Poland may not be the first country that springs to mind when qualified teachers start thinking about working abroad, but it deserves a proper look. It’s full of amazing cities like Warsaw, Poznan, and Wroclaw. It’s in the EU, it’s well connected to the rest of Europe, and its international school sector is growing. The salary covers a comfortable life, and the schools are small enough that you’ll know your colleagues, and your head, by name.

This guide covers the questions we get asked most often: what the schools are like, what you’ll teach, what you’ll earn, who can apply, when to apply and what the visa process actually involves. Some of it is very encouraging. Some of it, the residence permit in particular, needs a bit of patience. We’ll be upfront about both.

The types of school: international and bilingual

The schools we work with in Poland are international or bilingual schools, and the first thing to understand is who you’ll be teaching. In most cases the vast majority of the children are Polish. They’re being educated in English, but they aren’t the children of expats passing through for a couple of years. They’re local pupils whose families have chosen an English-language education, and that shapes the job in a few ways.

The main one is that these schools have to meet two sets of standards at once: Polish national requirements and the standards of an international curriculum such as Cambridge. In practice, that means you’ll be delivering a curriculum in English while the school keeps a close eye on what it’s Polish pupils need to cover. It’s a more layered set-up than a typical international school full of mixed nationalities, and teachers who enjoy planning carefully, and who don’t mind a bit of flexibility along the way, tend to do best.

If you like the idea of becoming part of a local community rather than living inside an expat bubble, that’s a real plus.

What you may end up teaching

Expect variety. Teachers in these schools often cover a mix of subjects, such as maths, English and science. That applies even if you’re working with younger children, including those aged six to eight.

So if you’ve been used to teaching one subject to one year group, it’s worth thinking about how comfortable you’d be moving between subjects, sometimes within the same day. For many teachers that’s part of the appeal. You get to know your class properly, and you’re not just the person who turns up for one lesson on a Tuesday. For others it takes a little adjusting, which is exactly the sort of thing we’re happy to talk through before you apply.

The setting: small, close-knit schools

These schools are usually fairly small. A typical set-up is a principal with excellent English leading a team of around eight to ten staff across one or two school buildings.

That has some real advantages. You’ll have a direct line to the school’s leaders, rather than a chain of management between you and the person making decisions, and you’ll be part of a community rather than one name on a very long staff list. If you want a school where people notice what you do and your ideas get heard, this is the type of environment where that tends to happen.

The flip side is that a smaller team means fewer colleagues around you, and a smaller pool of people to share the workload or the staffroom with. For plenty of teachers that’s a fair trade, but it’s worth knowing before you go.

What you’ll earn

Salaries sit between 9,000 and 10,000 PLN a month before tax (roughly £1,800 to £2,000, or $2,400 to $2,700). After tax, that comes to roughly 6,500 to 7,000 PLN a month (around £1,300 to £1,400, or $1,750 to $1,900).

In Poland, that’s an average salary, and you can live on it comfortably. What it isn’t is a savings machine. If you’re coming from or comparing it with teaching in China, where the saving potential can be much higher, Poland is more about a good, settled quality of life than building a pot of money quickly. That’s an honest trade-off, and one worth weighing up early.

Housing is the other thing to think about. Some schools offer free housing, although they’ll withhold part of your salary to cover it. In most cases, though, you’re expected to find your own place, so it’s sensible to budget for rent and a deposit from the start.

Requirements: who can apply

This is a route for qualified teachers, so the requirements are more specific than on our TEFL-based programmes. Two things matter: where you’re from and what you studied.

  • Nationality: our partners are looking for candidates from the UK, USA, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or the EU.
  • Qualification: you need an education-related degree. That could be a Bachelor of Education, an M.Ed., an MA in Teaching or a PGCE.

The point of the qualification is that it builds real teaching practice, not just subject knowledge. A degree in an unrelated subject, even a strong one, isn’t what these schools are looking for, and neither is a TEFL certificate on its own. If you’re unsure whether your qualification counts, send it over and we’ll tell you straight.

Recruitment timeline: when to apply

Work starts in August, and it’s best to have applied by late February of the year you want to go to Poland.

That might feel early, but there’s a lot to get through between an offer and your first day: interviews, school decisions and, as the next section explains, some paperwork that takes time. Applying by late February gives you room to do all of that without rushing. If you’re reading this in the autumn or winter, you’re in a good position, and there’s no need to wait.

What to keep in mind: degree checks, visas and the TRC

This is the part we want you to read carefully, because it’s the bit that surprises people.

Authenticating your degree. Before you come to Poland, you’ll authenticate your degree certificate. It’s a step worth starting early.

Arriving without a visa. International schools look for candidates from the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia, Ireland and New Zealand, and teachers from these countries have the right to stay in the EU for 90 days without a visa. That’s what makes the move so straightforward: a school can make you an offer knowing you can simply turn up and start.

Applying for your TRC. During those 90 days, you’ll apply for a Temporary Residence Card (TRC). The TRC lets you stay in Poland for three years, but the application period can be lengthy, typically six to nine months. You can work while you wait. What you can’t do is leave Poland while the application is pending, so it’s sensible to plan ahead for any trips home, holidays or weddings you’d rather not miss.

The Polish government is working on reforms to significantly reduce how long applicants have to wait, which is encouraging, but nothing is guaranteed yet. It’s simply something to keep in mind if you apply for this programme, and it’s one we’ll talk through with you properly before you commit to anything.

Is this the right move for you?

If you hold an education-related degree, come from one of the eligible countries and want a small, close-knit school where you’re part of a community, an international school in Poland is a strong option. You’ll earn a comfortable salary, teach mostly Polish pupils working to both Polish and international standards, and live in a country that’s easy to explore.

If maximising your savings is the priority, or you need a long-term residence permit sorted before you start, Poland may be less of a fit than other destinations. And if the TRC wait puts you off, that’s worth raising with us early.

Ready to take the next step? Apply here, or email us at info@impact-teaching.com and we’ll talk you through the current openings. With work starting in August and applications best in by late February, the sooner you get in touch, the more options you’ll have.