End of the 8-16 workday in Poland

23 May 2026 Poland Radar 0 Comments

Poland ends the 8-16 workday for central offices, allowing evening service once weekly. Keyword: end of 8-16 workday.

The government enacted a major change to public office hours, and it affects daily life. The reform signals the end of 8-16 workday for many central offices and opens evening access to citizens.

Table of Contents

What changed: end of 8-16 workday

The Prime Minister signed new rules on 17 April 2025. Consequently, the former schedule from 2007 ended on 26 April 2025. The regulation gives managers flexibility over opening hours. In addition, offices must provide one weekly long day. The long day must run at least from 08:00 to 18:00. Moreover, managers may shift the eight-hour window between 07:00 and 10:00. Therefore, some staff work early while others cover the evening shift.

Which offices follow the new rules

The regulation covers central government bodies. It includes tax offices, chambers of tax administration, provincial government offices, ministries and the Prime Minister’s Office. In addition, national police and state fire services at government level fall under the rule. However, local government offices do not. City halls, district offices, civil registry offices and municipal social care centers set hours themselves. Consequently, many expats must check the exact office before going. For example, Warsaw tax offices chose Monday as the long day. As a result, citizens can visit tax offices until 18:00 on Mondays. By contrast, a district office in the same city may close at 15:00.

Practical impacts and limits

The change matters for people who could not visit during standard hours. Many workers had to take leave for in-person matters. For instance, collecting documents, signing papers, or filing forms often required presence. Moreover, some procedures still require physical presence, such as collecting biometric ID documents or signing certified papers. However, many transactions moved online. The tax authority now handles certificates, JPK and many filings via e-Urząd Skarbowy. Also, registration matters like meldunek often work via gov.pl. Therefore, you should check digital options before travel.

💡 GOOD TO KNOW: If you are an expat, verify which office you must visit. Bring your PESEL if you have one (national ID number). Know that ZUS and NFZ are separate institutions for pensions and health (ZUS = Social Insurance Institution; NFZ = National Health Fund). Also remember fines (mandat) and civil registry matters often need an in-person signature. Check if the office requires an appointment. Finally, use online services at podatki.gov.pl or gov.pl whenever possible.

How to plan visits

First, check the public information bulletin (BIP) or the office website. Many Warsaw tax offices use an online booking system. Therefore, you may need a reservation even during the long day. Second, avoid peak hours between 16:00 and 18:00 on the long day. Consequently, mornings often have shorter queues. Third, confirm whether the specific service falls under the new rules. Some regional variations exist. For example, Bydgoszcz lists Tuesday as the long day while Sosnowiec opens earlier and stays open late on Mondays.

Overall, the reform improves access to central services. However, it does not standardize all public offices. In addition, you must still verify local schedules. Therefore, plan ahead and use online portals when you can.

Source: Read original article

📚 Looking for more help settling in Poland? Browse our complete Expat Guides.