treated there? In this article, we will try to talk about all the pros/cons of looking for a job in Poland.

What are the benefits of working/employment in Poland?

Higher standard of living and higher wages

The average nominal salary in the country is 1,000 euros (this is about 700-900 euros “net”. But these are only the amounts that the Poles can count on. They don’t really like that kind of money, so the Poles actively go to work in the EU countries. To to compensate for the lack of jobs, they invite foreigners (Belarusians, Russians, Ukrainians). Foreigners can expect a salary of about 300-500 euros in blue-collar occupations and a little higher in "intellectual" ones. This is much higher than the average "net" wage in Belarus and Ukraine.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Poland needs "golden hands" seamstresses, locksmiths, installers, finishers, builders. There are many vacancies in the service sector (cleaners, waiters, kitchen workers). Most vacancies do not require any special skills, no higher education certificates, or other documents. Therefore, here it turns out a kind of "paradise for workers." Employees engaged in the field of intellectual labor ("white collars") are also in demand. But the same programmers or financiers can work in other Eurozone countries and get much more.

Language understandable for Belarusians, Ukrainians and Russians

If you know Belarusian or Ukrainian, you will be able to understand 30-40% of speech by ear without any preparation. In the course of work, you will “tighten up” the language a little (if you wish), and then you will begin to understand it without any problems at all. The Poles themselves like to work with Ukrainians and Belarusians, because we are close both culturally and linguistically. Not so long ago, Poland began to invite Moldovans to work, but there were problems with them.

Territorial proximity

From Kyiv to Warsaw, about 800 km, from Minsk to Warsaw - a little less than 500 km, from Moscow - 1,200 km. This allows you to quickly get to the country in any way: bus, fixed-route taxi, plane, train. It turns out that you can get home from Poland in less than 1 day.

Opportunity to obtain Polish citizenship or open a business

If you OFFICIALLY WORK in the country for 5 years without leaving the territory of the state, you will be able to apply for citizenship. You can also open your own business in the country.

Basic medical care is free

Of course, foreign workers want to be sure that everything will be fine. Today, medical care in the country is provided to everyone without exception. So in case of an industrial injury, you will not be left without a doctor. In 2018, a special State trust fund will begin to operate, the funds from which will be used to finance medical care for foreign workers.

Favorable conditions with the Pole's Card

Not everyone has them, but only those who have Polish roots (+ confirmed them in due course). The cards have been issued since 2008 and offer the following benefits:

Multiple entry visa to visit the country (which is beneficial for foreign workers).
Free registration of a residence permit on a permanent basis.
Simplified procedure for getting a job / starting a business (you do not need to obtain any additional permits).

Full access to medicine and education

And from January 2017, the Polish authorities will also give money to those who have received the right to permanent residence. It is envisaged that "financial support" will be provided for 9 months. For the first 3 months you will receive PLN 925 for "pocket expenses", and for the next six months - PLN 555 each.

Legal employment in trusted companies

If you get a job legally, you get not only a “social package”, but also free accommodation. Of course, the conditions are not five-star, but you won’t have to pay for housing out of your own pocket. Some companies practice the so-called "communal payment", which is about $100 per person.

Quality and affordable food

They cost less than in Russia and Belarus, but their quality is much higher. They say that you can still admire the historical and cultural sights. But people who came to earn money simply do not have time for this. They work 12 hours a day, 6 days a week.

Everything can be described beautifully, but you are making an important decision. Therefore, we must say right away: there are also disadvantages.

What are the disadvantages of employment in Poland? What do you need to be prepared for?

Illegal work and risks

Reception of foreign workers for a Polish employer is fraught with serious difficulties:

It is necessary to register such an employee, register, receive all documents and approvals.
It is necessary to conclude a contract with the migrant and pay him the minimum amount established in the country.
You will have to comply with labor laws, work and rest schedules, organization of work and other nuances.

Therefore, it is easier for pracownik fizyczny to work “according to the gray scheme”. There were even cases when workers from Belarus or Ukraine were “thrown” with payment. However, this risk is always present.

Bad living conditions

High risks and feeling of powerlessness

In Poland, you are still a “stranger”. If they make the slightest change in migration policy or labor law, you will suffer. If you break the law, you will simply be “expelled”.

Heavy work schedule

Most often, in seasonal jobs or with "gray" employment, you will plow "from dusk to dawn." There may not be time for a cultural program and a banal vacation. This is especially true for harvesting cabbages/berries/apples (your employer needs to finish everything as quickly as possible).

We tried to clarify the advantages and disadvantages of employment in Poland in this article. Perhaps you have experience of working in Poland?