The Bieszczadzki Border Guard District announced on 17 February that its officers have already verified the lawful stay of nearly 600 foreigners in south-eastern Poland since 1 January 2026. In the first six weeks of the year more than 30 people – including nationals of Egypt, Zimbabwe, Paraguay, Tajikistan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Georgia, India, Russia and Turkey – have been issued return orders and entry bans of up to six months for violating Poland’s immigration rules.
The latest operation centred on Rzeszów-Jasionka airport, a fast-growing hub for low-cost carriers and charter flights into the Carpathian region. Officers stopped a 24-year-old Egyptian who had remained in the country despite a negative residence-permit decision from the regional voivode. Separate patrols near Sanok caught seven Russian citizens who had slipped across the Slovak border by coach without valid Schengen documents. A local court handed each of them a six-month suspended prison sentence for illegal entry.
Companies and individual travellers who need help navigating Poland’s tightened entry and residence rules can turn to VisaHQ’s online platform for fast, reliable support. Its Poland-dedicated page (https://www.visahq.com/poland/) offers clear checklists, document-review services and real-time updates, allowing users to determine the exact visa or permit they require and to file error-free applications—minimising the risk of costly return orders or entry bans.
![Polish Border Guard expels over 30 foreigners after residency spot-checks in Podkarpacie]()
The Border Guard stresses that the campaign is part of a nationwide strategy to tighten compliance following last year’s overhaul of the Foreigners Act and the full digitalisation of residence-permit procedures. Employers now face fines of PLN 3,000–50,000 if they hire a foreigner who lacks the right to stay or work. Mobility and HR teams should therefore check that staff have up-to-date electronic permits generated by the new MOS portal and retain digital copies in case of on-the-spot inspections.
For business travellers the message is equally clear: carry printed or digital proof of legal stay (e.g. a MOS confirmation email or a valid visa) and be prepared for random checks not just at external borders but also at regional airports, railway stations and major roads. The Border Guard has hinted that audits will intensify in the run-up to the summer tourism season, when temporary workers and students traditionally arrive in greater numbers.
The escalation underscores Poland’s determination to align with EU standards while deterring secondary movements from neighbouring countries. Companies that post workers to projects in Podkarpacie – especially in the booming aviation-parts and logistics clusters around Rzeszów – should brief staff on the stricter enforcement climate and budget extra time for document verification when entering or leaving worksites.
The latest operation centred on Rzeszów-Jasionka airport, a fast-growing hub for low-cost carriers and charter flights into the Carpathian region. Officers stopped a 24-year-old Egyptian who had remained in the country despite a negative residence-permit decision from the regional voivode. Separate patrols near Sanok caught seven Russian citizens who had slipped across the Slovak border by coach without valid Schengen documents. A local court handed each of them a six-month suspended prison sentence for illegal entry.
Companies and individual travellers who need help navigating Poland’s tightened entry and residence rules can turn to VisaHQ’s online platform for fast, reliable support. Its Poland-dedicated page (https://www.visahq.com/poland/) offers clear checklists, document-review services and real-time updates, allowing users to determine the exact visa or permit they require and to file error-free applications—minimising the risk of costly return orders or entry bans.
The Border Guard stresses that the campaign is part of a nationwide strategy to tighten compliance following last year’s overhaul of the Foreigners Act and the full digitalisation of residence-permit procedures. Employers now face fines of PLN 3,000–50,000 if they hire a foreigner who lacks the right to stay or work. Mobility and HR teams should therefore check that staff have up-to-date electronic permits generated by the new MOS portal and retain digital copies in case of on-the-spot inspections.
For business travellers the message is equally clear: carry printed or digital proof of legal stay (e.g. a MOS confirmation email or a valid visa) and be prepared for random checks not just at external borders but also at regional airports, railway stations and major roads. The Border Guard has hinted that audits will intensify in the run-up to the summer tourism season, when temporary workers and students traditionally arrive in greater numbers.
The escalation underscores Poland’s determination to align with EU standards while deterring secondary movements from neighbouring countries. Companies that post workers to projects in Podkarpacie – especially in the booming aviation-parts and logistics clusters around Rzeszów – should brief staff on the stricter enforcement climate and budget extra time for document verification when entering or leaving worksites.
