On 1 December 2025 Poland switched on the largest set of immigration by-laws the country has seen in two decades, completing the roll-out of the new Act on the Conditions of Admissibility of Entrusting Work to Foreigners that first took effect in June. Four ministerial regulations published in the Official Journal on 20–21 November now govern (1) who may work without a permit, (2) what fees apply for permits or employer declarations, (3) which nationalities qualify for the simplified declaration route, and (4) exactly which documents employers must file.
The price tag for hiring foreigners jumped sharply overnight. The fee for the once-popular employer declaration rose from PLN 100 to PLN 400, while standard work-permit fees are now PLN 200 (up to three months), PLN 400 (longer stays) and PLN 800 for workers posted to Poland. Seasonal-work fees have also been standardised at PLN 100. Applications and attachments must be lodged exclusively through the praca.gov.pl e-portal, cementing Poland’s move to 100 % paper-free processing that began in October.
![Poland launches full-scale overhaul of foreign-worker rules]()
Equally significant are tougher compliance duties. Employers must now upload scans of every passport page, sworn Polish translations of any foreign-language documents and, for regulated professions, proof of qualifications. Temporary-work agencies must add user-company statements, and all fee receipts must identify the individual foreign national. Labour inspectors have been given powers to check that documents were uploaded before the start of work and to fine companies up to PLN 10,000 per breach.
The reform is intended to close loopholes that, according to the Supreme Audit Office, allowed abuses such as ‘invitation letter’ trafficking and undeclared subcontracting. By moving to a single digital dossier the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy says it can cut average processing times from eight weeks to three. Multinationals should audit onboarding workflows immediately: the biggest pitfalls are missing sworn translations, incorrect fee references and failure to notify the start of work via the new online form.
The price tag for hiring foreigners jumped sharply overnight. The fee for the once-popular employer declaration rose from PLN 100 to PLN 400, while standard work-permit fees are now PLN 200 (up to three months), PLN 400 (longer stays) and PLN 800 for workers posted to Poland. Seasonal-work fees have also been standardised at PLN 100. Applications and attachments must be lodged exclusively through the praca.gov.pl e-portal, cementing Poland’s move to 100 % paper-free processing that began in October.
Equally significant are tougher compliance duties. Employers must now upload scans of every passport page, sworn Polish translations of any foreign-language documents and, for regulated professions, proof of qualifications. Temporary-work agencies must add user-company statements, and all fee receipts must identify the individual foreign national. Labour inspectors have been given powers to check that documents were uploaded before the start of work and to fine companies up to PLN 10,000 per breach.
The reform is intended to close loopholes that, according to the Supreme Audit Office, allowed abuses such as ‘invitation letter’ trafficking and undeclared subcontracting. By moving to a single digital dossier the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy says it can cut average processing times from eight weeks to three. Multinationals should audit onboarding workflows immediately: the biggest pitfalls are missing sworn translations, incorrect fee references and failure to notify the start of work via the new online form.
