Changes in immigration regulations
Starting from 1 January 2026, new rules will apply to the process of obtaining a PESEL number and completing address registration (meldunek) for foreigners in Poland.
If the person applying for a PESEL number is a foreigner who is not:
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a citizen of an EU Member State, an EFTA country, or the Swiss Confederation, nor a family member of such a person, or
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a citizen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland who exercised the right of residence in Poland before 31 December 2020, and still resides in Poland (or a family member residing with them, subject to certain exceptions),
- personal appearance at the municipal office will be required to obtain a PESEL number. Only children born in Poland will be exempt from this requirement.
The same obligation of personal appearance will apply to completing address registration (meldunek) for the above-mentioned foreigners - if they do not already have a PESEL number.
source of change:
effective from: 1 January 2026
From 1 August 2025, new stamp duty rates apply in proceedings concerning Polish citizenship. These rates apply to cases initiated on or after that date, while proceedings started earlier remain subject to the previous fees.
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| Granting Polish citizenship by the President of the Republic of Poland | No fee | 1669 PLN |
| Recognition as a Polish citizen or restoration of Polish citizenship | 219 PLN | 1000 PLN |
| Confirmation of possession or loss of Polish citizenship | 58 PLN | 277 PLN |
| Renunciation of Polish citizenship | No fee | 1669 PLN |
According to the new regulations, exemption from stamp duties applies in cases of recognizing minor children as Polish citizens under Article 30(1)(4) or (5) of the Act of 2 April 2009 on Polish citizenship, acquisition of Polish citizenship through repatriation and recognition as a repatriate, as well as in cases of confirming possession of Polish citizenship acquired in this manner.
source of change:
effective from: 1 August 2025
On 1 August 2025, the deadline for issuing decisions in matters concerning Polish citizenship handled by provincial governors and the Minister of the Interior was extended. The new deadline is six months from the date the application is received by the competent authority. Previously, this period was between one and two months from the initiation of proceedings. However, in practice, these deadlines were not always met.
The change in the deadline does not apply to citizenship matters considered by the President of the Republic of Poland, which will continue to be handled under the same rules. In other cases, the new deadline applies both to proceedings initiated from 1 August 2025, and to proceedings that were initiated but not concluded before that date.
source of change:
effective from: 1 August 2025
If a male Ukrainian citizen aged 18–60, who is subject to compulsory military service, wishes to use a consular service (e.g., obtain a passport) at a Ukrainian diplomatic mission, he must present a military registration document in electronic form (e-VOD) generated no earlier than 3 days before submitting the application for the selected consular service.
Three exceptions are provided to the requirement to present a military document:
- when submitting an application for a certificate for return to Ukraine,
- when the consular service is performed in the interest of a child whose other parent is a foreign national or stateless person,
- If the applicant is in detention or serving a prison sentence.
source of change:
- Ukrainian Act of 11 April 11 2024 on amendments to certain legislative acts of Ukraine concerning certain issues of military service, mobilization, and military registration, No. 3633-IX (rada.gov.ua)
- Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine mfa.gov.ua
effective from: 18 May 2024
Two groups of foreigners who do not hold Ukrainian citizenship have been added to the catalogue of persons covered by Poland’s Ukrainian Special Act:
- Minor children of citizens of Ukraine
- Minor children of spouses of citizens of Ukraine.
These minors can now take advantage of the solutions provided by the Ukrainian Special Act (such as legal residence in Poland until 4 March 2026 or the possibility of obtaining a temporary residence permit for family reunification).
Before, both these groups of foreigners were entitled only to general temporary protection under other legal acts.
source of change:
effective from: 1 July 2024
The legal residence of UKR status holders (also called temporary protection beneficiaries), i.e. Ukrainians who arrived legally in Poland due to the war on or after 24 February 2022 and declared their intention to remain in Poland, has been extended to 4 March 2026.
Previously this period ended 30 September 2025.
source of change:
effective from: 30 September 2025
Ukrainian citizens not covered by temporary protection, whose national visa (D), temporary residence permit, Schengen visa (C), visa or residence document issued by another Schengen country, or visa-free stay expired after 24 February 2022, during their stay in Poland (in the case of a temporary residence permit – also during their stay outside Poland), will benefit from an extension of their stay in Poland until 4 March 2026.
However, this does not automatically mean the right to cross the border or the right to travel to other Schengen area states. Each such case should be evaluated individually.
The previous extension was in force through 30 September 2025.
source of change:
effective from: 30 September 2025
Persons holding UKR status (beneficiaries of temporary protection) may apply for the following types of temporary residence permits:
- Single Permit (from 1 April 2023),
- Temporary residence permit for the purpose of conducting business activity (from 1 April 2023),
- Temporary residence permit for a family member of a Polish citizen (from 1 July 2024),
- Temporary residence permit for the purpose of family reunification (from 1 July 2024).
For UKR status holders, a simplified procedure applies – the application may be submitted without appearing in person at the Immigration Office, provided that fingerprints were previously collected when the PESEL number was issued.
sources of change:
- Act of 13 January 2023 amending the Act on Assistance to Citizens of Ukraine in Connection with the Armed Conflict on the Territory of That State and Certain Other Acts
effective from: 1 April 2023
- Act of 15 May 2024 amending the Act on Assistance to Citizens of Ukraine in Connection with the Armed Conflict on the Territory of That State and Certain Other Acts
effective from: 1 July 2024
In addition, the possibility of granting a temporary residence permit under a protective procedure for one year has been extended for Ukrainian citizens until 4 March 2026. This applies to Ukrainian citizens (regardless of whether they hold UKR status) who do not meet the statutory requirements for obtaining a temporary residence permit (e.g., income criteria). A permit under the protective procedure may be granted only once.
source of change:
- Act of 12 September 2025 amending certain laws to verify the entitlement to family benefits for foreigners and on the conditions of assistance to Ukrainian citizens in connection with the armed conflict on the territory of that state
effective from: 30 September 2025
IMPORTANT NOTICE!
As of 1 June 2025, a provision of the Act on Foreigners entered into force, requiring the refusal to initiate proceedings for a temporary residence permit for the purpose of performing work in a profession requiring high qualifications (EU Blue Card) with respect to foreigners staying in Poland, among others, due to the granting of temporary protection in Poland. Currently, this also applies to Ukrainian citizens holding UKR status, which is considered a legislative oversight (due to the failure to simultaneously adjust the provisions of the Act on Assistance to Citizens of Ukraine in Connection with the Armed Conflict on the Territory of That State).
source of change:
- Act of 24 April 2025 amending the Act on Foreigners and Certain Other Acts
effective from: 1 June 2025
Holders of UKR status (beneficiaries of temporary protection) will be able to obtain residence cards (called CUKR residence cards), which, upon issuance, will transform the UKR status into a temporary residence permit valid for the duration of the residence card (three years from the date of its issuance).
Obtaining a CUKR residence card will be possible upon meeting all of the following conditions:
- Holding UKR status on 4 June 2025 (a new date introduced by one of the recent amendments to the special act for Ukrainians, replacing the previous date of 4 March 2024),
- Holding UKR status on the date of submitting the application for a CUKR residence card,
- Having held UKR status continuously for at least 365 days.
This new solution will also be available to minor children born in Poland, provided that on the date of submitting the application for the residence card they hold UKR status, and residence cards have already been issued to their mothers under this procedure.
The CUKR residence card procedure is to be fully electronic, simplified, and limited to the minimum formal requirements. The proceedings should be completed within 90 days from the date of application. The applicant’s visit to the office will only be required at the final stage, to collect the residence card.
Under the most recent amendments to the Ukrainian Special Act, submitting an application for a CUKR residence card will ensure the legality of stay in Poland until the card is issued or until the decision refusing or discontinuing the proceedings becomes final (i.e., also after the potential expiry of UKR status on 4 March 2026).
Upon issuance of the residence card, the UKR status will expire. However, the Ukrainian citizen will then be entitled to work freely (without the employer needing to notify the labor office) and to conduct business activity in Poland under the same rules as Polish citizens.
According to the list of legislative works of the Minister of the Interior and Administration, the ministry is currently preparing a regulation specifying the application form templates for residence cards issued under this procedure.
The Minister will publish in the Monitor Polski an announcement determining the date of implementation of the technical solutions enabling applications to be submitted. According to the latest information, this should take place by mid-January 2026 at the latest.
sources of change:
- Act of 15 May 2024 amending the Act on Assistance to Citizens of Ukraine in Connection with the Armed Conflict on the Territory of That State and Certain Other Acts
- Act of 12 September 2025 amending certain laws to verify the entitlement to family benefits for foreigners and on the conditions of assistance to Ukrainian citizens in connection with the armed conflict on the territory of that state
- Draft regulation of the Minister of the Interior and Administration on the application form for the issuance of a residence card to a citizen of Ukraine in the cases referred to in Article 42c or Article 42d of the Act of 12 March 2022, on Assistance to Citizens of Ukraine in Connection with the Armed Conflict on the Territory of That State
expected effective date: mid-January 2026
On 1 July 2024, the deadline for submitting an application for a PESEL number with the annotation “UKR” for a Ukrainian citizen benefiting from temporary protection in Poland was shortened. Such an application should be submitted immediately upon arrival in Poland.
However, this deadline is only instructive - exceeding it does not obligate the authority to refuse the issuance of a PESEL number.
source of change:
effective from: 1 July 2024
The verification of identity for a Ukrainian citizen when issuing a PESEL number with the annotation “UKR” has been made dependent on possessing a valid travel document (passport). Prior to 1 July 2024, identity could also be verified using a Pole`s Card or another photo ID enabling identity confirmation, and for persons under 18 years of age, a birth certificate was also acceptable.
A new requirement was also introduced - identity must be verified at any municipal office using a valid travel document within 60 days of its issuance, if the PESEL number with the “UKR” annotation was issued without presenting a valid passport or if the passport has since expired.
Only in the case of a renewed, significant influx of Ukrainian citizens to Poland it will be possible to verify identity based on other documents (as previously), provided that a relevant regulation is issued by the Minister of the Interior and Administration.
source of change:
effective from: 1 July 2024
An entity entrusting a job to a citizen of Ukraine now has 7 days (instead of the previous 14 days) from the date the work begins to submit a notification to the relevant district labor office (in Polish: "powiatowy urząd pracy") via the praca.gov.pl website.
source of change:
effective from: 1 July 2024
An entity entrusting a job to a citizen of Ukraine has to indicate in the notification at least the minimum wage (or pro rata reduction in the case of lesser working hours) or the minimum hourly rate. In 2025, the amounts are PLN 4,666 gross per month for full-time work or PLN 30.50 gross per hour. Starting 1 January 2026, these amounts will increase to PLN 4,806 gross per month and PLN 31.40 gross per hour.
source of change:
effective from: 1 July 2024
An obligation has been formally introduced for the employer to submit a re-notification on hiring a citizen of Ukraine within 7 days of a:
- Change in the type of contract (e.g. from an employment contract to a service contract or vice versa; this still does not apply, for example, to a change from a temporary employment contract to a permanent employment contract)
- Change of position or type of work performed
- Reduction in working hours or number of working hours per week or month
- Reduction in the monthly or hourly wage
- The employer’s informing the citizen of Ukraine of granting of a temporary residence permit.
Before, in practice such duties were largely carried out by employers, but they were not explicitly regulated in the act.
source of change:
effective from: 1 July 2024
A new obligation has been imposed on Ukrainian citizens – they must inform their employer of having received a decision granting a temporary residence and work permit (Single Permit) within 7 days from the date of delivery of that decision.
In turn, employers will be required to submit a notification of employing a Ukrainian citizen to the relevant district labor office (in Polish: "powiatowy urząd pracy") within 7 days of receiving the information from the employee.
This obligation will not apply to the employer if the notification has already been submitted earlier and the employment conditions have not changed, or if the residence decision does not require the submission of such a notification.
source of change:
effective from: 1 July 2024
From 1 August 2025, employers entrusting work to foreign nationals based on a work permit are required to submit a copy of the contract concluded with the foreign national to the Immigration Office that issued the permit — before the foreign national begins work.
In the case of assigning work under a seasonal harvest assistance agreement, a copy of the contract must be submitted within 7 days from the date the work is assigned.
The submitted document must be an electronic copy of the contract, prepared in Polish and signed by both parties. It should be sent via the praca.gov.pl portal.
Failure to comply with this obligation may result in a fine of 1,000 to 3,000 PLN and may also be a basis for revoking the work permit or refusing to issue further permits.
source of change:
effective date: 1 August 2025
The changes in the regulations that came into force on 1 June 2025, stipulate that applications for a work permit can be submitted exclusively electronically – via a dedicated IT system, using a qualified electronic signature, a trusted signature, or a personal signature.
Full digitization will, however, take place after the IT systems are adapted to the new regulations, which is expected to happen within 2 years of their entry into force. The Minister responsible for labor will announce the implementation of these solutions 30 days in advance by publishing a special notice.
Currently, applications can still be submitted traditionally, but in practice, use of the praca.gov.pl portal is recommended.
source of change:
effective from: the moment the IT systems are adapted to the new regulations
For proceedings initiated from 1 June 2025, the “labour market test” (i.e., the obligation to obtain information from the district governor regarding labour market conditions) has been abolished as part of the procedure for issuing a work permit and certain other related proceedings.
The “labor market test” has been replaced by the publication by the relevant district governors of lists of occupations in which employment should be restricted.
source of change:
effective date: 1 June 2025
From 1 June 2025, the list of cases in which the issuance of a work permit must be mandatorily refused (including seasonal work permits) has been expanded, in particular to include the following situations:
- the entity entrusting work to a foreigner does not conduct any business activity that would justify employing the foreigner,
- the entity entrusting work to a foreigner was established or operates for the purpose of facilitating foreigners’ entry into the territory of Poland,
- the starting date of work indicated by the entity entrusting work to a foreigner falls later than 12 months from the date of submitting the application for a work permit,
- within 2 years prior to submitting the application for a work permit, a foreigner who held a work permit or a declaration on entrusting work and entered Poland for the purpose of employment did not perform that work, unless the failure to perform work was due to justified reasons,
- within 24 months prior to submitting the application, the entity entrusting work to a foreigner obstructed or hindered an inspection regarding the legality of employment of foreigners.
The new provisions also clarify how the provincial governor may assess the occurrence of the first of the above-mentioned circumstances. For this purpose, the they may take into account, among other things:
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the ratio of the number of notifications about foreigners not commencing work to the total number of work permits and declarations on entrusting work obtained by the given entity, and
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the ratio of the number of applications for work permits or declarations on entrusting work to the total number of employees employed by that entity.
source of change: Act on Foreigners’ Access to the Labour Market
effective date: 1 June 2025
From 1 June 2025, the periods of non-commencement or non-performance of work by a foreigner, which trigger the employer’s obligation to notify the provincial governor within 7 days have been shortened. Under the new regulations, an entity assigning work to a foreigner under a work permit is required to notify the provincial governor within 7 days of the following cases:
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The foreigner does not commence work within 2 months (previously 3 months) from the initial validity date of the permit,
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The foreigner interrupts work for a period exceeding 2 months (previously 3 months),
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The foreigner terminates work earlier than 2 months (previously 3 months) before the expiration of the permit.
source of change: Act on Foreigners’ Access to the Labour Market
effective date: 1 June 2025
From 1 June 2025, the list of persons exempt from the obligation to hold a work permit has been expanded to include graduates of part-time higher education programs at Polish universities.
Previously, this exemption applied only to graduates of full-time programs.
source of change: Act on Foreigners’ Access to the Labour Market
effective date: 1 June 2025
The new act regulating the employment of foreigners introduced provisions establishing rules of priority in the processing of work permit applications. According to these rules, the voivode considers applications in the following order:
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Applications submitted by entities included in the list of entrepreneurs conducting economic activities in Poland that are of significant importance to the national economy (the list is maintained in an electronic system by the minister responsible for economic affairs),
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Applications for the renewal of a work permit for the same employer and the same foreign worker, provided that the working hours and remuneration are not lower than those specified in the previously issued work permit that remains valid on the date the new application is submitted,
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Applications concerning foreigners who are to perform work in occupations experiencing labor shortages, as specified in a list maintained by the minister responsible for labor,
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All other applications.
source of change: Act on Foreigners’ Access to the Labour Market
effective date: 1 June 2025
From 1 June 2025, new types of work permits apply.
| Previous types of permits | Types of permits after the changes |
| Work permit type A
| Work permit for a Polish entity assigning work to a foreigner |
| Work permit type B | Work permit related to performing a specific function |
| Work permit type C, D and E
| Work permit related to the posting of a foreigner by a foreign entity to the territory of the Republic of Poland |
The seasonal work permit remains unchanged.
source of change: Act on Foreigners’ Access to the Labour Market
effective date: 1 June 2025
The amendment to the regulations on the employment of foreigners introduced additional restrictions for employers. In proceedings initiated from 1 June 2025, in order to obtain a work permit for a foreigner, the employer must declare working hours of no less than one-quarter of full-time and no more than full-time.
source of change: Act on Foreigners’ Access to the Labour Market
effective date: 1 June 2025
The amended regulations on the employment of foreigners impose a number of new immigration-related obligations on employers. Below is a list of the most important ones, including those introduced by the new act:
| Stage | Obligations for employers |
| Before employment |
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| During employment |
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| After termination of employment |
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source of change: Act on Foreigners’ Access to the Labour Market
effective date: 1 June 2025
In proceedings initiated from 1 June 2025, work permits will be issued for a period of up to 1 year in cases where:
- The application is submitted by a newly established Polish entity, i.e., operating for no longer than one year;
- The entity assigns work to a foreigner on a half-time basis or less.
source of change: Act on Foreigners’ Access to the Labour Market
effective date: 1 June 2025
From 1 June 2025, employers cannot apply for an extension of a work permit, as this mechanism has been abolished by the new regulations. The only available option is to submit a new application for the issuance of a subsequent work permit.
source of change: Act on Foreigners’ Access to the Labour Market
effective date: 1 June 2025
From 1 July 2025, employers assigning work to foreign nationals based on a declaration on entrusting work are required to submit a copy of the contract concluded with the foreign national to the authority that registered the statement — before the foreign national begins work.
The submitted document must be an electronic copy of the contract, prepared in Polish and signed by both parties. It should be sent via the praca.gov.pl portal.
Failure to comply with this obligation may result in a fine of 1,000 to 3,000 PLN.
source of change:
effective date: 1 July 2025
As of 1 June 2025, the list of cases requiring mandatory refusal to register a declaration on entrusting work to a foreigner in the register of declarations has been expanded, in particular to include the following situations:
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the entity entrusting work to a foreigner does not conduct business activity justifying the need to employ the foreigner,
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the entity entrusting work to a foreigner has been established or operates for the purpose of facilitating foreigners’ entry into the territory of Poland,
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within 2 years prior to submitting the declaration, a foreigner who held a work permit or a declaration on entrusting work and entered Poland to perform work did not actually perform that work, unless the failure to work resulted from justified reasons,
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within 24 months prior to submitting the application, the entity entrusting work to a foreigner obstructed or hindered an inspection concerning the legality of employment of foreigners.
The new regulations also specify how the authorities may assess whether the first of the above circumstances applies. For this purpose, they may take into account, among other things:
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the ratio of notifications about foreigners not commencing work to the total number of work permits and declarations on entrusting work obtained by the entity, and
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the ratio of applications for work permits or declarations on entrusting work to the total number of persons employed by that entity
source of change: Act on Foreigners’ Access to the Labour Market
effective date: 1 June 2025
Since 1 June 2025, stricter penalties have applied to employers who violate the rules on employing foreigners. Fines are now proportional to the number of foreigners involved in the infringement and amount, for example, to:
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Not less than PLN 3,000 for each illegally employed foreigner,
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Not less than PLN 6,000 for each foreigner who was misled, exploited, or induced to work illegally due to dependency, misunderstanding, or abuse of authority,
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Not less than PLN 6,000 for each foreigner if the employer demanded a financial benefit in exchange for actions leading to the issuance of a work permit or another document authorizing employment.
At the same time, the maximum fine for each of the above violations, regardless of their number, may reach PLN 50,000 per violation.
source of change: Act on Foreigners’ Access to the Labour Market
effective date: 1 June 2025
ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) is a travel authorisation that will be required from nationals of third countries exempt from visa requirements (those travelling visa-free) before entering any of the 30 European countries. The ETIAS authorisation will be valid for up to three years or until the traveller’s passport expires - whichever comes first.
Foreign nationals will be able to obtain ETIAS via a dedicated mobile app or website made available by the European Union. The application will be subject to a fixed fee of EUR 20.
In principle, the ETIAS application process should take only a few minutes. However, the processing time may be extended to up to 14 days if additional documents are requested, or up to 30 days if the applicant is asked to provide explanations.
planned date of entry into force: fourth quarter of 2026
The Entry/Exit System (EES) is an automated IT system designed to register non-EU nationals travelling to the European Union for short-term stays (up to 90 days within any 180-day period). The EES applies to both visa-required travellers and those entering under visa-free arrangements. The system also records entry refusals.
The EES is being implemented gradually. By 10 April 2026, it is expected to completely replace the manual passport stamping process for third-country nationals and to automate border control procedures.
effective date: 12 October 2025 (with a 6-month implementation period ending on 10 April 2026)
The amendment to the regulations on the employment of foreigners introduced rules on priority in processing visa applications. Under the new provisions, consuls will process applications giving priority to foreigners who intend to work:
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for employers listed in the register of enterprises conducting business activity of significant importance to the national economy in Poland, or
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in occupations experiencing labour shortages.
source of change: Act on Foreigners’ Access to the Labour Market
effective date: 1 June 2025
As of 1 June 2025, a new measure has been introduced allowing consuls to set visa appointment dates.
At the consul’s request, the date for submitting an application for a national or Schengen visa may be arranged electronically with the foreign national, using means of communication that ensure the applicant’s identification and, if necessary, allow for real-time communication (e.g. via videoconference).
For minors or persons legally incapacitated, the appointment must be arranged with their legal representative.
source of change: Act amending certain laws to eliminate irregularities in the visa system of the Republic of Poland
effective date: 1 June 2025
As part of efforts to eliminate irregularities in Poland’s visa system, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and consuls have been granted the authority to obtain data from the Border Guard’s teleinformation system concerning the border crossings of foreign nationals.
The data may be accessed only to the extent necessary for conducting proceedings related to the issuance, revocation, or annulment of a visa.
Access to the system is conditional upon compliance by both the system and authorized entities with specific technical and organizational requirements, particularly those ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, availability, and authenticity of the data.
Similarly, the Minister and consuls have also been granted access to other systems containing information, in particular regarding taxes, social security contributions, and the status of a student or doctoral candidate.
source of change: Act amending certain laws to eliminate irregularities in the visa system of the Republic of Poland
effective date: 1 June 2025
As of 1 July 2025, new rules have been introduced regarding the admission of foreigners to studies in Poland. The new regulations require applicants to meet, in particular, the following additional conditions:
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submission (with certain exceptions) of a document issued by the Director of NAWA confirming education obtained abroad,
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proof of language proficiency in the language of instruction at a level of at least B2,
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participation in an entrance examination or admission interview (this requirement does not apply to applicants for second-cycle (master’s) studies).
source of change: Act amending certain laws to eliminate irregularities in the visa system of the Republic of Poland
effective date: 1 July 2025
As part of measures aimed at eliminating irregularities in the visa system, several new mechanisms have been introduced to enhance oversight of foreigners enrolling in studies in Poland. These include:
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Expansion of the Integrated System of Information on Higher Education and Science (POL-on) to include a register of foreigners admitted to studies or doctoral schools. The Minister of Foreign Affairs and consuls have been granted access to this register for the purpose of conducting proceedings related to the issuance, revocation, or annulment of national visas issued for the purpose of undertaking higher education (first-cycle, second-cycle, long-cycle master’s studies) or doctoral training, marked with the annotation “student”;
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Obligation of higher education institutions to immediately notify the authority that issued the national visa for the purpose of studies (annotated “student”) in the event that a foreigner is removed from the list of students or doctoral candidates.
Such notification may, under Article 90(1a)(1) of the Act on Foreigners, lead to the revocation of the visa, depending on the circumstances of the specific case.
source of change: Act amending certain laws to eliminate irregularities in the visa system of the Republic of Poland
effective date: 1 June 2025 for point 1, 1 July 2025 for point 2
Polish authorities are working on introducing an electronic system for submitting applications for the following:
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temporary residence permit,
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permanent residence permit,
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long-term EU resident permit.
The submission of applications in the above cases (for a temporary residence permit, also together with the required formal documents) will take place via the MOS (Case Handling Module) platform. The foreign national will be required to sign the application using a trusted signature or a qualified electronic signature.
However, the foreigner will still be required to appear in person (upon request) at the relevant office to provide fingerprints, a signature specimen, and present a valid travel document.
source of change: Government bill amending the Act on Foreigners and certain other acts
planned effective date: most likely Q1 2026
As of 1 June 2025, the requirement to conduct a labour market test and attach the information from the county administrator to an application for a temporary residence and work permit (the so-called Single Permit) has been abolished.
In place of the labour market test, a new restriction has been introduced - a list of “protected” occupations created by individual county administrators. If a foreigner intends to work in an occupation included on such a list, they will be unable to obtain a Single Permit.
These lists are intended to reflect the conditions of local labour markets and may therefore limit the possibility for foreigners to take up certain jobs within a given district.
source of change: Act on Foreigners’ Access to the Labour Market
effective date: 1 June 2025
According to the new regulations, as of 1 June 2025, a new basis has been introduced for refusing to initiate proceedings for granting a temporary residence and work permit (Single Permit) in the case of applications submitted from that date.
The refusal applies if the foreigner is staying in Poland on the basis of:
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a Polish national visa or Schengen visa issued for purposes marked “01”, “02”, “03”, “07”, “09”, “10”, “11”, “14”, “16”, or for the purpose of transit or air transit,
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a long-term visa issued by another Schengen state (with certain exceptions),
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a residence document issued by another Schengen state allowing legal stay in its territory (unless the applicant benefits from mobility in Poland based on that document),
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an entry permit to the territory of the Republic of Poland issued by the Commander of a Border Guard post.
source of change: Act amending certain acts to eliminate irregularities in the visa system of the Republic of Poland
effective date: 1 June 2025
According to the new regulations, the province governor is obliged to refuse to grant a temporary residence and work permit (single permit) if the entity entrusting work to a foreigner, or the entity managing or controlling it, meets at least one of the following new conditions:
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is a natural person who has been legally convicted of human trafficking in Poland or another country, or
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fails to fulfil the obligation to pay contributions to social insurance, health insurance, the Labour Fund, the Guaranteed Employee Benefits Fund, the Bridging Pensions Fund, or the Solidarity Fund, or to pay social insurance contributions for farmers — except in cases where a legally permitted deferral or instalment plan has been granted, or when the amount of the unpaid contribution does not exceed the cost of a reminder in enforcement proceedings, or
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fails to fulfil the obligation to register employees or other persons covered by mandatory social insurance, or
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is in arrears with payment of personal income tax or corporate income tax — except in cases where the entity has been granted a lawful exemption, deferral, instalment plan, or full suspension of the execution of the decision of the competent authority, or
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does not conduct business activity justifying the employment of the given foreigner during the relevant period, or
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has been established or operates primarily for the purpose of facilitating foreigners’ entry into the territory of the Republic of Poland, or
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is not a temporary employment agency operating in Poland in accordance with applicable laws, while the work would be performed for the benefit of a third party.
source of change: Act on Foreigners’ Access to the Labour Market
effective date: 1 June 2025
As of 1 June 2025, employers hiring foreigners based on a temporary residence and work permit (Single Permit) are required to notify the authority that issued the permit of the following circumstances within 15 business days of their occurrence:
-
change of the registered office or place of residence, name, or legal form of:
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the employer, or
-
the user employer;
-
-
transfer of the workplace or part thereof to another employer;
-
increase in working hours specified in the permit, provided that remuneration is increased proportionally;
-
change in the job title without changing the foreigner’s scope of duties;
-
replacement of a civil law contract with an employment contract.
Additionally, the employer indicated in the temporary residence and work permit must notify in writing the authority that issued the permit within 15 calendar days of the foreigner losing their job with that employer.
source of change: Act on Foreigners’ Access to the Labour Market
effective date: 1 June 2025
The regulations aimed at eliminating irregularities in the visa system introduced a restriction on the list of documents confirming knowledge of the Polish language for the purpose of applying for an EU long-term resident permit. The following documents have been removed from the existing list:
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a certificate of completion of a post-secondary school in Poland with Polish as the language of instruction, and
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a certificate of completion of a post-secondary equivalent school abroad with Polish as the language of instruction.
The new restrictions generally apply to proceedings initiated from 1 July 2025, although certificates issued before this date will be accepted until 30 June 2026.
source of change: Act amending certain acts to eliminate irregularities in the visa system of the Republic of Poland
effective date: 1 July 2025
As of 1 June 2025, a new form for applying for an EU long-term resident permit for foreigners has come into effect.
The updated form introduces the additional requirement to provide:
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the foreigner’s email address, and
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detailed information regarding the foreigner’s stays in other EU Member States (outside Poland) based on:
a) a residence document marked “EU Blue Card” issued by an EU Member State other than Poland,
b) a long-stay visa or residence permit marked “researcher” issued by an EU Member State other than Poland,
c) international protection granted by an EU Member State other than Poland,
d) a residence document issued by another EU Member State under the rules for admitting highly qualified workers,
e) a long-stay visa or residence permit marked “student” issued by an EU Member State other than Poland.
effective date: 1 June 2025