How to Become a Courier

“How to become a courier” is a question asked every year by thousands of people who are moving to Poland or looking for a flexible side job that requires no experience. In reality, the term “courier” covers two completely different types of work, and the confusion between them is the main reason why people get lost amid the requirements and terms of employment. Qiwi Partner will break down both paths, the documents you’ll need, actual earnings, and what foreigners just starting to work in Poland should pay special attention to.

Two Paths to a Career as a Courier

The requirements for couriers vary depending on the type of delivery you choose—and it’s a good idea to find this out before submitting your first request.

• Logistics Courier (packages, mail). This involves working with companies like InPost, DPD, or other courier services. These jobs often require you to have your own vehicle (and quite often a minivan), a Class B driver’s license, and a willingness to register as a self-employed business. The pay is higher, but so are the responsibilities—you have to cover the costs of fuel, vehicle maintenance, and taxes on your own.
• Food Delivery Courier (apps). These include Glovo, Bolt Food, Wolt, Uber Eats, and similar platforms. The barrier to entry here is much lower: you can even start out on foot or by bike, without your own car and without registering a business—all you need is a partnership with a payment processor under a commission agreement.

In practice, we see that most foreigners who have just arrived in Poland choose the second option— food delivery via apps. It makes sense: the barrier to entry is minimal, and the payment partner handles all the paperwork while you focus on the work itself.

Basic Requirements for Couriers

The requirements for couriers in both directions overlap to some extent, although there are also significant differences.

Regardless of the field you choose, you will need:

• a valid passport or identification card;
• a smartphone with Internet access;
• a bank account for receiving payments;
• Basic proficiency in Polish or English at a conversational level.

At what age can you start working as a food delivery driver? The standard answer for most food delivery apps is 18 years old, with no exceptions. The requirement is the same for logistics and courier companies, and if you plan to drive a car, you must have a Class B driver’s license. We’ve covered the age requirements for specific platforms (Wolt, Uber Eats, Bolt Food) in detail in separate articles—where we also explain the source of the common confusion regarding lower age limits in each specific case.

Forms of Collaboration: What to Choose If You Don't Have Your Own Company

Requirements for couriers also include a question that often confuses newcomers: Is it necessary to register a business? The answer depends on the type of arrangement you choose.

• Agency Agreement (umowa zlecenie). This is the simplest option for those who don't want to start their own business. It's most commonly used for food delivery through apps—the payment partner handles the payments, and you simply work according to a schedule that you choose yourself.
• Collaboration through a payment partner. This isn't a separate legal entity, but rather a convenient intermediary: the partner signs a contract with you (usually specifying a power of attorney), helps with the paperwork, and even provides equipment—such as a thermal bag or a uniform.

To be honest, for most newcomers, especially foreigners who are just figuring out the paperwork in a new country, a power-of-attorney agreement through a business partner is the easiest and fastest way to get started, without the risk of getting bogged down in running a business on your own.

What mode of transportation should you choose when working as a courier?

The requirements for courier vehicles vary so widely that it’s worth considering each option separately before applying.

1. On foot or by bike. Minimum entry requirements: No driver's license or personal vehicle with special documentation is required. Suitable for densely populated areas of large cities where the distances between orders are short.
2. Electric scooter or moped. Depending on the vehicle's power, you may need a driver's license of the appropriate category. This allows you to cover a larger area and accept more orders per shift.
3. Car. Mandatory Category B rights. This option is ideal for logistics couriers or those who want to work with multiple delivery platforms at the same time to maximize the number of orders per hour.
4. Minivan (for logistics couriers). The highest entry barrier—it requires more startup capital or a lease—but earnings are higher due to the volume of packages per trip.

The choice of vehicle directly affects earnings: the larger the service area and the faster the vehicle, the more orders you can complete per shift—but vehicle maintenance costs also rise proportionally.

What It's Like to Work as a Courier for Foreigners

Working as a courier in Poland appeals primarily to people from Ukraine, Belarus, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan precisely because it does not require a degree or years of experience. But the formal entry requirements are only half the story. Additionally, you need legal residency status in Poland and a document granting the right to work: a residence permit, a visa with the appropriate work authorization, or another status that provides for this.

If you’re still unsure about exactly which status is required in your specific situation, this is a separate issue that should be clarified before you submit your application. Incorrectly prepared documents can delay account activation by weeks, and in the worst case, lead to rejection. This is where partners such as Qiwi Partner They take care of some of the paperwork for you: they check which specific documents you’re missing and help you complete the process while you focus on the work itself.

How much can you earn working as a courier?

A courier's earnings depend primarily on the type of arrangement chosen and the number of hours worked, so any specific figure without context would be incomplete.

• Under a contract of agency (food delivery). Earnings increase in proportion to the number of orders completed and the hours worked, especially during peak hours or inclement weather, when demand for delivery is highest.
• In B2B (parcel logistics). The potential income ceiling is higher, but you have to deduct expenses for fuel, vehicle maintenance, insurance, and taxes on your own—so the actual take-home pay ends up being significantly lower than the amount stated in the ad.

In practice, beginners should first try a low-cost option—food delivery via an app under a commission-based contract—and, once they have some initial experience and an understanding of the local market, decide whether to move on to B2B and use their own vehicle.

Read more articles on this topic:

• How much does a Glovo courier earn?
• How much does an Uber Eats courier earn?
• How much does a Wolt courier earn?
• How much does a Stuart courier earn?

How to Get Started as a Courier: A Step-by-Step Guide

The launch process itself is fairly simple and usually takes a few days, provided that all the documents are in order.

1. Determining the direction. Whether it's logistics-based package delivery or food delivery via an app—all subsequent steps depend on this.
2. Choosing a Form of Collaboration. Self-employment or a contract of agency through a settlement partner.
3. Submitting an Application. Fill out the form on the website of the selected company or partner, specifying your preferred mode of transportation.
4. Document preparation. Identification documents, proof of legal residency status, and, if necessary, a driver’s license of the appropriate category.
5. Signing the contract. Online or at a partner's office, depending on how the process is organized.
6. Picking up the equipment. An insulated bag or other necessary accessories for food delivery are usually provided immediately after your account is activated.
7. First order. Once all the formalities are complete, you can head out onto the track.

Most often, delays at the start aren’t caused by the company itself, but by an incomplete set of documents—so it’s a good idea to check in advance that all the scans are clear and that your passport or residence permit won’t expire anytime soon.

Become a courier through Qiwi Partner

Tips on How to Become a Courier

So, how to become a courier—this is a question you should start by choosing a direction rather than searching for a specific job opening: logistics-based package delivery or food delivery through apps. Each path has its own requirements regarding transportation, the form of collaboration, and actual earnings. For most beginners, especially foreigners, the easiest way to get started is by delivering food under a commission agreement through a payment partner, without having to register your own business.

If you still have questions about the required documents, choosing between different types of courier work, or legalizing your stay in Poland, the Qiwi Partner team will help you navigate your specific situation and advise you on the best place to start.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How can I become a courier without my own car?
   Yes, it's true—delivering food on foot, by bike, or on an electric scooter doesn't require a driver's license or your own vehicle with special documentation.
2. At what age can you start working as a food delivery driver?
   The standard age requirement for most delivery apps is 18 years old, with no exceptions for any mode of transportation.
3. Do you have to register a business to become a courier?
   No. For food delivery through apps, a contract of agency through a payment partner is most commonly used, without the need to register the business.
4. Which is more advantageous—a B2B contract or a contract of agency?
   A commission agreement is easier to get started with and involves fewer administrative costs. B2B offers the potential for higher income, but requires you to cover taxes and transportation costs on your own.
5. Can I work as a courier if my Polish isn't very good?
   Yes, a basic level of communication is usually sufficient, especially when working through delivery apps, where interaction with customers is minimal.