If your company is registered in Poland - as an LLC (sp. z o.o.), branch or sole trader (JDG) - you can recover up to 90% of AI training costs via the National Training Fund (KFS) or up to 85% via the Development Services Database (BUR). Owner nationality does not matter. The training itself can be delivered in English.
Most foreign founders running businesses in Poland have no idea these programmes 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. Below: who qualifies, how to find English-language AI training, and how to apply step by step.
Do foreign-owned companies qualify?
Yes - in almost every case. The Polish state's training subsidy programmes (KFS, BUR, FERS) treat all companies registered in Poland the same way, regardless of who owns them. What matters is the legal entity, not the passport.
Who is eligible
- Polish LLC (sp. z o.o.) with foreign shareholders - including 100% foreign-owned
- Branch (oddzial) 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 counts as a Polish business for KFS/BUR purposes
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.
AI is an official priority for 2026: digital skills and artificial intelligence are listed as one of the key KFS priorities this year. AI training applications receive higher priority during assessment, regardless of whether the company is Polish-owned or foreign-owned.
The three funding programmes
There are three main routes for a Poland-registered company looking for AI training funding. Each has different rules, limits and an application path:
| Programme | Eligible for | Funding | Where to apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFS | All businesses (SMEs + large) | up to 70-90% | District Labour Office (PUP) |
| BUR / PSF | SMEs only | up to 50-85% | Regional operator |
| FERS (Akademia HR) | All businesses | up to 80% | PARP / operator |
KFS (Krajowy Fundusz Szkoleniowy - National Training Fund) is the fastest and simplest route. 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, own contribution just 10%
- Other businesses - up to 70% of training costs, own contribution 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 organisations, 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 Uslug Rozwojowych - Development Services Database) is a PARP system through which European funding for training flows. The mechanism is straightforward: your company picks a training course from the BUR catalogue 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. In one voivodeship you may get 80% back; in another, 65%.
BUR is available exclusively to SMEs - micro, small and medium-sized companies. Large businesses (250+ employees, EUR 50M+ turnover) must use KFS or FERS instead. The SME test looks at the Polish entity, not the global parent - but if a foreign parent owns 25% or more, group employee and turnover figures are added together when checking SME status.
Regional examples
- Masovian (Mazowieckie) - several active programmes, funding 50-85% depending on the project, per-employee limits up to tens of thousands of PLN
- Silesian (Slaskie) - PSF with up to 80% funding, plus an additional bonus for digital training
- Lesser Poland (Malopolskie) - development vouchers, up to 80% funding for digital competencies
Current calls for applications and operators for your voivodeship can be found at uslugirozwojowe.parp.gov.pl under the "Funding" tab.
FERS - an option for large businesses
Akademia HR is a programme under the European Funds for Social Development (FERS). It covers 15 competency areas, including digital tools and AI in HR. Key point: large businesses are also eligible - it is one of the few programmes without an SME restriction. Funding up to 80%, own contribution from 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?" The answer is yes, in English is fine - and the BUR catalogue increasingly reflects that.
What the rules say
Neither KFS nor BUR require 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
- Filter the BUR catalogue by language - uslugirozwojowe.parp.gov.pl lets you narrow results to courses delivered in English (look for "Jezyk uslugi: Angielski")
- 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
For 30Elevate, all our AI training courses can be delivered 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 are listed in BUR with a bilingual programme.
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:
- 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
- Select an AI training course in BUR - go to uslugirozwojowe.parp.gov.pl, filter by language if you need English delivery, and find a course that fits your company's needs. The provider must have an active listing
- Register your company in BUR - as an organisation, not a private person. You will need NIP, KRS or CEIDG number, and a representative authorised to sign on behalf of the company
- Submit the application electronically - via praca.gov.pl, using form PSZ-KFS. Attach the training programme, cost estimate and participant list. The form is in Polish
- Wait for the decision - the PUP processes applications within 5-20 business days. They will check your de minimis aid balance and the relevance of the training to job duties
- 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
- 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
Watch out for: KFS budgets run out fast - in major cities application rounds can close within days. Plan 2-3 months in advance. Most foreign-owned companies delegate the paperwork to their Polish accountant or HR partner, since the forms and PUP communication are in Polish. Also: register your BUR account as an organisation, not as a private individual - this is the most common reason applications get blocked.
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 (oddzial) or a Polish subsidiary of a multinational. 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 require the training language to be Polish. If the participants use English at work, English-language training is fully eligible. Filter the BUR catalogue at uslugirozwojowe.parp.gov.pl by language ("Jezyk uslugi: Angielski") to find listed English-language AI courses, or ask providers if they can deliver in English on request.
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), 70-80% via KFS (other sizes), and up to 85% via BUR (SMEs only). Foreign ownership does not change the percentages. Reimbursement covers training fee, materials and any examination fees, and is paid to the company's Polish bank account.
How long does the AI training funding process take?
Via KFS a decision is issued within 5-20 business days, and the full process from application to training takes 6-10 weeks. Via BUR, allow 4-12 weeks for registration, application and the contract with the regional operator. 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 completed PSZ-KFS form, business registration certificate (KRS extract or CEIDG print-out), training programme from the BUR-listed provider, cost estimate, participant list, and a de minimis aid declaration. 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 AI implementation costs, 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.
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