What Is a KRAZ License and Why Your Recruitment Agency Must Have One

If you are looking for work in Poland through a recruitment agency, there is one thing you absolutely must verify before signing anything or paying any money: does the agency have a KRAZ license?

KRAZ is not optional. It is not a "nice to have." It is the legal certification that a recruitment agency is authorized by the Polish government to operate. Using an agency without KRAZ registration is like boarding a plane with an unlicensed pilot — technically possible, but dangerously risky.

This article explains exactly what KRAZ is, how to verify any agency's registration in minutes, and what red flags to watch for.

What Is KRAZ?

KRAZ stands for Krajowy Rejestr Agencji Zatrudnienia — the National Register of Employment Agencies in Poland. It is a government database maintained by the Marshal's Office (Urząd Marszałkowski) of each voivodeship (province) in Poland.

Under Polish law (specifically the Act of 20 April 2004 on Employment Promotion and Labour Market Institutions), any entity that provides employment agency services in Poland must be registered in KRAZ. This includes:

Agencies that recruit workers for employment in Poland
Agencies that provide temporary staffing services
Agencies that offer job placement services
Agencies that provide employment counseling

The registration requirement applies to both Polish companies and foreign companies recruiting workers to Poland.

What KRAZ Registration Proves

When an agency is registered in KRAZ, it means the Polish government has verified that:

The company is legally incorporated and registered in Poland's business registries
The company meets legal requirements for operating a recruitment agency, including proper insurance and financial standing
The company is subject to government oversight — the Marshal's Office can inspect the agency, audit its practices, and revoke its license for violations
The company files annual reports on its activities to the government
Workers recruited by this agency have legal protections under Polish employment law

In short, KRAZ registration means someone is watching. If something goes wrong, there is a government authority you can complain to and a legal framework that protects you.

How to Check if an Agency Has a KRAZ License

Verifying KRAZ registration is free and takes less than 2 minutes. Here is how:

Method 1: The Official KRAZ Database (Recommended)

Go to stor.praca.gov.pl/portal
Navigate to the KRAZ section (Krajowy Rejestr Agencji Zatrudnienia)
Search by company name or KRAZ registration number
The results show the agency's full legal name, KRAZ number, registration date, address, and types of services they are authorized to provide

If the agency appears in the database, they are legally registered. If they do not appear, they are NOT authorized to operate as a recruitment agency in Poland.

Method 2: Ask the Agency Directly

A legitimate agency will immediately provide their KRAZ number when asked. They will be proud to share it because it proves their credibility. If an agency hesitates, deflects, or refuses to provide their KRAZ number, that is a major red flag.

Other Verification Methods: KRAZ Is Not Enough on Its Own

While KRAZ is the most important check, a thorough verification includes additional databases. Here is your complete verification toolkit:

KRS — National Court Register (Krajowy Rejestr Sądowy)

The KRS is Poland's commercial register where all companies are listed.

How to check: Visit biznes.gov.pl or ems.ms.gov.pl
Search by: Company name or KRS number
What it shows: Company registration date, legal address, board members and directors, share capital, company status (active/dissolved)
Why it matters: You can verify that the company actually exists, see who runs it, and check if it is still active. If the directors' names do not match who you are dealing with, be cautious.

WWS verification: KRS number 0000598190 — search this yourself to verify our registration.

NIP — Tax Identification Number

Every legitimate Polish company has a NIP (Numer Identyfikacji Podatkowej).

How to check: Search at biznes.gov.pl or the Ministry of Finance's taxpayer register
What it shows: Whether the company is registered as an active taxpayer
Why it matters: If a company is not tax-registered, it is not operating legally

WWS verification: NIP 7792438654

Physical Office Verification

Legitimate recruitment agencies have real, physical offices that you can visit or at least verify exist.

Google Maps: Search the agency's registered address. Is it a real office building? Does it show up on Street View?
Google Reviews: Check if the office has reviews from real visitors
Phone verification: Call the office landline (not just a mobile number) to confirm they answer professionally

WWS offices you can verify and visit:

Szczecin, Poland — Our headquarters
Abuja, Nigeria — West Africa operations
Tirana, Albania — Southeast Europe operations

All three offices are findable on Google Maps with verified addresses.

What Happens If You Use an Unlicensed Agency

Using an agency without KRAZ registration exposes you to serious risks:

No Legal Protection

If the agency takes your money and disappears, you have no recourse through Polish employment authorities. The agency is not in their system, so they cannot investigate or help you recover funds.

Higher Scam Risk

Unlicensed agencies are more likely to be fraudulent operations. Common scams include:

Collecting fees for jobs that do not exist
Providing fake employment contracts
Sending workers to employers who do not know they are coming
Abandoning workers after arrival in Poland with no job and no support

No Recourse if Things Go Wrong

If you arrive in Poland and discover the job is not what was promised, a licensed agency is accountable to the government. An unlicensed agency is accountable to no one.

Employer Penalties

Polish employers who hire workers through unlicensed agencies can also face penalties. This means legitimate employers avoid working with unregistered agencies, which further means that an unlicensed agency is more likely to connect you with problematic employers.

Penalties for Operating Without KRAZ

Poland takes unlicensed recruitment activity seriously:

Fines up to PLN 100,000 (approximately EUR 23,000) for operating an employment agency without registration
Criminal liability in cases involving exploitation or fraud
Forced closure of the business
Personal liability for company directors

These penalties exist to protect workers like you. They create a real deterrent against illegal operators.

Red Flags: Agencies That Claim to Have Licenses but Don't

Scam agencies have developed sophisticated excuses for not having KRAZ registration. Here are the most common ones — and why every single one is a red flag:

"We are currently applying for KRAZ registration"

Under Polish law, you cannot operate as a recruitment agency while your application is pending. If they are recruiting you before their registration is confirmed, they are operating illegally.

"We work under another agency's KRAZ license"

KRAZ registration is not transferable or shareable. Each agency must have its own registration. There is no legal concept of operating under someone else's KRAZ license.

"KRAZ is not required for our type of service"

If the service involves finding you a job in Poland, facilitating your employment, or placing you with a Polish employer, KRAZ is required. There are no exemptions for "consulting," "advisory," or "facilitation" services that are actually recruitment.

"Our registration is from a different country"

A foreign registration (from Nigeria, India, or any other country) does not replace KRAZ. Any agency recruiting workers for Poland must be registered in the Polish KRAZ system, regardless of where the agency is based.

"We will register once we have enough clients"

This is simply illegal. Registration must come first, clients second. No exceptions.

The rule is simple: if you cannot find the agency in the KRAZ database at stor.praca.gov.pl, do not use them.

How to Verify World Wide Services

We encourage every potential client to verify our credentials before working with us. Full transparency is part of how we operate.

Credential	Number	Where to Verify
KRAZ	Registered	stor.praca.gov.pl
KRS	0000598190	biznes.gov.pl
NIP	7792438654	biznes.gov.pl
Szczecin Office	Verified	Google Maps
Abuja Office	Verified	Google Maps
Tirana Office	Verified	Google Maps

We have been operating since 2016 and have successfully placed over 3,720 workers across Poland, Serbia, and Albania with a 97% approval rate. Every one of those placements was made through fully licensed, government-registered channels.

Beyond KRAZ: What Else to Look For in a Recruitment Agency

KRAZ registration is the minimum requirement, not the only indicator of quality. When evaluating agencies, also consider:

Track record: How long have they been operating? How many workers have they placed?
Transparency: Do they clearly explain fees, timelines, and what is included in their service?
Communication: Do they respond to questions promptly and professionally?
Reviews and testimonials: Can you find real reviews from real workers?
No upfront visa fees: Legitimate agencies typically collect fees in structured installments, not large lump sums upfront before any work is done
Written agreements: Everything should be documented in a signed contract — verbal promises are worthless

Frequently Asked Questions

Can an agency operate legally in Poland without KRAZ?

No. Polish law requires all employment agencies to be registered in KRAZ. Operating without registration is illegal and subject to fines up to PLN 100,000.

Is KRAZ the same as a business license?

No. KRAZ is a specialized registration specifically for employment agencies. A company can have a general business registration (KRS) without having KRAZ. Both are required to legally operate as a recruitment agency.

Does KRAZ registration mean the agency is guaranteed to be good?

KRAZ registration means the agency is legal and subject to oversight. It does not guarantee service quality. Use KRAZ as your first filter, then evaluate track record, reviews, and transparency to assess quality.

How often is the KRAZ register updated?

The register is maintained continuously. New registrations, updates, and removals are reflected in real time on the stor.praca.gov.pl portal.

What should I do if I discover my agency is not KRAZ registered?

Stop all engagement immediately. Do not pay any additional fees. If you have already paid, document everything (receipts, communications, contracts) and file a complaint with the local labor inspectorate (Państwowa Inspekcja Pracy) and the police.

Do agencies in other countries (Nigeria, India, etc.) need KRAZ too?

If they are recruiting workers specifically for employment in Poland, they should be working in partnership with a KRAZ-registered entity in Poland. Ask them for the KRAZ number of their Polish partner and verify it yourself.

Your Safety Starts With Verification

Checking an agency's KRAZ registration takes less than 2 minutes. It is the single most effective thing you can do to protect yourself from recruitment fraud.

Before you pay any fees, sign any contracts, or hand over any personal documents, verify. Go to stor.praca.gov.pl, search the agency's name, and confirm they are registered. Check their KRS number at biznes.gov.pl. Look up their offices on Google Maps.

If everything checks out, you can proceed with confidence. If anything does not, walk away.

World Wide Services is fully KRAZ-registered, KRS-verified (0000598190), and operates from physical offices in Szczecin, Abuja, and Tirana. We have placed over 3,720 workers since 2016 with a 97% approval rate.

Ready to work with a verified, licensed agency? Visit worldwideservice.eu for a free consultation.

What Is a KRAZ License and Why Your Recruitment Agency Must Have One