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Country Commercial Guides for FY 2000: Poland Report prepared by U.S. Embassy Warsaw, released July 1999

CHAPTER IX:   Business Travel

A.   Business Customs

It is customary to greet by shaking hands in Poland. A businesswoman should not be surprised if a Polish man kisses her hand upon introduction, at subsequent meetings or saying goodbye. American men are not expected to kiss a Polish woman's hand, but may simply shake hands. Business cards are the norm in Poland and are generally given to each person present in a meeting. As Poles tend to bring more than one person to their meetings, U.S. visitors should bring plenty of cards. It is not necessary to have cards printed in Polish.

Business attire is generally formal, including a suit and tie for men, and a suit or dress for women. Casual wear, including jeans, is suitable for informal occasions, but more formal dress is usually customary for visiting or entertaining in the evening. Flowers, always an odd number, are the most common gift among friends and acquaintances. Sunday is the traditional day for visiting family and friends in Poland.

B.   Travel Advisories and Visas

The principal problem encountered by visitors to Poland is property crime. Pick pocketing, hotel break-ins, and car theft are common, particularly in areas of heavy tourist activity. Visitors are advised to pay particularly close attention to their belongings while in airports and railway stations, as well as on trains. Violent crime remains rare, but is growing. Consult the Consular Information Sheet, prepared by the U.S. Department of State, for updates.

There are no visa requirements for U.S. citizens coming to Poland for business purposes of up to 90 days. Business visitors on temporary duty are required to obtain a work permit if they will be in Poland longer than 90 days. Applications for this permission must be filed with the District Employment Office (Wojewodzki Urzad Pracy) by prospective employers six weeks before the start of employment. The application fee is 650 Polish zloty. If after 14 days, the decision is positive, the office will mail a "Promesa" (an assurance of permit issuance) to the employer. The worker uses the "Promesa" to apply for a work visa at a Polish Embassy or Consulate abroad. People already in Poland are obliged to leave the territory of Poland to apply for their work visas. The work visa fee is approximately USD 170, payable in dollars. After arriving in Poland with the visa, the worker must obtain the work permit from the District Employment Office within seven days of commencing work. Permits are issued for 12 months. Permits may be extended at the request of the employer. The extension fee is 325 Polish zloty.

C.   Holidays

The following public holidays are observed in Poland: New Year's Day (January 1), Easter Monday (day after Easter), Labor Day (May 1), Constitution Day (May 3), Corpus Christi (late May/early June), Assumption of the Virgin Mary (August 15), All Saints' Day (November 1), Independence Day (November 11), Christmas (December 25), and Boxing Day (December 26). One Saturday per month is, by custom, considered a working Saturday, but there is no consistency among institutions or exact observance as such. Poland operates in Central European Time (CET), the same time zone as continental Western Europe. Business hours are generally from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

D.   Business Infrastructure

Transportation by air to and from Poland is excellent. International carriers fly to Poland many times per day from all over the world, and the Polish Airline LOT has direct flights to Warsaw from Chicago, New York, and Newark. Delta, American, Northwestern and United are the only U.S. carriers in Poland at this time.

Transportation within Poland is convenient. Flights go between major cities and trains go everywhere and are quite efficient. Rental cars are abundant, but due to significantly increased traffic over the past few year and a highway system that has not kept up, driving between Polish cities, especially at night, can be quite dangerous.

First-class business hotels are available in most major Polish cities, and many are located in the heart of business districts. Some major western hotels offer air-conditioned rooms and direct dial telephone capability from rooms. Many hotels offer a business center with computers, business assistance services, and faxing capability. Almost all business hotels take major credit cards. Charges and room rates are seasonal and competitive, and business travelers are advised to check and confirm rates at hotels in advance of their travel.

Telephoning to and from Poland is much easier today than just a few years ago. AT&T, Sprint, and MCI calls can be placed from Poland. Direct dial around the world is possible and can sometimes be easier than placing local calls across town. The Polish telephone system in many areas is still rotary dial, making it difficult to link-up and use some modern telephone services in the United States.

Poland uses the metric system of weights and measures. Electrical appliances use 220 volts AC, 50Hz, with continental (two-prong) outlets.