Relocation plan: Poland

Do you need a visa?

Yes. There are two main routes:

A work permit requested by the employer from the voivode, followed by a national (D) visa for work; or, once in Poland, a single residence and work permit.
EU Blue Card: a degree or at least 5 years of equivalent experience, a contract of at least 6 months and a salary of at least 150% of the average salary of the previous year, published by the statistics office (GUS).

Passport, valid for the whole move; the visa is issued in the passport.
Birth certificate (and marriage certificate, if married). Usually with an apostille (or legalisation) and a certified translation; check with the embassy.
Criminal record certificate from your country of nationality and, if different, from where you lived recently: visa applications often require it. Request it close to the date it will be used.
Degree, transcript and references from previous jobs, digitally, with certified translations if the visa asks for them.

PESEL (identification number): requested at the municipality; many employers, banks and health services ask for it.
Lease: for the residence registration and the PESEL.
Public health insurance (NFZ): the employer registers you with social security (ZUS).

Sign the contract and confirm in writing the gross annual salary (in złoty or euros) and the contract type: employment contract (umowa o pracę) or B2B, which changes the deductions. The plan estimates the net in euros for an employment contract.
Wait for the work permit and apply for the national visa.
Find housing.
In your country, tell the authorities you are moving: update your registered address and your tax residence. In the year you leave, tax may be due for the part of the year you were still resident.

If you entered on a visa, prepare your residence application at the voivode's office before the visa expires.
Check the contributions (ZUS) and tax on your payslip.