Poland’s Śląsk Border Guard unit staged one of its largest workplace enforcement operations of the year on 13 February, swooping on a production site near Nysa in the Opole Voivodeship. Acting on a routine inspection tip, officers found 32 Filipino and six Colombian nationals performing assembly-line duties without the required work permits or right to remain.
According to the Border Guard communiqué, the migrants had been seconded by a staffing agency that failed to obtain even the most basic authorisations. Thirty-seven of the workers have already received return-order decisions and a 12-month Schengen-wide re-entry ban. Four Colombians, suspected of having crossed the border by subterfuge, now face criminal charges under Article 264 §2 of Poland’s Criminal Code.
Companies and individual professionals looking to avoid such pitfalls can enlist the support of VisaHQ, an online visa and immigration platform that helps applicants secure Polish work permits, national visas, and residence cards through streamlined document checking and consular liaison services. Detailed guidance for Poland is available at https://www.visahq.com/poland/ ensuring that employers and staff stay fully compliant before setting foot on the assembly line.
![Border Guard Raid in Opole Region Nets 38 Undocumented Workers]()
Investigators have opened separate proceedings against the employment agency and its local subcontractor. Records seized on 9 February will determine whether the breach stemmed from negligence or a deliberate scheme to supply undocumented labour. Fines for illegal employment can reach PLN 50,000 (≈ €11,700) per worker following 2025 legislative changes that tightened corporate liability.
The raid highlights Poland’s sharpened focus on compliance since the labour-market-test requirement was scrapped last June. While processing times for legal hires have improved, authorities are compensating with more on-site inspections and steeper penalties. Multinationals using outsourcing chains are urged to strengthen vendor audits, as “I hired them through an agency” is no longer a defence.
For foreign employees already in Poland, the case is a reminder that status violations trigger automatic return orders and Schengen bans. Companies should verify that every third-country national holds a valid Polish residence permit or work authorisation—regardless of which intermediary issued the contract.
According to the Border Guard communiqué, the migrants had been seconded by a staffing agency that failed to obtain even the most basic authorisations. Thirty-seven of the workers have already received return-order decisions and a 12-month Schengen-wide re-entry ban. Four Colombians, suspected of having crossed the border by subterfuge, now face criminal charges under Article 264 §2 of Poland’s Criminal Code.
Companies and individual professionals looking to avoid such pitfalls can enlist the support of VisaHQ, an online visa and immigration platform that helps applicants secure Polish work permits, national visas, and residence cards through streamlined document checking and consular liaison services. Detailed guidance for Poland is available at https://www.visahq.com/poland/ ensuring that employers and staff stay fully compliant before setting foot on the assembly line.
Investigators have opened separate proceedings against the employment agency and its local subcontractor. Records seized on 9 February will determine whether the breach stemmed from negligence or a deliberate scheme to supply undocumented labour. Fines for illegal employment can reach PLN 50,000 (≈ €11,700) per worker following 2025 legislative changes that tightened corporate liability.
The raid highlights Poland’s sharpened focus on compliance since the labour-market-test requirement was scrapped last June. While processing times for legal hires have improved, authorities are compensating with more on-site inspections and steeper penalties. Multinationals using outsourcing chains are urged to strengthen vendor audits, as “I hired them through an agency” is no longer a defence.
For foreign employees already in Poland, the case is a reminder that status violations trigger automatic return orders and Schengen bans. Companies should verify that every third-country national holds a valid Polish residence permit or work authorisation—regardless of which intermediary issued the contract.
