Visas & Support
The most comprehensive and personalized support services available in Europe
English Wizards is proud to be one of the few programs in the European Union that can get work visas for non-EU teachers.
And yes we mean full work visas, not student visas, business visas, working holiday visas, or some other restrictive loophole which many programs advertise.
Furthermore, we pride ourselves in being one of the only programs in the world that can get teachers a legal work visa that is not tied to a specific school or job. Through our Freelance Teaching Program, you can theoretically teach English at an infinite number of schools all on one work visa.
Moving to a new country alone can be scary and daunting. This is why we strive to offer individually tailored support. With our support packages, you’ll be in direct contact with our Polish-speaking support staff to walk you through every step of your relocation.
Work Visa Package
€190

- A fully legal work permit (valid for up to 3 years)
- Step-by-step guidance in obtaining a visa through your nearest consulate
- Step-by-step guidance in registering a PESEL (Tax ID) number
- Step-by-step guidance in obtaining a Temporary Residence Permit
- All company-issued documentation necessary for the work permit, visa, and residence permit
- Translation of documents into Polish, when necessary
- Ongoing support from our staff on maintaining your legality
Not included: Consular visa fee (€60-100), Temporary Residence Permit administrative fee (€100), medical insurance (required for visa, from €160 per year for the cheapest plans).
This package is required for teachers on all programs who are not EU citizens or cannot otherwise obtain permission to work in Poland.
For non-EU citizens, the price of this package is included in the program fee of the Internship Programs.
How is the work visa not tied to a specific job?
What documents are required for the work visa?
I'm from the UK. Will I need a visa to work in Poland now that the United Kingdom has left the European Union?
The Polish government has announced that, as of January 1st 2021, citizens of the United Kingdom who were not living in Poland prior to 2021 will be treated as non-EU nationals.
This means that if you are a UK citizen and hope to arrive in Poland after the 1st of January, you will need a work permit in order to legally work, as well as a Type-D Visa or Residence Permit in order to stay longer than 90 days. However, if you are currently residing in Poland and hold UK citizenship, you will be able to continue enjoying the freedom to live and work in Poland without any visas or permits.
For the most up to date information for UK nationals, please see the official website of Poland’s Office of Foreigner Affairs.
How long does the visa process take?
Applying for a Residence Permit in Poland is a notoriously slow process which can take over 6 months. Luckily, it’s mostly just a waiting game, and you’ll receive a special “temporary” residence stamp to legalize your stay as you wait.
Will my visa allow me to travel to other EU countries?
Note that Polish visas are not valid for travel to the UK or Ireland.
What's the difference between a visa and Temporary Residence Permit?
The procedures, required documents, and fees required for each document are also different. As is the validity: Type-D Visas are valid up to one year, and Temporary Residence Permits are valid up to 3 years.
Can I come to Poland on a 90-day tourist visa and apply for the Temporary Residence Permit?
Unfortunately, if your country of citizenship requires a Schengen Tourist Visa to enter Poland and the Schengen Area, this is not possible. You must obtain a work visa through a Polish consulate in your home country before coming to Poland.
Can visas or Temporary Residence Permits be renewed or extended?
Most teachers who come to Poland on a Type-D Visa will then apply for a Temporary Residence Permit shortly before the visa expires, allowing them to stay for a maximum of 3 years beyond the visa’s expiration. There is no limit to how many times a Temporary Residence Permit can be extended.
After 5 years living in Poland on a Temporary Residence Permit, it is possible to apply for Permanent Residence and Long-Term EU Residence.
Can I get a visa for my spouse and/or kids as well?
Could travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic effect my ability to get a work visa and/or travel to Poland.
No.
Ever since Poland first introduced travel restrictions in March, work permit holders have been specifically exempt from all entry restrictions, being essential travelers. Polish embassies around the world are continuing to issue work visas, however some do occasionally suspend appointments due to high case numbers in their host countries. Please check with your nearest Polish embassy or consulate for an update regarding the status of visa services.
For more information regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and how it may affect your travel to Poland, see our COVID-19 FAQ.
Premium Residence package
€530
This package is for teachers who want more personalized and year-round support in legalizing their stay in Poland.

- A fully legal work permit (valid for up to 3 years)
- Step-by-step guidance in obtaining a work visa through your nearest consulate
- Personal assistance in applying for a PESEL (tax ID) number
- Personal assistance from our immigration agent in applying for the Temporary Residence Permit
- All company-issued documentation necessary for the work permit, visa, and residence permit
- Translation of documents into Polish, when necessary
- Ongoing correspondence with the Immigration Office to ensure your permit is processed as fast as possible
- Ongoing personal assistance from our staff and immigration agent to maintain your legality, including filing and obtaining additional documents if needed
What additional support do I get through the Premium Residence Package?
Our Premium Residence Package offers the personal assistance of our immigration support professionals through these processes. They will fill out the applications for you, check to make sure your documents are in order, go with you to the office for your PESEL and Residence Permit appointments, and take care of following up to make sure the application is processed in a timely manner and additional documents are filed if requested.
Can I get personal support for the visa application?
However, consulate staff are generally very friendly and happy to assist you with the visa application. Give your local Polish consulate a call or email and you’ll probably get plenty of help for free.
If you have a passport that allows visa free-entry to Poland, we invite you to come to Poland without a visa and take advantage of our support services to instead obtain a Temporary Residence Permit.
I'm coming with a spouse and/or kids! Will my family be provided with the same support through this package?
If your spouse is also coming to teach with English Wizards and requires a work permit, we can offer this package at a discounted rate of €450 each. If you have dependent family members that will be joining you but not working, you will pay the full price for this package, but we can provide the same services for your family members for €170 per person.
Insured teacher package
€350
The Insured Teacher Package, offers a “best of both worlds” option for teachers who want the freedom, flexibility and high earning potential of our Freelance Teaching Program but still like the idea of the extra support offered on our Internship Programs.

What’s included:
- Personal assistance finding an apartment – we’ll make sure you have a place to stay, within your budget, ready when you arrive
- Airport pickup and personalized arrival assistance
- Personal assistance opening a bank account, setting up a phone plan, home Internet plan, and getting a local transit pass
- Personal assistance registering a PESEL (Tax ID) number
- Personal job searching assistance: Our job support team made up of veteran teachers will coach you on beefing up your CV, personalizing cover letters, finding the right schools to apply to, and more
- We’ll make sure you find a job: Be teaching within 6 weeks of your arrival, or this package is free*
- Ongoing support and mediation from our team if problems arise at work
- A dedicated community manager available for the duration of your stay to assist with general problems inside and outside of the classroom
This package is provided free of charge as part of our Internship Programs.
*If you are still not able to find work 6 weeks after arrival to Poland, we will fully refund this package. Note that to be eligible for this refund, you must have followed all guidance and recommendations provided by our support team and remain active applying to job vacancies. This includes remaining open to any type of teaching job anywhere in Poland.
Does this package give me any sort of "priority" for job offers?
Not really.
When schools contact our recruiters looking for the best teachers to hire, we select teachers to send forward on the basis of merit and who we feel is the best match in terms of personality, experience, and other character traits. So no, purchasing this package will not instantly push you to the top of any queue.
However, with the coaching and assistance that you receive from our job search specialists, you will most likely find yourself being contacted for interviews and hired by many schools that may have otherwise ignored your application.
With this package am I guaranteed to find a job?
We can never say “guarantee” because finding a job is ultimately in your hands. If you aren’t applying to schools or aren’t showing up to interviews, it goes without saying that nobody is going to hire you.
But here’s what we can say: IF you follow all of our provided job guidance and remain active in applying to job openings across Poland, we can guarantee that you will find something. Our job support staff have over a decade of experience in the Polish ESL market and to this date, we have never failed helping a Wizard find work. Should you succesfully follow all of our guidance and still fail to find work, we will happily offer a full refund for this package.
I hate my job and want to quit. Can you help me find me another one?
Again, not exactly.
One of the reasons why our teachers find it so easy to find work with our assistance is due to our reputation amongst schools of working with reliable and hardworking teachers. By simply “walking out” you are not only ruining our relationship with the school, but also job opportunities for future teachers. So in most cases, the answer is no.
What we can do is assist in mediating any potential conflict you may be having with the school’s management. In the unlikely scenario that you are being grossly mistreated by the school, we can offer to help you find somewhere else to work.
How does your accommodation assistance work?
We will put you in touch with our support specialists who will speak with you about your ideal preferences for an apartment. You can let them know everything – your budget, ideal location, ideal size, whether you need a place that’s pet friendly, how much furniture is an absolute must, and so on. Our team will then contact multiple landlords in your ideal area to try to find the best deals before finally putting you in touch with them directly so you can make the final decision and on the apartment. We work exclusively with trusted, English-speaking landlords who are okay with renting to a foreigner and do not charge commissions or other “hidden fees.”
The end result is that you’ll have a place to call home from day #1, and you’ll be paying the “local price” for rent instead of the expat price. Trust us, your expat friends will be jealous!
I'm coming with a spouse or significant other! Will the Insured Teacher Package provide support for both of us?
Accommodation packages
€100 – 200
Our Accommodation Packages provide a range of affordable, quality-assured options to spend your first 7 nights in Poland (and longer if necessary) at conveniently located guesthouses that you can book through us at an affordable flat rate.


HOSTEL SHARED DORM
Spending your first week in a centrally-located youth hostel can be an extremely affordable – and exciting – way to spend your first week in a new city and meet fellow travellers.
We work exclusively with respectable, safe, and clean traveller hostels. Complimentary breakfast and lockers are always provided.
€100
8 days / 7 nights

GUESTHOUSE PRIVATE ROOM
Enjoy a splendid balance of privacy and authenticity by spending your first week at a locally owned guesthouse.
You’ll have your own lockable room and personal space – while also having the priceless benefit of a local host and a welcoming to the Polish hospitality.
€150
8 days / 7 nights

PRIVATE APARTMENT
Treat yourself to a bit of privacy and luxury for the first week with a temporary private apartment, all to yourself.
The centrally located apartment will be your home for the week, with all the space you need to cook, live, and work uninterrupted, just as you would at home.
€200
8 days / 7 nights
What if I want to stay XX nights instead of 7 nights?
From our experience, 8 days is the perfect amount of time to put aside for finding long-term accommodation in most Polish cities. It is also ideal for anyone participating in the training course of our Internship Programs.
If you would like to book the accommodation package for a different length of time, please contact us and we’ll provide you with a custom rate. As a rule of thumb, the weekly prices listed above stay the same for 2-week or 3-week stays, but if you want anything beyond that we can likely arrange a highly discounted rate with the accommodation provider.
Are these offers available in every city in Poland?
If you’ll be moving to another city, let us know before booking this package and we’ll most likely be able to arrange something through our network.
If I'm coming with a friend or partner, can we share accommodation?
Will there be other Wizards staying with me?
What are the quiet hours, checkout times, guest policies, etc?
We are also not responsible for any penalties you may occur for damaging the property or breaching the host’s guidelines.
Medical Insurance Packages


EMERGENCY INSURANCE
Emergency medical insurance is a “must-have” for anyone living, or even just traveling overseas. With emergency insurance, you’ll be financially covered if the worst was to happen. The plan provided through this package meets the requirements for non-EU citizens looking to get a work visa and/ or residence permit.
Packages Include:
- Emergency coverage of €10,000 to €30,000 in expenses
- Covers medical expenses in the event of an accident or sudden illness

PRIVATE MEDICAL INSURANCE
For those that want a fully comprehensive medical insurance package, this is the package for you. With private medical insurance, you can rest assured knowing that a free appointment with any English-speaking doctor or specialist is never more than a quick phone call away.
Packages Include:
- Emergency coverage of €10,000 to €30,000 in expenses
- Covers medical expenses in the event of an accident or sudden illness
- Access to private medical facilities at over 1000 clinics and hospitals around Poland with English-speaking doctors
- Unlimited visits to physicians and most medical specialists
- Routine vaccinations
- Laboratory and Imaging services
- Dental care
- Consultations with a psychologist or psychiatrist
- Emergency home visits
From
€160
Per Year
€430
Per Year
All insurance plans provided through English Wizards meet the requirements for getting a
work visa (Type-D) and Temporary Residence Permit.
I am not an EU citizen. Am I required to have medical insurance in Poland?
I am an EU citizen. Am I required to have private medical insurance in Poland?
I already have travel insurance or another insurance plan that covers me in Poland. Will that be sufficient for my work visa and/or Residence Permit?
I don’t need emergency insurance as I already have travel insurance. Is it possible to get the Private Medical Insurance package without emergency insurance?
I am on the Emergency Insurance Package. What can I do if I need to see a doctor?
I’ve already purchased a package, but would like to upgrade to a more comprehensive package. Is this possible?
I am coming with a partner or family member! Do you offer plans for families or couples?
- First family member/partner: €420
- Second family member: €370
- Each additional family member: €160 per person
What services are included in the Private Medical Insurance package?
I won’t be staying in Poland for a full year. Are these packages available for shorter durations?
Is it possible to pay for these packages on a monthly plan instead of annually?
Ready to Begin the Journey?
APPLYING & ELIGIBILITY
Can I work anywhere in Poland, or am I limited to certain cities?
Warsaw has by far the highest demand for English teachers, followed by Krakow, so choosing either of these cities will make the job hunt much easier.
Am I free to arrive in Poland at anytime, or does the program have specific start dates?
However, the biggest hiring seasons for English teachers in Poland is between September and mid October, and again between January and mid February. We highly recommend that you schedule your arrival for one of these hiring seasons to give yourself the biggest window of opportunity to find work.
Why am I not guaranteed a job before I arrive?
If you would prefer to come to Poland with a guaranteed job, you can apply for our Language Assistant program.
What are the chances that you'll be able to find me a teaching job before I arrive?
I'm pretty flexible about when I start and I'd prefer not to come to Poland before I have a job offer. Can I simply wait until I receive a job offer before I come?
Will joining the English Wizards community make it easier to find a job?
Additionally, for non-EU citizens, our program provides a solution to the “chicken and egg” catch common in Poland and other EU countries: You can’t get a job until you’re legal to work, but you can’t be legal to work until you have a job. As an English Wizard, you will have a work visa allowing you to legally teach English in Poland, so you can tell schools that you are already legal to work and they can hire you without any additional procedures.
Finally, being part of the English Wizards community means that you are part of Poland’s largest community of native English teachers In addition to support you’ll receive from our community managers and your fellow Wizards, this translates to the #1 job hunting resource: word of mouth.
If being accepted doesn't guarantee me a job, why is your criteria so high?
Can I apply alongside a friend or partner?
I am currently traveling/working/studying abroad! Can I become a Wizard and start working without having to go home first?
What are my odds of being accepted if I am not a native English speaker?
English is my first language, but I come from a non-English speaking country. What are my chances of being accepted?
I have a TEFL certificate and a degree, but I've never taught English before. Am I eligible to apply?
We highly recommend that less experienced teachers first start with our Language Assistant program. You are free to begin hunting for full-time teaching work during your time as a Language Assistant.
I do not have a Bachelor's Degree. Am I still eligible?
I do not have a TEFL Certificate. Can apply and get certified later?
COSTS & VISAS
Is this really free? Where are the hidden costs?
We do offer additional services for an extra cost, such as the assistance of our immigration agent in filing for your visa or residence permit. However, these services are completely optional and we will never pressure you into opting-in.
If it's really free how do you make money?
Do I need a visa?
How does the visa process work?
What documents are required for the visa?
How much does it cost to obtain a visa?
Am I eligible for a Polish work visa?
I am from the UK. How will Brexit affect my eligibility to work in Poland without needing a visa?
Will the visa be tied to my job? How can I legally do private tutoring or work part-time at multiple schools?
For private tutoring, we offer a simple (and 100% legal) system of invoicing your private students and including the pay in your monthly pay check.
Keep in mind that your work permit only allows you to work as an English teacher, so getting paid for any work that isn’t English teaching is not legal. If you would like to “branch out” and find other work, let us know as we may be able to modify your work permit accordingly.
LIVING & SUPPORT
Where will I live?
How will I get to work and get around?
Will it be hard to have a social life in Poland?
How does pay work?
What kind of support will I receive before departing to Europe?
What kind of support will I receive while I am in Poland?
What kind of hours will I be teaching?
Teaching “full time” for an English teacher in Europe generally means teaching 20-30 hours a week, and very few teachers work more than that. It is very common for schools to offer new teachers only part time hours, often between 5 and 15 hours per week, until they have proven themselves as a good fit for their classroom. As such, you should be ready to only work part-time (or juggle multiple part-time jobs) during their first few months before filling up your schedule.
I hate my job! Can I quit and find another?
How long can I stay for? Is it possible to extend my stay if my visa is expiring?
How do taxes work?
We offer all of our Wizards a handy cheat sheet explaining the difference between “netto” and “brutto” rates in Poland in order to make negociating your salary a breeze.
APPLYING & ELIGIBILITY
Can I work anywhere in Poland, or am I limited to certain cities?
Warsaw has by far the highest demand for English teachers, followed by Krakow, so choosing either of these cities will make the job hunt much easier.
Am I free to arrive in Poland at anytime, or does the program have specific start dates?
However, the biggest hiring seasons for English teachers in Poland is between September and mid October, and again between January and mid February. We highly recommend that you schedule your arrival for one of these hiring seasons to give yourself the biggest window of opportunity to find work.
Why am I not guaranteed a job before I arrive?
If you would prefer to come to Poland with a guaranteed job, you can apply for our Language Assistant program.
What are the chances that you'll be able to find me a teaching job before I arrive?
I'm pretty flexible about when I start and I'd prefer not to come to Poland before I have a job offer. Can I simply wait until I receive a job offer before I come?
Will joining the English Wizards community make it easier to find a job?
Additionally, for non-EU citizens, our program provides a solution to the “chicken and egg” catch common in Poland and other EU countries: You can’t get a job until you’re legal to work, but you can’t be legal to work until you have a job. As an English Wizard, you will have a work visa allowing you to legally teach English in Poland, so you can tell schools that you are already legal to work and they can hire you without any additional procedures.
Finally, being part of the English Wizards community means that you are part of Poland’s largest community of native English teachers In addition to support you’ll receive from our community managers and your fellow Wizards, this translates to the #1 job hunting resource: word of mouth.
If being accepted doesn't guarantee me a job, why is your criteria so high?
Can I apply alongside a friend or partner?
I am currently traveling/working/studying abroad! Can I become a Wizard and start working without having to go home first?
What are my odds of being accepted if I am not a native English speaker?
English is my first language, but I come from a non-English speaking country. What are my chances of being accepted?
I have a TEFL certificate and a degree, but I've never taught English before. Am I eligible to apply?
We highly recommend that less experienced teachers first start with our Language Assistant program. You are free to begin hunting for full-time teaching work during your time as a Language Assistant.
I do not have a Bachelor's Degree. Am I still eligible?
I do not have a TEFL Certificate. Can apply and get certified later?
COSTS & VISAS
Is this really free? Where are the hidden costs?
We do offer additional services for an extra cost, such as the assistance of our immigration agent in filing for your visa or residence permit. However, these services are completely optional and we will never pressure you into opting-in.
If it's really free how do you make money?
Do I need a visa?
How does the visa process work?
What documents are required for the visa?
How much does it cost to obtain a visa?
Am I eligible for a Polish work visa?
I am from the UK. How will Brexit affect my eligibility to work in Poland without needing a visa?
Will the visa be tied to my job? How can I legally do private tutoring or work part-time at multiple schools?
For private tutoring, we offer a simple (and 100% legal) system of invoicing your private students and including the pay in your monthly pay check.
Keep in mind that your work permit only allows you to work as an English teacher, so getting paid for any work that isn’t English teaching is not legal. If you would like to “branch out” and find other work, let us know as we may be able to modify your work permit accordingly.
LIVING & SUPPORT
Where will I live?
How will I get to work and get around?
Will it be hard to have a social life in Poland?
How does pay work?
What kind of support will I receive before departing to Europe?
What kind of support will I receive while I am in Poland?
What kind of hours will I be teaching?
Teaching “full time” for an English teacher in Europe generally means teaching 20-30 hours a week, and very few teachers work more than that. It is very common for schools to offer new teachers only part time hours, often between 5 and 15 hours per week, until they have proven themselves as a good fit for their classroom. As such, you should be ready to only work part-time (or juggle multiple part-time jobs) during their first few months before filling up your schedule.
I hate my job! Can I quit and find another?
How long can I stay for? Is it possible to extend my stay if my visa is expiring?
How do taxes work?
We offer all of our Wizards a handy cheat sheet explaining the difference between “netto” and “brutto” rates in Poland in order to make negociating your salary a breeze.
APPLYING & ELIGIBILITY
Can I work anywhere in Poland, or am I limited to certain cities?
Warsaw has by far the highest demand for English teachers, followed by Krakow, so choosing either of these cities will make the job hunt much easier.
Am I free to arrive in Poland at anytime, or does the program have specific start dates?
However, the biggest hiring seasons for English teachers in Poland is between September and mid October, and again between January and mid February. We highly recommend that you schedule your arrival for one of these hiring seasons to give yourself the biggest window of opportunity to find work.
Why am I not guaranteed a job before I arrive?
If you would prefer to come to Poland with a guaranteed job, you can apply for our Language Assistant program.
What are the chances that you'll be able to find me a teaching job before I arrive?
I'm pretty flexible about when I start and I'd prefer not to come to Poland before I have a job offer. Can I simply wait until I receive a job offer before I come?
Will joining the English Wizards community make it easier to find a job?
Additionally, for non-EU citizens, our program provides a solution to the “chicken and egg” catch common in Poland and other EU countries: You can’t get a job until you’re legal to work, but you can’t be legal to work until you have a job. As an English Wizard, you will have a work visa allowing you to legally teach English in Poland, so you can tell schools that you are already legal to work and they can hire you without any additional procedures.
Finally, being part of the English Wizards community means that you are part of Poland’s largest community of native English teachers In addition to support you’ll receive from our community managers and your fellow Wizards, this translates to the #1 job hunting resource: word of mouth.
If being accepted doesn't guarantee me a job, why is your criteria so high?
Can I apply alongside a friend or partner?
I am currently traveling/working/studying abroad! Can I become a Wizard and start working without having to go home first?
What are my odds of being accepted if I am not a native English speaker?
English is my first language, but I come from a non-English speaking country. What are my chances of being accepted?
I have a TEFL certificate and a degree, but I've never taught English before. Am I eligible to apply?
We highly recommend that less experienced teachers first start with our Language Assistant program. You are free to begin hunting for full-time teaching work during your time as a Language Assistant.
I do not have a Bachelor's Degree. Am I still eligible?
I do not have a TEFL Certificate. Can apply and get certified later?
COSTS & VISAS
Is this really free? Where are the hidden costs?
We do offer additional services for an extra cost, such as the assistance of our immigration agent in filing for your visa or residence permit. However, these services are completely optional and we will never pressure you into opting-in.
If it's really free how do you make money?
Do I need a visa?
How does the visa process work?
What documents are required for the visa?
How much does it cost to obtain a visa?
Am I eligible for a Polish work visa?
I am from the UK. How will Brexit affect my eligibility to work in Poland without needing a visa?
Will the visa be tied to my job? How can I legally do private tutoring or work part-time at multiple schools?
For private tutoring, we offer a simple (and 100% legal) system of invoicing your private students and including the pay in your monthly pay check.
Keep in mind that your work permit only allows you to work as an English teacher, so getting paid for any work that isn’t English teaching is not legal. If you would like to “branch out” and find other work, let us know as we may be able to modify your work permit accordingly.
LIVING & SUPPORT
Where will I live?
How will I get to work and get around?
Will it be hard to have a social life in Poland?
How does pay work?
What kind of support will I receive before departing to Europe?
What kind of support will I receive while I am in Poland?
What kind of hours will I be teaching?
Teaching “full time” for an English teacher in Europe generally means teaching 20-30 hours a week, and very few teachers work more than that. It is very common for schools to offer new teachers only part time hours, often between 5 and 15 hours per week, until they have proven themselves as a good fit for their classroom. As such, you should be ready to only work part-time (or juggle multiple part-time jobs) during their first few months before filling up your schedule.
I hate my job! Can I quit and find another?
How long can I stay for? Is it possible to extend my stay if my visa is expiring?
How do taxes work?
We offer all of our Wizards a handy cheat sheet explaining the difference between “netto” and “brutto” rates in Poland in order to make negociating your salary a breeze.