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Updated Framework for Employing Foreign Nationals in Poland from June 1, 2025

Expert Commentary by Tatiana Vyborna, a Specialist in Foreigner Legalization Since 2015

As of June 1, 2025, Poland has implemented a transformative set of regulations aimed at streamlining the employment of foreign nationals. According to Tatiana Vyborna, an expert in the legalization of foreigners’ stay and work since 2015, these reforms are designed to enhance efficiency, ensure compliance, and address the evolving demands of the Polish labor market. Below, we explore the core aspects of these changes, their implications for employers and foreign workers, and the practical outcomes as explained by Vyborna.

Objectives of the New Employment Regulations

The legislative overhaul, effective from June 1, 2025, focuses on simplifying administrative processes, reducing delays, and aligning Poland’s labor market with the needs of a dynamic economy. Tatiana Vyborna highlights the following key goals:

• Expedited Work Authorization: Accelerating the issuance of permits to meet urgent staffing needs.
• Enhanced Application Efficiency: Streamlining the submission and processing of work-related applications.
• Reduction of Irregularities: Strengthening measures to prevent misuse of the employment system.
• Support for Diverse Roles: Facilitating the hiring of both seasonal workers and highly skilled professionals.

These reforms amend existing laws to create a more transparent and adaptable framework for businesses, agencies, and foreign workers, ensuring compliance while addressing labor shortages.

Revised Work Permit Categories

The updated regulations introduce a simplified structure for work permits, consolidating them into three primary types, as explained by Tatiana Vyborna:

1. Standard Permit (Type A+): For foreign nationals employed under long-term contracts (exceeding 6 months), including both employment and civil-law agreements. This permit supports stable, extended employment in Poland.
2. Simplified Permit (Type S): Targeted at seasonal and temporary workers (up to 9 months annually), particularly in sectors like agriculture, hospitality, and tourism. Agencies facilitating temporary employment play a crucial role, with new requirements for updating registry entries.
3. Specialist Permit (Type H): Reserved for highly qualified professionals in fields such as IT, healthcare, engineering, and research. This category includes holders of the EU Blue Card, who enjoy equal business operation rights as Polish citizens.

Tatiana Vyborna notes that employers must submit a copy of the employment contract to the relevant authority before a foreign worker begins work. Additionally, a declaration of intent to employ a foreigner must be registered to ensure legal compliance.

EU Blue Card Enhancements

The EU Blue Card, designed for highly skilled foreign professionals, has undergone significant updates. According to Vyborna, these changes allow Blue Card holders to work in Poland without additional permits, offering greater flexibility. Key improvements include:

• Simplified processes for changing employers or roles without requiring new permits, provided specific conditions are met.
• Increased mobility for Blue Card holders, enabling faster integration into Poland’s labor market.

These adjustments aim to attract top talent and support industries facing skill shortages, says Vyborna.

Digital Transformation and Simplified Procedures

A major reform highlighted by Tatiana Vyborna is the elimination of the labor market test, previously requiring employers to prove the unavailability of Polish candidates. This change accelerates hiring processes and enhances access to foreign talent.

Additionally, the application process has been fully digitized. Employers must now submit applications and supporting documents, including contracts, through a new digital platform integrated with ZUS (Social Insurance Institution), voivodeship offices, and the Border Guard. Benefits include:

• Automated document verification.
• Real-time status updates for applications.
• Faster decision-making, with a target processing time of 21 working days.

Employer Responsibilities and Oversight

While the reforms simplify processes, they also impose new obligations on employers to ensure transparency, as emphasized by Vyborna. These include:

• Notifying authorities within 3 days of a foreign worker starting employment.
• Updating records if employment terms change.
• Maintaining digital documentation throughout the employment period.
• Verifying the validity of foreigners’ residence documents, noting that Schengen visas issued by other countries may not permit work in Poland without proper authorization.

In cases of job loss, employers must inform the relevant authorities promptly. Enhanced powers for the National Labor Inspectorate and Border Guard aim to strengthen compliance and reduce illegal employment practices.

Benefits for Foreign Workers

Foreign nationals also gain from these reforms, with Tatiana Vyborna pointing out the following advantages:

• A single permit combining work and temporary residence, reducing bureaucratic hurdles.
• Flexibility to switch employers without new permits, subject to conditions.
• Automatic permit extensions during appeal processes, ensuring continuity.

Priority Occupations List

To address labor shortages, a new list of high-demand professions has been introduced, allowing expedited hiring for roles such as:

• Software developers
• Elderly care workers
• Professional drivers
• Welders
• Construction workers

For these roles, foreign workers can begin employment immediately upon application submission, pending approval, as per Vyborna.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Tatiana Vyborna warns that non-compliance with the new regulations carries severe consequences. Employers face fines ranging from PLN 3,000 to PLN 50,000 for illegal employment or failure to meet reporting requirements. Foreign workers risk losing their legal status in Poland if employed unlawfully, underscoring the importance of adherence to the new rules.

Impact on the Labor Market

The reforms are poised to enhance Poland’s labor market flexibility, particularly in sectors like construction, transportation, healthcare, and agriculture, which face significant staffing shortages. Temporary employment agencies will experience changes in their operations, with updated requirements for intermediation and compliance. The regulations also support legal business activities for permit holders, reducing informal employment and improving oversight by labor authorities.

Tatiana Vyborna predicts that these changes will significantly benefit industries struggling with workforce deficits while fostering a more transparent and efficient employment ecosystem for foreign nationals in Poland.