International residents in Kraków who are looking to improve their Polish, develop new professional skills or get help navigating employment and social services can access a range of free support from VELA Foundation.
The Foundation is delivering the “Competences Without Borders” project as part of the 2026 Sectoral Programme for the Activation of Foreigners, coordinated by Poland’s Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy.
The programme is aimed at people aged 15 and over who do not hold Polish or EU citizenship and are legally residing in Poland.
For people settling in Kraków, the programme offers practical support that can be useful at different stages of life in Poland, from learning the language and preparing a CV to understanding social services and finding a route into employment.
Individual career consultations
One of the options currently available is individual career support. Each participant can receive 12 consultations, covering different stages of the job-search and employment process.
Sessions can include:
identifying existing skills and professional experience
setting professional goals
choosing a suitable career path
preparing or improving a CV
preparing for job interviews
looking for employment or internships
adjusting to a new workplace
The support is intended to provide a structured route from identifying a person's skills and ambitions through to finding suitable work and settling into a new professional environment.
Help with everyday social and administrative questions
VELA Foundation also offers social consultations for people who need guidance on practical matters connected with living in Poland.
Topics can include questions about:
legalisation of stay
driving licences
matters handled by MOPS (Municipal Social Support Centre)
ZUS and social benefits
recognition of pensions
disability certificates and related procedures
These consultations can be particularly useful for people who are unfamiliar with Polish administrative systems or are unsure which institution to approach with a particular question.
Registration for career and social consultations:
VELA Foundation consultation registration form
Vocational courses, including logistics, care and office skills
The project also provides free vocational training in a variety of fields.
The current offer includes courses covering areas such as:
basic accounting, including elements of HR and payroll
care for older people
support for people with disabilities
childcare in nurseries
intercultural assistance
teaching assistant work
warehousing and logistics, including forklift operation
professional English for the medical and pharmaceutical sectors
workplace English, including recruitment interviews and communication in an office environment
Some courses have already started, but applications are still being accepted. People interested in vocational training can submit a registration form and may be considered for places on courses that have not yet begun or where spaces remain available.
Registration for vocational courses:
VELA Foundation vocational course registration form
Polish language courses and information sessions
The programme also includes free Polish language courses. In addition, participants can take part in group information sessions focused on professional development and workers’ rights in Poland.
Dates and recruitment information are published by the Foundation as new activities become available, so people interested in joining are encouraged to follow VELA Foundation's information channels for updates.
For international residents of Kraków, these sessions can provide a useful introduction to aspects of working and living in Poland that are not always covered by formal language or professional training.
Who can apply?
The programme is open to people who:
are 15 or older
do not have Polish citizenship
do not have citizenship of an EU member state
are legally residing in Poland
The support is free for eligible participants.
As vocational courses are being delivered on an ongoing basis, submitting an application does not necessarily mean joining a course that has already started. However, the Foundation continues to accept applications and can consider candidates for other available training opportunities.
For Kraków's international community, the programme brings together language learning, professional development and practical guidance on employment and social matters in one support offer. For anyone considering a change of career, looking for their first job in Poland or simply trying to understand how local systems work, it may be worth checking what places are currently available.
See more: Krakow’s Multicultural Ambassadors to Be Announced on 12 September
Source and image credit: VELA Foundation