Frequently asked questions
How much can you earn as a food delivery courier?
You typically take home 25–55 zł an hour depending on the city, time and weather — that is after deductions, not gross. On Uber Eats in heavy rain or snow it can reach 60–80 zł/h: fewer couriers are out and the orders pile up. Your result depends on how many orders you accept, the distances and the bonuses running in that app. You see the rate for every job in the app before you accept it.
What documents do you need to work as a courier?
Basics: a valid ID or passport, PESEL number, and a Polish bank account for payouts. Non-EU foreigners also need a residence card, work-permit visa or UKR status (for Ukrainians). Cars and scooters require a driver's licence and vehicle papers. The whole verification runs online, usually through a settlement partner.
How does registration work and how long does it take?
You sign up online with a settlement partner — fill in the form, upload your documents, sign the contract. The partner then activates your account in the apps you chose. Bolt Food usually the same day or the next one, Uber Eats within 24–72 hours. With Wolt and Glovo the timing depends on whether your city is currently recruiting couriers — if it is, that's a couple of days. Your advisor checks this before you gather any paperwork.
What to do if the customer doesn't answer the door?
Try calling through the app first — the customer's number is hidden, but the call goes through. At Bolt Food the rule is three contact attempts and ten minutes of waiting; at Uber Eats the app counts down seven minutes. The exact sequence is always shown in the app itself. Then report it to support — once they confirm, you either leave the order at the door or take it back to the restaurant. How that trip is paid is decided by the app's own support.
Is it safe to work in the evening?
Evenings are the most profitable part of the day and most couriers ride shift after shift without a single incident. Phone numbers are hidden on both sides and all contact goes through the app, so the customer never sees your number. Cash is the real risk: hand your takings in during the shift instead of carrying them around until the end of the day. Settlement-partner support runs 7 days a week in Polish, English, Ukrainian, Russian and Turkish.
What taxes and contributions does a courier pay on an umowa zlecenie?
Under 26 no income-tax advance is withheld — that is the ulga dla młodych relief, capped at 85,528 zł a year; you do not need student status for it, only the age. ZUS contributions are a separate matter: only pupils and students under 26 are exempt — for them gross equals net. If you are under 26 but not a student, roughly 19% is deducted from an umowa zlecenie (pension, disability and health). After 26 the 12% income tax is added on top.
How do cash orders work?
Bolt Food brought cash back in 2026 across every Polish city — you need no float and no change, and you hand takings in at restaurants on later pickups. On Uber Eats cash is deducted from your next cashless payouts, and you can switch it off completely in the settings. Wolt caps the cash you can hold at 300 zł; go over that and your account drops offline. On Glovo cash settles outside the settlement partner, so if something doesn't add up, message platform support.