In its latest Protection-Sector Legal Update released overnight (23 February), UNHCR synthesises all immigration and asylum measures adopted by Poland since the start of 2026. The 14-page bulletin confirms that Warsaw will abolish its stand-alone 2022 “Special Act” for Ukrainian war refugees on 5 March and fold beneficiaries into the broader Law on Foreigners. Temporary protection, free access to the labour market and social benefits remain, but refugees who leave Poland for more than 30 days will now forfeit status.
The update also covers Poland’s move to a fully digital residence-permit platform (Moduł Obsługi Spraw, or MOS). From 1 February all first-time and renewal applications must be filed online with qualified e-signatures—paper submissions are deemed “not filed.” UNHCR warns that foreign employees who miss MOS deadlines risk falling out of legal stay, automatically invalidating any work-permit notification and exposing employers to fines of up to PLN 30,000 per worker.
![UNHCR Issues 23 February Legal Bulletin on Protection Rules for Foreigners in Poland]()
VisaHQ can streamline these new requirements for companies and individual travelers alike. The service’s Poland portal (https://www.visahq.com/poland/) facilitates the creation of trusted-profile e-signatures, pre-reviews digital applications for compliance, and sends automated deadline reminders so posted workers never miss a MOS wezwanie. This hands-on support allows HR teams to stay focused on core assignments while keeping employees fully compliant with the evolving Polish regulations.
For global mobility managers, the take-away is urgent process realignment. HR teams should create MOS accounts for each posted worker, obtain trusted-profile e-signatures and monitor inboxes daily for seven-day document-completion notices (wezwania). UNHCR further advises companies to brief Ukrainian staff on the new 30-day travel rule: routine business trips abroad could unintentionally cancel protection status.
Finally, the bulletin flags an upcoming 90 per-cent increase in national-visa fees (EUR 200 from 1 March) and stricter evidence requirements for family-reunification cases. Budget forecasts for 2026 assignments should therefore be adjusted upward, and relocation suppliers asked to update cost-of-living and compliance schedules accordingly.
The update also covers Poland’s move to a fully digital residence-permit platform (Moduł Obsługi Spraw, or MOS). From 1 February all first-time and renewal applications must be filed online with qualified e-signatures—paper submissions are deemed “not filed.” UNHCR warns that foreign employees who miss MOS deadlines risk falling out of legal stay, automatically invalidating any work-permit notification and exposing employers to fines of up to PLN 30,000 per worker.
VisaHQ can streamline these new requirements for companies and individual travelers alike. The service’s Poland portal (https://www.visahq.com/poland/) facilitates the creation of trusted-profile e-signatures, pre-reviews digital applications for compliance, and sends automated deadline reminders so posted workers never miss a MOS wezwanie. This hands-on support allows HR teams to stay focused on core assignments while keeping employees fully compliant with the evolving Polish regulations.
For global mobility managers, the take-away is urgent process realignment. HR teams should create MOS accounts for each posted worker, obtain trusted-profile e-signatures and monitor inboxes daily for seven-day document-completion notices (wezwania). UNHCR further advises companies to brief Ukrainian staff on the new 30-day travel rule: routine business trips abroad could unintentionally cancel protection status.
Finally, the bulletin flags an upcoming 90 per-cent increase in national-visa fees (EUR 200 from 1 March) and stricter evidence requirements for family-reunification cases. Budget forecasts for 2026 assignments should therefore be adjusted upward, and relocation suppliers asked to update cost-of-living and compliance schedules accordingly.
