Migration regulations now enacted in Poland take effect
Changes to Poland's Immigration and Labor Market Rules for Foreigners
Effective from June 1, 2025, significant modifications to Poland's immigration and labor market rules will impactBelarusians and other foreign nationals hoping to work in the nation.
Under the new regulations, the labor market test for hiring foreign workers has been abolished. Instead, a list of "protected" professions will restrict employment in certain sectors for non-Polish citizens. This adjustment simplifies and expedites the hiring process for many foreign workers while maintaining constraints in sensitive areas.
Employers' obligations are also becoming stricter and more transparent. They must now:
- Submit work permit applications online, eliminating the need for paper forms.
- Notify authorities promptly about any changes in employment status.
- Sign and submit employment contracts before the foreign national begins work.
Penalties for illegal employment have been increased, posing a higher risk for employers who flout the new regulations. This encourages legal and formal employment of foreigners, reinforcing their labor rights.
To increase oversight of foreign workers, notification requirements and data retention rules have been expanded.
Some employers may benefit from fast-track processing for work permits, facilitating quicker hiring of foreign workers.
As one of the largest groups of foreign workers in Poland, alongside Ukrainians and Georgians, Belarusians will experience both eased access and increased formalization in employment opportunities. While entry and employment are simplified, tighter employer obligations and penalties ensure legal and properly documented employment.
This overhaul aims to modernize Poland's immigration and labor market system by balancing easier access for foreigners like Belarusians with greater regulatory oversight and enforcement.
- The overhaul of Poland's immigration and labor market rules, effective from June 1, 2025, includes a shift in policy-and-legislation that will impact migration of Belarusians and other foreign nationals, as it eases access to employment opportunities while strengthening regulatory oversight.
- In the context of Poland's migration policies, the new regulations have abolished the labor market test for hiring foreign workers and established a list of protected professions, which will restrict employment in certain sectors for non-Polish citizens, thereby simplifying the hiring process for many while maintaining control in sensitive areas.
