Volunteering in Poland: Agreements, Insurance and Foreigners
Short answer: Volunteers in Poland work unpaid under an agreement with the organisation. It must be in writing for more than 30 days, says a 2025 government brochure.
Volunteering is a good way to meet people and practise Polish, and it is regulated more than many newcomers expect. Poland's law on public benefit activity and volunteering (ustawa o działalności pożytku publicznego i o wolontariacie) sets out who can volunteer, where, and what the organisation owes you. This guide follows a 2025 government brochure published under the Solidarity Corps programme and a voivodeship office page on residence permits for foreign volunteers.
What counts as volunteering
The brochure defines a volunteer as a person who, of their own will and without pay, does tasks for authorised organisations and institutions under the rules of the act. A volunteer is not an employee. The relationship is a civil-law one, not an employment relationship, so the Civil Code applies to anything the agreement does not cover, not the Labour Code. Time spent volunteering does not count towards leave entitlements, pension rights or length of service.
Volunteers can act in non-governmental organisations, church and religious bodies such as parishes, public administration and bodies under it (including libraries, schools, cultural centres and social assistance centres), social cooperatives and non-profit companies, and medical entities within their treatment activity. Volunteers may not take part in work linked to a business activity, with the exception of medical entities, which can use volunteers in their business activity too.
The volunteer agreement
A volunteer works under an agreement (porozumienie) with the organisation. According to the brochure:
- For volunteering longer than 30 days the agreement must be in writing.
- For under 30 days, a verbal agreement is enough, but the volunteer can still ask for it in writing.
- It should name the parties, the type and scope of tasks, the duration, rules for reimbursing costs, insurance, the rights and duties of both sides and how to end it.
Pay, rewards and costs
A volunteer cannot be paid. The brochure says rewards must not take the form of payment for the work, though organisations can give symbolic thanks, such as a letter of recognition or training. The organisation must cover certain costs, and the brochure lists travel costs and per diems when the volunteer travels for the organisation, plus the cost of training or qualifications needed for the tasks. A volunteer can waive travel and per diem reimbursement only in writing.
Insurance
The brochure explains two cases:
- Agreement under 30 days: the organisation must buy accident insurance (NNW) for the volunteer.
- Agreement over 30 days: the state covers accident insurance through the so-called small accident act, for death or permanent injury, and only while the volunteer does the agreed tasks. With an open-ended agreement, that cover starts on day 31, so the organisation must insure the first 30 days.
Separately, an organisation can register a volunteer for general health insurance if the volunteer has no other basis for it. The brochure says the organisation pays the contribution, calculated from the minimum wage. If you are not covered otherwise, ask whether the organisation does this.
* Photos: Strebski, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Illustrative.
Age limits
A minor can be a volunteer with a legal guardian's consent. Under 13, the guardian is the party to the agreement. The brochure notes that some places, such as children's homes and community day centres, accept only adult volunteers.
What about foreigners?
The brochure does not discuss foreign volunteers, so it should not be read as saying anything about residence rights. For longer stays, a Podlaskie Voivodeship Office page describes a temporary residence permit for foreigners taking part in a European volunteering programme when their stay exceeds three months. According to that page:
- The permit is granted for the period needed to carry out the volunteer agreement, up to one year, with further permits possible.
- The host organisation should be approved by the minister responsible for internal affairs.
- The agreement must set out the description and duration of the volunteering, supervision, hours, funds for living costs and accommodation, the minimum pocket money, and necessary training.
- Applications go through the MOS 2 portal, no later than the last day of legal stay.
- Documents include proof of health insurance, proof of sufficient funds, the agreement, a travel document and photos.
The page is undated and applies to that specific permit type. If you are unsure whether short volunteering is allowed under your status, ask the voivodeship office before you start.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a written agreement to volunteer in Poland?
For more than 30 days, yes. The 2025 government brochure says it must be in writing. For shorter periods a verbal agreement is enough unless the volunteer asks for writing.
Can a volunteer be paid?
No. The brochure says a volunteer cannot receive pay. The organisation must reimburse certain costs, such as travel and per diems.
Am I insured as a volunteer?
Under 30 days, the organisation must buy accident insurance. Over 30 days, the state accident cover applies, within limits described above.
Does the brochure cover foreign volunteers?
No. Only the voivodeship office page covers the residence permit for European volunteering programmes.
