As a nurse, Poland probably isn’t the first country that comes to mind when thinking about places to move. Although the country has a population of more than 37 million people, working there as a foreign-trained nurse requires formal recognition of your qualifications and a Polish right to practice. Polish language and culture can also take time for foreigners to adapt to.
Times are changing, however. Poland’s health system faces staffing pressure, with fewer practicing nurses per 1,000 people than the OECD average. There are pathways for some foreign-trained nurses and midwives, including a standard licensing pathway through the regional chambers of nurses and midwives and a separate simplified pathway for certain non-EU-qualified nurses and midwives who meet current Ministry of Health rules.
Traditionally, the process of becoming a nurse in Poland has not always been very transparent for foreigners. However, official resources from the Ministry of Health, the Office for Foreigners, and the chambers of nurses and midwives can help. This article outlines the main steps to become a nurse in Poland.
How to Become a Nurse in Poland
Step 1. Get a Nursing Education
As is the case with most countries, Poland requires foreign nurses to have relevant nursing education. If you studied outside Poland, your nursing or midwifery qualification must be recognized in Poland and must meet the minimum training requirements set for the profession. A bachelor’s degree in nursing is the safest and most common route, but the key issue is not simply the length of the degree; Polish authorities look at whether the foreign qualification is recognized as equivalent and whether it meets the required professional training standards.
This process is usually more straightforward for nurses trained in another EU/EEA country or Switzerland, because general care nurses benefit from EU rules on professional qualification recognition when their training meets the required standards. Under EU rules, automatic recognition for general care nurses is based on at least three years of full-time study and 4,600 hours of training. Applicants still need to complete the Polish registration and licensing process before they can practice.
Of course, the most straightforward way to qualify for practice in Poland is to study in the country, then complete the formal licensing procedure with the relevant chamber of nurses and midwives. Medical University of Lodz lists nursing at the bachelor’s and master’s levels through its Faculty of Health Sciences, but its nursing information is listed under studies in Polish, so international applicants should check directly before assuming that an English-taught nursing track is available. Verified English-language options include Vincent Pol University’s BSc Nursing program, which is listed as a full-time, three-year, 180-ECTS program taught in English, and WSEI University’s first-cycle Nursing program, which is listed as full-time, three years, and offered in Polish and English. Polonia University lists a master’s-level Nursing program with English-language classes.
Either way, getting a recognized nursing degree or qualification is an important step to becoming a nurse in Poland.
Step 2. Learn Polish
Before you can practice safely in Poland, you will need to demonstrate Polish-language ability at the level required for your licensing route. This is essential because nurses must communicate with patients, colleagues, and medical institutions in Polish. While it isn’t the easiest language to learn, there are several materials available both online and in print. You may also be able to find a private tutor, which can be the quickest way.
For the standard route, official proof of Polish-language knowledge is required. The State Certificate Examinations in Polish as a Foreign Language are administered through authorized exam centers, and the official exam system now covers A1 through C2 for adults. For nurses and midwives using the simplified Ministry of Health pathway, current rules require proof of Polish at a minimum B1 level for certain applicants.
Step 3. Do a Nursing Internship in Poland (for Non-EU Applicants)
If you are applying through the standard route as a non-EU foreigner, you may need to complete a six-month adaptation internship in a medical institution before receiving the full right to practice in Poland. This requirement generally does not apply to foreigners who completed a nursing or midwifery school in Poland. The internship and limited right to practice are handled through the regional chamber of nurses and midwives that is competent for the place where you plan to work.
The regional chamber grants a limited right to practice for the internship period if the applicant meets the conditions, and the medical institution confirms completion after the internship is passed. Because the exact route depends on your education, citizenship, residence status, and licensing basis, you should check the current requirements with the relevant regional chamber before applying.
Note that under the standard route, you will need to demonstrate knowledge of Polish before undergoing the internship. You’ll be performing real tasks in a real medical center, so you’ll need to be able to communicate under pressure with colleagues and patients.
Step 4. Apply for Permission to Work in Poland
As an intern, you will need a limited right to practice. If you want to work long term, you will also need the appropriate legal basis to stay and work in Poland, unless you are exempt from work-permit rules, such as many EU/EEA/Swiss citizens. Non-EU applicants generally need a valid residence basis and a document allowing work, such as a work permit, declaration of entrusting work where applicable, or a temporary residence and work permit. Even if you already have legal residence, you still need the professional right to practice issued through the competent chamber of nurses and midwives.
Requirements for the professional licensing process may include your nursing or midwifery diploma, recognition or nostrification documents where required, proof of Polish-language proficiency, health and legal-capacity documents, documents showing your professional standing, and proof that you completed the internship if the internship applies. The simplified Ministry of Health pathway has separate document requirements and may allow practice for a defined scope of duties, time period, and medical entity. For the full and current list of documents, check the Ministry of Health, the Office for Foreigners, and the relevant regional chamber before applying.
This is crucial to becoming a nurse in Poland. A work permit allows a foreigner to work for the period specified in the permit, and simplified or conditional professional permissions may be tied to a specific medical entity and time limit. If you want to stay longer, you may need to apply for the relevant residence permit. Since April 27, 2026, applications for temporary residence, permanent residence, and long-term EU resident status in Poland are submitted electronically through the MOS system.
While it’s not one of the traditional choices, many things might attract foreigners to Poland. Because Poland has fewer practicing nurses per 1,000 people than the OECD average, opportunities for qualified foreign nurses may continue to grow. The country also has worker protections in place: employees are generally entitled to paid annual leave, parenthood-related rights, social and health insurance coverage depending on the contract, and a statutory minimum wage.
We hope you found this article on the steps to becoming a nurse in Poland informative and helpful. Make sure to also check out the Study in Poland and Available Programs in Europe for International Students pages for more informative articles.
