Are you planning to hire a foreign national from outside the European Union for your transportation company as an international truck driver? Or perhaps you’re a driver and need to legalize your employment?
In such a case, signing the appropriate contract (whether an employment contract or a civil-law contract) will not be sufficient. In order for a foreign national to work fully legally as a driver, they must complete the necessary administrative procedures.
A foreign national should be granted a temporary residence permit (which may be issued for up to 3 years) in accordance with the provisions of the Act of December 12, 2013, on Foreign Nationals.
When submitting documents to the office responsible for the foreign national’s place of residence in Poland, the application must be accompanied by a valid travel document, photographs taken within the last 6 months, and all necessary documents to verify the information provided in the application. When visiting the office, the foreign national’s fingerprints will be taken.
However, to obtain authorization from a transportation company, it is not enough to simply have a properly signed employment contract or civil law contract. A driver who is not a citizen of the European Union should be aware of the requirements set forth in the Road Transport Act.
In addition to basic documents such as:
– an employment contract or a civil law contract,
– universal health insurance (ZUS) or coverage of a foreign national’s medical expenses by a private insurer
– proof of a stable income
Along with the application, a foreign national must submit documents confirming that he or she is qualified to work as a driver:
- Work Permit
- A driver’s certificate (red form), which is issued by the General Inspectorate of Road Transport at the employer’s request. It confirms that the individual has been legally employed in a third country. When applying for this certificate, the following must be included: a copy of the Community license, a certificate of employment, an identity document (photocopy), insurance, and a certificate confirming that the driver meets the relevant requirements in accordance with Article 39a of the Road Transport Law
- License for an employer to provide road transportation services
- A copy of a Class C+E driver's license (with a translation into Polish by a certified translator, if necessary)
- Current Polish medical examination and psychological evaluation
- Certificate of Professional Competence (code 95) – a document confirming authorization to transport passengers or goods by road
- Certificate of No Criminal Record
