Poland is the engine room of European road freight. Its central location, vast fleet of trucking companies, and deep links to Germany, the Benelux, Scandinavia, and France make it one of the busiest logistics markets on the continent, and in 2026 it continues to face a structural shortage of professional drivers. For foreign drivers with a CE licence and the right qualifications, that shortage translates into genuine, well-paid, and legal job opportunities.

This complete guide is written for foreign drivers. It explains who can drive professionally in Poland, the licences and qualifications you need, the all-important driver attestation for non-EU drivers, the work-permit and visa routes by nationality, how pay really works (including the dieta system that transforms take-home income), where to find genuine jobs, and how to avoid scams. It is practical, up to date for 2026, and honest about how the process actually works.

Why Poland Needs Foreign Truck Drivers in 2026

Poland operates one of the largest road-haulage sectors in the European Union, moving an enormous share of the goods that cross the continent. Growing international freight, expanding port and warehouse logistics, e-commerce, and industrial exports keep demand high, while many experienced Polish drivers have moved to other roles or markets. The result is a persistent driver shortage, and Polish transport companies have long recruited drivers from abroad to keep their fleets moving. Many of these firms specialise in international routes and have years of experience hiring and legalising foreign drivers, which often makes the process smoother than in countries new to the practice.

Who Can Work as a Truck Driver in Poland?

Your starting point depends on your nationality:

• EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens enjoy free movement. You can take a driving job in Poland without a work permit and register your stay; your EU/EEA driving licence and Code 95 are recognised.
• Non-EU (third-country) nationals need a work authorisation route plus a visa or residence permit, and, for international transport, a driver attestation. The good news is that Poland has well-trodden, employer-led routes for exactly this.

In every case, the job offer comes first. A Polish transport company hires you, and the paperwork follows based on your nationality and the Type of routes you will drive.

The Licences You Need: Category C and C+E

Professional truck driving in Poland is built on the standard EU licence categories:

• Category C covers rigid trucks over 3.5 tonnes.
• Category C+E (CE) covers articulated vehicles and trucks with trailers, the classic “TIR” long-haul combination. CE is by far the most in-demand and best-paid category, and most international jobs require it.

Minimum ages are generally 18 for the smaller C1 category and 21 for full C and C+E, although holding the full professional qualification can lower the age in some cases. If you already hold these categories from an EU country, they are recognised directly. If your licence is from outside the EU, you will usually need to exchange it (covered below).

Code 95 and the Driver Qualification Card (Karta Kwalifikacji Kierowcy)

Across the EU, professional drivers must hold the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence, shown as Code 95. It confirms that you have completed the required initial qualification and periodic training, is valid for 5 years, and is renewed through periodic training (typically 35 hours).

How Code 95 appears depends on your licence:

• If you hold an EU/EEA driving licence, Code 95 is printed directly on the licence.
• If you are a non-EU driver without an EU licence, Poland issues a separate Driver Qualification Card (Karta Kwalifikacji Kierowcy), which carries the Code 95 qualification. This card is designed precisely for foreign drivers who plan to work in Poland or elsewhere in the EU.

To obtain the Driver Qualification Card or Code 95 in Poland, you typically need a completed application, a medical certificate confirming no contraindications to driving professionally, a psychological certificate confirming the same, a valid passport or photo ID, and your valid driving licence with the relevant categories.

The Driver Attestation (Świadectwo Kierowcy): Essential for Non-EU International Drivers

This is the document foreign drivers most often overlook, and it is critical. If you are a non-EU national driving international routes for a Polish (EU-established) transport company, you must hold a Driver Attestation (Świadectwo Kierowcy), sometimes nicknamed the “red paper.” It proves you are lawfully employed and authorised to perform international carriage within the EU. Without it, international EU routes are illegal for a non-EU driver, regardless of any other paperwork.

Your employer applies for the driver attestation once you are legally employed and your qualifications and permits are in place. It is one of the final steps before you start driving across borders, so a reputable employer will know exactly how to obtain it for you.

Work Permits and Visas for Non-EU Drivers

For non-EU drivers, the legal basis for working depends on your nationality, and Poland runs several routes:

• Ukrainian citizens can generally rely on temporary protection (UKR) status combined with a simple employer notification, the fastest route.
• Citizens of Belarus, Georgia, Armenia, and Moldova can often be employed through the simplified declaration of entrusting work (oświadczenie), which the employer registers.
• Other nationalities (for example, from Central Asia) typically require a Type A work permit (zezwolenie na pracę typ A), which the employer issues. Upon relevant authorisation, a national Category D work visa is issued, allowing you to enter and work in Australia. In some cases, the employer must first complete a labour-market test (informacja starosty) at the local labour office (powiatowy urząd pracy) to confirm no suitable Polish or EU candidate is available. However,h this is not required for every role. Since recent reforms, these procedures run through the digital praca.gov.pl system, and the employer drives the application.

Step-by-Step: The Complete, Real Process for Getting a Truck Driver Job in Poland

Below is the full, realistic process from start to finish. EU/EEA and Swiss drivers can skip the work permit and visa steps, since they have free movement; non-EU drivers must go through all steps. The order matters, and the employer carries out several steps on your behalf.

Step 1: Confirm Your Licence and Experience

Make sure you hold a valid category C and, ideally, category C+E (CE) licence, the combination most employers need for international work. Note your years of experience, the route types you have driven, and any extra qualifications such as ADR. If your CE is missing, gaining it is the single biggest thing you can do to open jobs.

Step 2: Prepare Your Documents and CV

Get your core documents in order: passport (valid well beyond your planned stay), driving licence, any existing Code 95 or qualification card, certificates and diplomas, and a clear driver CV listing categories, Code 95 status, experience, route types, and ADR or other endorsements. Have scans ready and, where needed, translations into Polish or English.

Step 3: Find a Genuine Polish Employer and Get a Job Offer

Apply to established Polish transport companies and reputable driver recruiters, ideally ones experienced with foreign drivers. Aim for a written job offer or draft employment contract setting out the position, routes (domestic or international), pay, working time, and duties. This offer is the foundation for everything that follows.

Step 4 (Non-EU): Labour-Market Test, If Required

For some non-EU hires, the employer must first obtain a labour-market test, the informacja starosty, from the local labour office (powiatowy urząd pracy), confirming no suitable Polish or EU/EEA candidate is available. This is not required for every role or nationality, and the employer handles it.

Step 5 (Non-EU): Work Authorisation by Nationality

The employer arranges your legal basis to work, depending on your nationality:

• Ukrainian citizens: temporary protection (UKR) status plus a simple employer notification (powiadomienie).
• Belarus, Georgia, Armenia, Moldova: the simplified declaration of entrustment of work (oświadczenie), registered by the employer.
• Other nationalities: a Type A work permit (zezwolenie na pracę typ A), applied for by the employer through the voivodeship office, increasingly via the praca.gov.pl system.

Step 6 (Non-EU): Apply for the National Category D Work Visa

Once your work authorisation has been issued, apply for a national (category D) work visa at the Polish consulate in your country. Typical documents include your passport, work permit or declaration, job offer, photos, proof of health insurance, and visa fee. After arrival, longer stays are continued through a temporary residence and work permit.

Step 7: Travel to Poland and Register

Enter Poland on your visa and complete the required registration of your stay and address. This residence registration also starts the six-month window during which a non-EU licence can still be used before it must be exchanged.

Step 8: Pass the Medical Examination (Badania Lekarskie)

Undergo a professional driver medical examination to confirm you are fit to drive commercially. The certificate is required for your qualification card and for driving legally and must remain valid.

Step 9: Pass the Psychological Examination (Badania Psychologiczne)

Complete the psychological examination confirming no contraindications to working as a professional driver. Like the medical, it feeds into your qualification and must be renewed when it expires.

Step 10: Obtain Code 95 or the Driver Qualification Card

If you hold an EU/EEA licence, ensure Code 95 is current. If you are a non-EU driver without an EU licence, apply for the Driver Qualification Card (Karta Kwalifikacji Kierowcy), which carries Code 95, submitting your application, the medical and psychological certificates, passport, and driving licence. Complete any required initial or periodic training (commonly 35 hours).

Step 11: Exchange Your Foreign Licence, If Needed

EU/EEA licences are recognised and need no conversion. A non-EU licence can generally be used for up to six months after you register your residence, after which you must exchange it for a Polish licence. Some countries have bilateral agreements that simplify this; others may require tests, so start early.

Step 12: Get Your Tachograph Driver Card (Karta Kierowcy)

Apply for the tachograph driver card, which records your driving and rest periods under EU driving-hours rules. You cannot legally operate a digital tachograph vehicle without it.

Step 13: Sign the Employment Contract and Register for Social Security

Sign your written employment contract (commonly an umowa o pracę), and the employer registers you with the social-insurance authority (ZUS) and for tax. This must be in place before you begin work.

Step 14 (Non-EU): Employer Obtains the Driver Attestation (Świadectwo Kierowcy)

For international routes, the employer applies for your Driver Attestation (Świadectwo Kierowcy, “ed paper”) once you are legally employed and qualified. Without it, a non-EU driver cannot lawfully perform international carriage within the EU, so this is a final, essential step before cross-border work.

Step 15: Start Driving and Keep Everything Valid

Begin work, usually with an induction or a probationary period. From then on, keep your documents current: Code 95 every five years through periodic training, and your medical, psychological, tachograph, and (for non-EU drivers) attestation and residence documents renewed on time. Adding ADR later can raise your pay and widen your route options.

Converting or Exchanging Your Foreign Driving Licence

Whether you need to exchange your licence depends on where it was issued:

• EU/EEA licences are recognised in Poland and do not need to be converted, although residents may choose to exchange them.
• Non-EU licences can generally be used for up to six months after you register your residence in Poland, after which you must exchange them for a Polish licence. Bilateral agreements with some countries simplify the exchange, while others may require passing tests, so confirm the rules for your country early.

Medical and Psychological Examinations, and the Tachograph Card

Professional drivers in Poland must pass a medical examination confirming fitness to drive commercially and a psychological examination confirming the absence of contraindications to the work. These certificates feed into your Code 95 or Driver Qualification Card and must be kept valid. You will also need a tachograph driver card, which records your driving and rest times in line with EU driving-hours rules, a core part of compliant professional driving.

Salary, the Dieta System, and How Pay Really Works

Truck driver pay in Poland in 2026 typically ranges from PLN 6,000 to PLN 12,000 gross per month, with international CE drivers at the higher end and domestic and city-delivery roles at the lower end. From 1 January 2026, the national minimum wage is PLN 4,806 gross per month (around PLN 31.40 per hour), which sets the legal floor, though virtually all professional drivers earn well above it.

The single biggest pay differentiator is domestic versus international routes. International work pays more because of longer hours, border paperwork, and time away from home, and crucially, it unlocks the dieta (daily subsistence allowance) system. International diets are paid at destination-country rates and are partly or fully exempt from social security (ZUS) and income tax (PIT), which can lift a driver’s effective take-home pay close to Western European levels even though the headline gross sits within a Polish range. Moving from local to international routes can add several thousand złoty a month. Employee social and health contributions and income tax apply to the taxable portion of pay as usual.

ADR and Other Certifications That Boost Pay

Extra qualifications translate directly into higher earnings and more job options:

• ADR (dangerous goods) certification typically commands a pay premium of around 10 to 20 per cent.
• Tanker, refrigerated (reefer), and specialised transport experience widen your options in fuel, food, and temperature-controlled logistics.
• Clean driving records and international experience are highly valued by employers running Western European corridors.

Where to Find Genuine Truck Driver Jobs in Poland

• Established Polish transport and logistics companies that openly recruit foreign drivers and handle legalisation.
• Reputable driver-focused recruitment agencies with verifiable track records.
• EURES and official EU job portals for EU/EEA jobseekers.
• Recognised job platforms specialising in CE and international driving roles.

Prioritise employers who are transparent about contracts, pay, routes, and the documents they will arrange for you, especially the driver attestation.

How to Avoid Truck Driver Job Scams

• Never pay upfront fees for a guaranteed job, permit, visa, or driver attestation; genuine employers do not charge you to be hired.
• Insist on a written contract setting out routes, pay, and conditions before you travel.
• Verify the company exists, is properly registered, and matches your point of contact.
• Be wary of guarantees that seem too good, high-pressure tactics, and requests for untraceable payments.
• Confirm that your work authorisation, visa, and driver attestation are genuine and arranged through official channels.

Quick Summary: Getting a Truck Driver Job in Poland in 2026

1. Hold a category C or, ideally, C+E (CE) licence with professional experience.
2. Confirm your eligibility: EU/EEA free movement, or a non-EU authorisation route by nationality.
3. Secure a written job offer from a reputable Polish transport company.
4. Obtain or transfer Code 95 via the Driver Qualification Card if you are non-EU.
5. Pass the medical and psychological examinations and get your tachograph card.
6. For non-EU drivers, complete the work permit or declaration and category D visa.
7. Have the employer obtain your Driver Attestation (Świadectwo Kierowcy) for international routes.
8. Exchange your licence if required, then start, and consider ADR to boost your pay.

Useful Official Links

• Polish government services portal: https://www.gov.pl
• Work and permit applications (employer-led): https://www.praca.gov.pl
• Office for Foreigners (Urząd do Spraw Cudzoziemców): https://www.gov.pl/web/udsc
• EURES (EU job mobility portal): https://eures.europa.eu