Poland has one of the lowest numbers of doctors per head in the European Union and an ageing medical workforce, so it increasingly recruits physicians from abroad. Medicine is a regulated profession, so before you can work,k you must hold the right to practise, known as the Prawo Wykonywania Zawodu (PWZ). How you get it depends on where you trained.

In short: to migrate to Poland as a doctor, you need the right to practise (PWZ) from the district medical chamber, Polish language skills, and - if you trained outside the EU - either the full route (nostrification of your diploma or the verification exam, a postgraduate internship, and the Final Medical Examination) or a faster conditional licence. You also need a job offer and a work visa, because the licence to practise and the right to work are separate.

Who Regulates Doctors in Poland?

The licence to practise (PWZ) is issued by the district medical chamber (Okregowa Izba Lekarska) where you will work, through its district medical council, under the national body, the Supreme Medical Chamber (Naczelna Izba Lekarska, NIL). The chamber keeps the register of physicians and normally decides within about one month, or up to two months in complex cases.

If You Trained in the EU or EEA

Doctors who trained in the EU, the EEA, or Switzerland benefit from automatic recognition under Directive 2005/36/EC. You present the documents listed in the directive, register with the regional chamber, and demonstrate Polish, after which you can practise under the same rules as Polish-trained doctors.

If You Trained Outside the EU: The Full Route

The full, indefinite PWZ for non-EU doctors is earned in steps:

• Nostrification or the verification exam: nostrification recognises your medical diploma as equivalent to one of the authorised Polish medical universities, comparing study programmes and sometimes requiring extra exams or placements to fill gaps; fees apply and vary by university. Alternatively, you can sit the Medical Verification Examination (LEW) or the Medical-Dental Verification Examination (LDEW).
• Postgraduate internship: with a limited PWZ, you complete the postgraduate internship (staz podyplomowy) in Poland or complete an internship abroad recognised by the Minister of Health.
• Final Medical Examination: You pass the Final Medical Examination (LEK) or the Medical-Dental Final Examination (LDEK), run by the Medical Examinations Centre (CEM) in Lodz. It is held twice a year, comprises 200 single-choice questions, has a pass mark of 56 per cent, and is available in Polish and English.

After these steps, you receive the full PWZ and register with your regional chamber.

The Conditional Route: Faster but Limited

Since rules introduced at the end of 2020, non-EU doctors can apply for a conditional right to practise (Warunkowe Prawo Wykonywania Zawodu). You obtain the consent of the Minister of Health and a conditional licence from the district medical council, based on a diploma confirming at least five years of study, full legal capacity, good health, a declaration that your Polish is sufficient, and a job offer. It is tied to a specific employer and scope, valid for up to five years, and cannot be extended. Importantly, a conditional licence does not allow you to work as a specialist, and proof of Polish is increasingly required rather than a simple declaration. Arrangements for Ukrainian doctors have been simplified at times and have changed, so check the current rules.

Polish Language

If you are not a Polish or EU citizen, you must hold a certificate of Polish-language proficiency issued after a state examination organised by the Supreme Medical Chamber (NIL). This exam includes a practical test of your ability to communicate with patients and conduct a medical interview. Strong Polish is essential for both the licence and safe practice.

Getting the Right to Work

The PWZ is not permission to enter and work in Poland; you need that separately. There is a dedicated process in which the Polish consul forwards your documents to the Minister of Health for consideration of permission to practise, and you apply for a national (Type D) visa. Documents generally need an apostille or legalisation and sworn Polish translations. Non-EU doctors also rely on an employer work permit or a single permit combining residence and work; EU citizens do not need a work permit.

Salary, Specialisation, and Demand

Doctors’ pay in Poland follows a statutory scale linked to qualifications and has risen through recent regulated increases, though it remains below Western European levels; specialists earn more than residents. You gain a specialist title after the full PWZ through specialisation training (residency). Demand is real, given Poland’s doctor-to-population ratio and ageing workforce, so confirm the salary, hours, and contract in writing before accepting a post.

A Strong Warning on Scams

Legitimate employers and ethical recruiters never charge a doctor upfront placement fees. If anyone asks you to pay to secure a Polish medical post or to fast-track your licence, treat it as a likely scam, stop, and verify the employer, the chamber, and the exams through official channels.

Official Sources

Start from the Supreme Medical Chamber (NIL), your district medical chamber, the Medical Examinations Centre (CEM) in Lodz, the Ministry of Health pages on gov.pl, and the list of nostrifying universities. Always confirm current rules, fees, and document lists, as procedures change.