Gdansk, the historic port city on the Baltic Sea and part of the Tri City metropolitan area together with Sopot and Gdynia, is one of the fastest developing regions of Poland in 2025 and 2026, the city combines maritime tradition with modern innovation, international trade, logistics, shipping, IT and start ups drive the economy, expats choose Gdansk for its seaside lifestyle, growing job opportunities and high quality of life, this guide explores visas and registration, the job market, recruitment and headhunters, expat neighborhoods, English teaching, schools, cost of living, start ups and outlook, with authority resources and career support from ProCV Services Poland,
visas and registration for expats in Gdansk follow national rules, foreigners must determine whether they require a national visa type D or can enter visa free, official guidance is available at gov.pl visas, for long term work a work permit, residence and work permit or EU Blue Card may be required, applications are handled by the Pomorskie Voivode Office in Gdansk at uw pomorski, general information in English is provided by the Office for Foreigners at udsc, expats must also obtain a PESEL number and register their address with the city office at gdansk.pl,
the job market in Gdansk is strongly connected to logistics, port services and shipbuilding, global shipping and logistics companies base their operations here, recent years also show rapid growth in IT services, business service centers and start ups, employers in the region include Intel, Lufthansa Systems, Amazon and DNV, recruitment agencies such as Randstad, Hays, Antal and Manpower operate in Gdansk, preparing a CV tailored to Polish employers with ProCV Services Poland improves job prospects,
the technology and start up sector in Gdansk is expanding, the city supports innovation clusters in Wrzeszcz and Oliwa, start ups benefit from funding opportunities at parp.gov.pl and programs by the Polish Development Fund at pfr.pl, the Polish Investment and Trade Agency highlights Tri City as a growing technology hub at paih.gov.pl, coworking spaces, accelerators and university partnerships drive entrepreneurship,
living in Gdansk as an expat offers a seaside lifestyle combined with cultural richness, popular neighborhoods include Wrzeszcz, Oliwa, Przymorze and Śródmieście, Sopot offers beachside living with higher rents, Gdynia provides a calmer suburban alternative, official information on city services and housing is published at gdansk.pl, public transport includes buses, trams and the SKM urban railway linking Gdansk, Sopot and Gdynia, cycling infrastructure is improving, the city’s beaches and parks add to quality of life,
schools in Gdansk include public and private options, the International School of Gdansk provides English language education at isg.gdansk.pl, universities such as the University of Gdansk and Gdansk University of Technology attract international students and academics, the Ministry of Education publishes guidelines on gov.pl education, expat families can combine international schooling with extracurricular activities in music, sailing and sports,
English teaching jobs in Gdansk are common, with language schools, academies and corporate training programs hiring teachers year round, demand peaks before the school year in September, qualifications such as TEFL or CELTA improve chances, international schools and universities also employ English teachers and bilingual subject teachers, opportunities are advertised on school websites and recruitment portals,
the cost of living in Gdansk is moderate, rental prices are lower than in Warsaw but higher in Sopot, Wrzeszcz and Oliwa offer mid range rents, groceries, transport and utilities are affordable, official data on inflation and wages is available at stat.gov.pl, forecasts and indicators are published by the National Bank of Poland at nbp.pl, healthcare is covered through ZUS contributions with private clinics in the city center and suburban areas,
government institutions important for expats in Gdansk include the Pomorskie Voivode Office uw pomorski, the Office for Foreigners udsc, the Social Insurance Institution zus.pl, the National Tax Portal podatki.gov.pl and the Gdansk City Portal gdansk.pl, these sources provide updates, forms and announcements for foreign residents,
looking ahead to 2025 and 2026 Gdansk continues to benefit from expansion of port infrastructure, new investments in IT and logistics, and growth of start ups, Tri City metro plans are under discussion to improve transport, digitalisation of residence and labor market procedures through praca.gov.pl and obywatel.gov.pl is ongoing, expats who prepare with professional CVs and applications from ProCV Services Poland will find opportunities in Gdansk’s competitive and international job market, combining career growth with seaside living, Gdansk is one of the most attractive Polish cities for expatriates in the coming years,