Foreign Bolt and Uber drivers: residence, work and licence
Lawful residence and permission to work are separate conditions.
Residence and right to work
Lawful residence and permission to work are separate conditions. A residence card is not the only possible basis: the specific status, visa, permit or exemption and employment conditions matter. Foreigners face additional business eligibility rules. The transport department handles licence exchange; normal residence, translation and any examination depend on the document. Do not assume one procedure fits every foreign national.
Sources: Zielona Linia — pobyt i praca · Gov.pl — wymiana prawa jazdy
Driver and taxi licence
Taxi work requires a Polish-issued driving licence, including for holders of earlier EU/EEA documents. Criminal-record checks and current medical and psychological fitness certificates also apply. The carrier obtains a taxi licence from the competent municipal authority. It is distinct from the passenger-car transport licence issued by a starosta. Platform rules apply separately; there is no blanket “21 years old and three years of driving” rule for category B taxi work.
Sources: Ustawa o transporcie drogowym · GITD — polskie prawo jazdy
Examinations and documents
Authorised specialists perform medical and psychological examinations. For road transport the general interval is 5 years up to age 60, then 30 months; a certificate may specify a shorter period. Ask the provider about the total price, documents, glasses and preparation, including possible laboratory tests. Do not assume one price list or universal preparation instructions. Arrange renewal before expiry.
Sources: Ustawa — art. 39j–39k
Partner or sole trader
Working under a partner agreement and running a sole trade are different models. Under zlecenie, PIT/ZUS depend on the agreement and insurance status; a sole trader handles their own settlement. Ryczałt taxes revenue, not profit after fuel and rent. The actual service and statutory conditions determine the rate, not the app’s name. The youth PIT exemption does not cover sole-trade revenue.
Sources: Ministerstwo Finansów — ryczałt · Ulga dla młodych