Starting from June 2025, Poland will enforce stricter regulations that will impact the ability of many foreign nationals to work in the country. This change follows the signing of the Act on Conditions for Permitting the Employment of Foreigners in Poland by President Andrzej Duda, as reported by Schengen.News.
Scheduled to take effect on June 1, 2025, these regulations are aimed at addressing current abuses, streamlining employment procedures for foreigners, and digitizing administrative processes to reduce backlog, according to a report from Le Global.
The newly enacted law specifies the criteria governing foreign employment, the authorities responsible for decision-making, and the procedural requirements. It also includes provisions for programs funded by the Labour Fund that assist foreigners in finding jobs and integrating into Polish society.
Additionally, the act identifies specific types of businesses eligible for foreign ownership and outlines exemptions for certain groups of foreign nationals. Notably, individuals with permanent residency, refugee status, or humanitarian stay permits in Poland are excluded from some provisions of the act.
The move comes amid concerns raised by the Labour Market Barometer about the increasing number of foreign workers in Poland, which reached 530,000 in 2023, up from 260,000 in 2022. While foreign workers contribute to alleviating labor shortages in various sectors, trade unions have expressed apprehensions about their impact on local employment.
In response to these trends, Polish authorities have also tightened visa issuance rules, including those for family members visiting foreign workers in Poland, reflecting a broader effort to manage foreign labor dynamics within the country.