Extend your vacation. Submit a certificate to ZUS. The internship will not calculate itself
The amendment to the Labor Code introduces fundamental changes in the calculation of seniority in 2026, which determines, among others, the amount of the internship allowance, the amount of leave, the granting of a jubilee bonus or the length of notice. This is a revolution that will benefit up to two million working people.
From January 1, 2026 employed people in public finance sector units may add to the length of service periods other than employment under an employment contract. This concerns the time of running a sole proprietorship or employment under a contract of mandate.
Public finance sector units include thousands of employers, including: ministries, central and local government offices, government agencies, hospitals, clinics, public schools, municipal utilities, cultural institutions, universities, ZUS, National Health Fund and many others. From May 1, 2026, the new rules will apply to all other employers. What exactly will be included in the internship and how to prove it? Here is a detailed guide to the changes.
See also: The company will not hide this anymore. New recruitment rules. Are you sure the salaries will be public?
What periods can be added to the length of service?
According to the amendment to the Labor Code, employment experience may include:
- periods of payment of pension and disability insurance contributions or accident insurance by a person running a non-agricultural activity or a person cooperating with a person running this activity,
- periods of being subject to retirement and disability insurance due to:
- performance of a contract of mandate or other contract for the provision of services to which, in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Code, the provisions regarding mandate apply,
- performance of the agency contract,
- cooperation with a person performing a mandate contract, another contract for the provision of services or an agency contract,
- remaining a member of an agricultural production cooperative,
- remaining a member of a cooperative of agricultural circles,
- registration periods for health insurance as a person starting a business and not subject to retirement and disability insurance for the first six months of running this business (so-called start-up relief),
- periods of payment of pension and accident insurance contributions by a person cooperating with a person undertaking business activity (mentioned in point 3),
- periods for which pension and disability insurance contributions were financed for providing personal care for a child during the period of suspension of business activity,
- periods for which pension and disability insurance contributions were financed for providing personal care for a child by a cooperating person.
In short, it can be said that longer work experience will result in:
- conducting non-agricultural business activities,
- cooperation with a person running a business,
- execution time of mandate contracts, agency contracts and contracts for the provision of services,
- membership in production cooperatives and agricultural circles,
- documented paid work abroad (other than full-time employment),
- period of suspension of activities in connection with child care.
They will also see: Calendar 2026. Two days of vacation will give you nine days off – here's how to choose the best vacation in 2026
How to prove longer internship?
The employer will include the above-mentioned periods of employment in the length of service provided that, among others, the following are obtained: appropriate certificate from ZUS. According to the Department, it will issue certificates only for some of the periods specified in the Labor Code. “These are periods when you were covered by retirement and disability insurance or paid contributions for retirement and disability insurance or accident insurance, and periods when you were registered for health insurance because you benefited from the so-called start-up relief,” ZUS explains.
Periods of employment not subject to reporting to ZUS and periods other than paid work abroad will be confirmed in accordance with the general rules of evidence. Their inclusion in the length of service will require the presentation of appropriate documents.
The employee will have 24 months from the entry into force of the Act to present the documents to his or her current employer, i.e. in the case of public employers from January 1, 2016.
How and where to submit an application?
To receive a certificate, it will be You must submit an electronic application to ZUS for the issuance of an insurance certificate for the purpose of adding periods to the length of service”, referred to as USP.
The application will be available only in electronic form on the eZUS portal from January 1, 2026. It will only be possible to submit it via an account on the eZUS portal. This means that you cannot submit a paper application to a ZUS branch.
ZUS informs that it is enough to submit the application itself, without attaching documents confirming the application for insurance. ZUS will issue a certificate based on the data recorded in the insured person's account.
It should be remembered that insurance periods before January 1, 1999 are not recorded in the insured person's account. To receive information about them, you must file a US-7 application. As a result, you need to submit two applications: USP and US-7.
What if ZUS does not issue a certificate?
If there is no information on the insurance application, ZUS will refuse to issue the certificate. Only then can you submit an application for an investigation procedure and attach the documents you have to it. Request for explanatory proceedings can be submitted:
- electronically on the eZUS portal on the POG general letter form, available in the Payer or General tab, in the electronic services panel (it is best to find it through the search engine by entering the general application)
- by letter to the address of the nearest ZUS unit,
- in person at any ZUS branch.
Why is it worth taking care of a certificate from ZUS?
Increasing years of service affects many employee benefits. Therefore, it is worth applying for a certificate from ZUS as soon as possible. Additional years included in the length of service will include, among others: on:
- higher amount of annual leave,
- higher internship allowance,
- acquiring the right to an anniversary award or its next, higher level,
- access to more job offers where specific work experience is required,
- longer notice period of the employment contract,
- higher severance pay in the event of termination of the employment contract.
