Minimum Salary Level Increased

The situation

Effective November 1, 2018, the minimum monthly salary for intracompany transferees in Poland has increased an average of 6.1 percent from last year. The actual thresholds vary per province. Thresholds for locally-hired foreign workers are scheduled to increase by 7 percent effective January 1, 2019. Thresholds for EU Blue Card applicants are due to change in February 2019, but the new thresholds have not yet been announced.

A closer look

The thresholds are scheduled to change as follows: 

The above amounts apply to current permit holders, pending applications and new or renewal applications. Employers must increase foreign workers' salaries to comply with the new rules if required. 

Reminders on other requirements

• Benefits and allowances. As before, benefits and allowances may not be included in the minimum salary calculation for locally hired foreign workers. For intracompany transfers, benefits and allowances can be included in the minimum salary calculation provided that the amounts are fixed, paid monthly, and paid directly to the foreign worker's bank account. 
• Currency. As before, employers are required to guarantee the salary in PLN regardless of payroll location and/or exchange rate fluctuations. Salary amounts must be declared in PLN in the work permit application.
• Variable threshold. As before, minimum salary requirements vary based on immigration category, job category and geographic location.
• Margin for intracompany transfers. As before, employers are advised to maintain a safe margin above the above-listed salary amounts for intracompany transfers, since these amounts are updated on a quarterly basis. 
• Sufficient funds. As before, foreign nationals must have sufficient funds to support themselves and any dependents during their stay in Poland.

Looking ahead

Fragomen will report on upcoming minimum salary requirement changes (for example as noted above for the EU Blue Card in February 2019).

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].