On 1 June 2025, comprehensive changes to the rules on the employment of foreigners in Poland came into force. The new Act on the Conditions of Permissibility of Entrusting Work to Foreigners on the Territory of the Republic of Poland (Journal of Laws of 2025, item 621) replaces the previous, repeatedly amended provisions, introducing a transparent and unified system of access to the Polish labour market.
The main thrust of the reform is to streamline and speed up administrative procedures while strengthening protection against abuse.
A key innovation is the full electronicisation of work permit procedures. The ICT system will automatically download the necessary data from various state registers, eliminating the need for applicants to collect documents. Decisions will be delivered electronically, and appeal proceedings will also be conducted electronically.
It will become a condition for obtaining an employment permit that all obligations towards Social Security and the tax office are settled.
Penalties for illegally employing foreigners will increase significantly - from the current PLN 1000-30000 to PLN 3000-50000.
The new regulations also introduce a detailed catalogue of forms of economic activity of foreigners and precisely define the groups of foreigners to whom the provisions will not apply. This concerns, among others, persons holding a permanent residence permit, refugee status or a residence permit for humanitarian reasons.
Employers will be required to have employment contracts concluded with foreigners translated by a sworn translator.
The law also provides for the financing of integration measures from the Labour Fund, which is intended to support the professional and social activation of foreigners. The changes are part of a broader reform of the Polish labour market, which also includes new rules for the registration of the unemployed and the abolition of age restrictions.
In addition, the new legislation removes the requirement to obtain information from the starost about the employer's ability to meet its staffing needs, which will significantly simplify the process of issuing work permits. Until now, this so-called market testwork concerned only around 10% cases, so its abolition is primarily of an orderly nature.
Legislators hope that the new rules will reduce bureaucracy, speed up procedures and, at the same time, better protect against exploitation and unfair competition. Employers and foreigners will have to adapt to the new requirements, but in the long term the system is expected to operate more efficiently and transparently.
author:
Maciej Oczkowski - advocate
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