AI Training Funding in Poland: A Guide for Foreign-Owned Companies

If your company is registered in Poland - as an LLC (sp. z o.o.), branch or sole trader (JDG) - in 2026 you can recover up to 90% of AI training costs via the National Training Fund (KFS) if you are a micro-business (up to 70% for other firms), or up to 85% via regional PSF programs that use the Development Services Database (BUR). Owner nationality does not matter. The training itself can be delivered in English. Three main paths in 2026: 1) KFS - fastest and simplest, application via the local labor office (Powiatowy Urząd Pracy), each office sets its own review deadline, up to 90% funding for micro-businesses and up to 70% for everyone else. 2) BUR - highest caps for small businesses (up to 85%), more paperwork, the course must be registered in the Development Services Database. 3) FERS and regional funds - an additional option, especially for larger companies. AI and digital skills training are a KFS priority in 2026 - offices approve them readily. The 2026 limits changed: up to 200% of the average national salary per person per year, down from 300%, and alongside it a new annual cap for the whole company - starting at 4x the average salary for headcounts up to 9. There is also a new entry condition: at least 6 months of Labour Fund contributions before you file. Submit applications in the first weeks of intake - funds run out fast.

Most foreign founders running businesses in Poland have no idea these programs exist - or assume they apply only to Polish-owned firms. They do not. The eligibility criterion is the company's registration in Poland, not the citizenship of its owners.

This guide is for English-speaking founders, expat managers and international companies with Polish entities. It covers who qualifies, how to find English-language AI training, and how to apply step by step.

Updated: October 2026. We split the funding rates in the page summary by program and company size, corrected the large-business threshold and how foreign ownership counts in the SME test, and removed an incorrect statement that 30Elevate is listed in BUR. In July we corrected the KFS rules to those in force since January 1, 2026: the per-person cap is 200% of the average salary (we previously stated 300%), and funding runs up to 90% for micro-businesses and up to 70% for everyone else. We also added the new annual cap for the whole company and the requirement of at least 6 months of Labour Fund contributions before applying.

Do foreign-owned companies qualify?

Yes - in almost every case. KFS, BUR/PSF and FERS look at the company registered in Poland, not the nationality of its owners. What matters is the legal entity, not the passport. For BUR/PSF (SMEs only), the EU SME test counts partner and linked enterprises, so a foreign parent's headcount and financials can push you out of the SME category (Recommendation 2003/361/EC).

Who is eligible

• Polish LLC (sp. z o.o.) with foreign shareholders - including 100% foreign-owned
• Branch (oddział) of a foreign company registered in the Polish company register (KRS)
• Sole trader (JDG) run by a foreign citizen with valid residence and business rights in Poland
• Polish subsidiary of a multinational - it qualifies for KFS as a Polish employer; for BUR/PSF it must still pass the SME test with group data, so a subsidiary of a large group usually does not qualify

What you need before you apply

• NIP (Polish tax ID) for the company - mandatory
• Active KRS or CEIDG entry - the company must be operational, not dormant
• At least one employee on a Polish employment or civil-law contract (KFS) - sole traders can also fund their own training
• Polish bank account for the company - reimbursement goes to the company, not to a foreign account
• De minimis aid headroom - state aid received in the past 3 years must stay under EUR 300,000

You do not need a Polish PESEL to run the application as the company representative - the company's NIP is the key identifier. In practice, most foreign founders work with a Polish accountant or HR partner who handles the paperwork in Polish.

The three funding programs

There are three main routes for a Poland-registered company looking for AI training funding. Each has its own rules, limits and application path:

KFS (Krajowy Fundusz Szkoleniowy - National Training Fund) is the fastest and simplest route. It is available to businesses of all sizes registered in Poland, including sole traders. BUR (Development Services Database) offers the highest funding rates for SMEs but requires more paperwork. FERS is an additional option, particularly for larger companies that do not qualify for BUR.

KFS - the fastest route to funding

KFS (Krajowy Fundusz Szkoleniowy - National Training Fund) is money from the Labour Fund distributed through District Labour Offices (PUP). It is open to every company registered in Poland - foreign-owned LLCs, branches and JDGs included. Size does not matter either, from sole traders to corporations.

How much you can recover

• Micro-businesses (up to 9 employees) - up to 90% of training costs, you pay just 10%
• Other businesses - up to 70% of training costs, you pay 30%

The per-employee limit is tied to average wages and changes every year, but in practice it covers even multi-day intensive AI training. The company also has an annual limit based on headcount.

Who qualifies

• Businesses with employees on employment or civil-law contracts
• Sole traders (from 2026 - even without employees)
• Large businesses - yes, KFS is not restricted to SMEs
• Almost any industry - no strict sectoral exclusions

Which AI training qualifies

Virtually any AI training connected to the participant's work:

• ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini for office use
• Prompt engineering and prompting techniques
• Process automation (Make, Zapier, no-code)
• AI in marketing, sales, HR, customer service
• Data analysis using AI
• AI implementation in organizations, AI project management

Format does not matter - in-person, online or hybrid. The training can be delivered in English as long as the participant uses English at work. The only formal requirement: the training provider must be registered in the BUR (Development Services Database). This has been a mandatory condition since 2026.

BUR and regional funds - up to 85% for SMEs

BUR (Baza Usług Rozwojowych - Development Services Database) is a PARP system that channels European funding for training. The mechanism is straightforward: your company picks a training course from the BUR catalog and a regional operator reimburses part of the cost.

How it works

Each voivodeship has its own operators - foundations, development agencies or associations that manage the training budget. Funding levels and limits differ by region. Check current calls for your region at uslugirozwojowe.parp.gov.pl.

BUR itself is open to everyone, but most regional PSF programs that fund services from BUR are for SMEs only - micro, small and medium-sized companies. Large businesses (250 or more employees, or turnover above EUR 50 million and a balance sheet above EUR 43 million) can use KFS (the provider must still be listed in BUR) or calls that include large companies, such as Akademia HR. Check the rules of the specific call. The SME test looks at the Polish entity, but ownership counts: a foreign shareholder with 25-50% makes you a partner enterprise (its headcount and financials are added in proportion to the stake), and above 50% the group figures are added in full (EU SME definition, Recommendation 2003/361/EC).

Regional examples

• Masovian (Mazowieckie) - in 2026 two WUP Warsaw projects: 50% of the service cost in Warsaw and 9 surrounding counties (up to PLN 4,250 per participant) and 85% in the rest of the region (up to PLN 9,605 per participant), source: Warsaw Labour Office, as of August 14, 2026
• Silesian (Śląskie) - PSF with up to 80% funding, plus an additional bonus for digital training
• Lesser Poland (Małopolskie) - development vouchers, up to 80% funding for digital skills

You can find current calls for applications and operators for your voivodeship at uslugirozwojowe.parp.gov.pl under the "Funding" tab.

FERS - an option for large businesses

Akademia HR is a program under the European Funds for Social Development (FERS). It covers HR staff competencies described by PARP, including the use of digital tools and systems in HR. Key point: large businesses are also eligible - it is one of the few programs without an SME restriction. Funding covers up to 80%, and you pay at least 20%.

AI training delivered in English

One of the most common questions we hear from foreign founders: "Can the training actually be in English, or does my team need to suffer through a Polish-language course?" Short answer: English is fine - and the BUR catalog increasingly reflects that.

What the rules say

Neither KFS nor BUR requires the training language to be Polish. The rules require the training provider to be registered in BUR and the training to be relevant to the participant's job. If the participant uses English at work - which is often the case in foreign-owned companies and international subsidiaries - English-language training is fully eligible.

How to find an English-language AI course

• Search the BUR catalog by topic - uslugirozwojowe.parp.gov.pl has no delivery-language filter, so check the service card or ask the provider whether the course runs in English. The Languages category lists English-language-learning courses, not courses taught in English
• Ask the provider directly - many providers run the same AI course in both languages on demand, even if only the Polish version is listed publicly
• Online or hybrid format - English-speaking AI trainers in Poland are concentrated in Warsaw, Krakow and Wroclaw, but online delivery removes the geographic constraint
• Materials and certificate language - confirm in advance that course materials, the attendance record and the completion certificate will be in English (or bilingual) so participants can use them across the company

At 30Elevate, we can deliver all our AI training courses in English - prompt engineering, ChatGPT and Claude for office work, automation with Make and Zapier, AI for marketing and sales, plus advanced workshops on AI agents. We deliver funded training together with a BUR-listed institution - tell us at the start.

Step by step - how to apply

The simplest path is KFS through the District Labour Office (PUP) covering your company's registered address. Here is how the process works:

1. Check application rounds at your PUP - each office announces its deadlines separately, usually in the first quarter of the year. Monitor your PUP's website or have your accountant call them. PUPs operate in Polish, so a Polish-speaking partner helps
2. Select an AI training course in BUR - go to uslugirozwojowe.parp.gov.pl, search by topic (there is no language filter, so check the service card or ask the provider if you need English delivery), and find a course that fits your company's needs. The provider must have an active listing
3. Use your organization account on praca.gov.pl - file the KFS application from your company's organization account, not a private one; some offices verify this account in advance, so check before the call opens. You do not need a BUR account for KFS - only the training provider must be listed in BUR. You will need your NIP, KRS or CEIDG number, and a representative authorized to sign on behalf of the company
4. Submit the application electronically - via praca.gov.pl, using form PSZ-KFS. Attach the training program and the de minimis documents; costs and participant details go into the application itself (some offices also ask for a participant list as a separate annex). The form is in Polish
5. Wait for the decision - each PUP sets its own review deadline in the call announcement. In 2026, examples range from up to 30 business days to 45 or up to 60 days after the call closes. They will check your de minimis aid balance and the relevance of the training to job duties
6. Sign the agreement and run the training - after a positive decision you sign a contract with the PUP (in Polish), deliver the training and collect documents: invoices, attendance records, completion certificates
7. Submit your claim and receive reimbursement - the funded amount is paid to your company's Polish bank account, not to a foreign account or to the founder personally

Frequently asked questions

Does my Polish LLC qualify if I am a foreign citizen?

Yes. KFS and BUR look at the company's registration in Poland (NIP, KRS or CEIDG entry), not the nationality of the owner. A 100% foreign-owned sp. z o.o. qualifies on the same terms as a Polish-owned company. The same applies to a branch (oddział) or a Polish subsidiary of a multinational. For BUR/PSF (SMEs only), the EU SME test also counts partner and linked enterprises, so a large foreign parent can push you out of the SME category. The only practical difference is that you will likely need a Polish accountant or HR partner to handle paperwork in Polish.

Can the AI training be conducted in English?

Yes. Neither KFS nor BUR requires the training language to be Polish. If the participants use English at work, English-language training is fully eligible. Search BUR by topic - uslugirozwojowe.parp.gov.pl has no delivery-language filter, so check the service card or ask the provider whether the course runs in English. The Languages category lists English-language-learning courses, not courses taught in English.

Do I need a Polish PESEL to apply?

Not for the company application itself - the company's NIP is the key identifier. A PESEL becomes useful when an individual representative signs documents using a trusted profile (Profil Zaufany), but qualified electronic signatures issued in any EU country are also accepted. Most foreign founders delegate filing to a Polish accountant who already has the credentials in place.

How much funding can a foreign-owned company recover?

Up to 90% via KFS (micro-businesses up to 9 employees), 70% via KFS (other sizes), and in 2026 up to 85% via regional PSF programs, where you pick the course from BUR (SMEs only) - the level depends on the voivodeship. Foreign ownership does not change the KFS percentages - they depend only on your company's headcount (in BUR/PSF a foreign parent can change your SME size class). Under KFS, reimbursement covers the training provider's fee, fees of the body that examines or certifies the skills, postgraduate studies, required medical and psychological exams, and accident insurance; materials only as part of the provider's price. It is paid to the company's Polish bank account.

How long does the AI training funding process take?

Via KFS, each PUP sets its own review deadline in the call announcement. In 2026, examples range from up to 30 business days to 45 or up to 60 days after the call closes - and training can start only after the agreement is signed. Via BUR (PSF), timing depends on the regional operator and the rules of the call: for example, in the 2026 WUP Warsaw project (1/RMR/2026) the operator verifies applications within 15 business days of the call closing and you then have 5 business days to sign. You receive the support ID once the operator agreement is signed. Plan around the PUP application calendar - in major cities, rounds can close within days of opening.

Which AI training courses qualify for funding?

Eligible training includes ChatGPT, Claude and other AI tools for office work, prompt engineering, process automation (Make, Zapier, n8n), AI in marketing, sales, HR and customer service, data analysis with AI, and AI implementation or AI agent project management. The training must be registered in BUR and connected to the participant's job.

What documents are needed for a KFS application?

The PSZ-KFS application (filed via praca.gov.pl) plus attachments: the de minimis aid statement and the de minimis information form, the training program confirmed by the BUR-listed provider, and a template of the completion certificate. Depending on the labor office, you may also need a participant list as a separate annex. A legal-form document is needed only if the company is not in KRS or CEIDG. Costs are entered in the application itself. The forms are in Polish - in practice most foreign-owned companies delegate filing to a Polish accountant or HR partner.

If you want to know what it costs to implement AI, read our guide to AI costs. And if you are wondering what an AI agent is, check out our complete guide to AI agents for businesses.