Poland: New immigration laws take effect 1 June 2025

In our Spotlight on EMEA series we round up the latest developments across the region.  In this post we look at the changes to immigration regulations implemented on 1 June 2025.

New laws introducing a range of significant changes to the immigration regulations have now been published in the official journal and will enter into force on 1 June 2025.

Among the principal changes are the following:

• The labour market test is no longer required.  The district authorities will establish lists of protected professions which are closed to foreign nationals and therefore applications for those professions will not be accepted.

• All application processes will be digitised.

• Employers must upload a copy of the signed employment contract before the job the start date of the role.

• Foreign nationals cannot work less than 25 percent of the hours of a full time job.   For jobs of less than 20 hours per week, the work permit will be issued for up to one year.

• Work permits will be issued for up to one year only for companies which have been operating for less than one year.

• Employers have new deadlines for submitting online notifications for example, the date a foreign national starts or terminates employment.

• Fines for illegal employment will increase.

Further details of the implementation of the new rules are expected.

For assistance in Poland and to understand more about the new rules, please contact [email protected] and [email protected]

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