Polish employers that rely on international students for part-time or seasonal labour have just one month to adapt to a major compliance change. A regulation published on 28 May 2026 ends the transitional period that has so far allowed all non-EU students enrolled at Polish universities to work without a permit. From 1 July 2026 the exemption will apply only if the student’s institution appears on a new positive list maintained by the Ministry of the Interior and Administration (MSWiA). In practice, that list covers public universities and a much narrower group of accredited private colleges. The move is part of a broader overhaul of Poland’s labour-migration framework that began in 2025 with the launch of the MOS e-filing portal and a digital work-permit system. Officials argue that tightening the student exemption closes a loophole that was increasingly abused by fly-by-night schools set up solely to provide “visa-shopping” channels for low-skilled workers from Asia and Africa. According to MSWiA data, the number of student visa holders who never actually enrolled in coursework doubled between 2022 and 2025, straining local labour inspectorates. For HR teams the new rules create an extra layer of due-diligence. Before signing an employment contract they must now verify both the individual’s student status and the school’s presence on the published list. If the institution is not authorised, the foreign national will need the standard basis for work authorisation (notification, employer declaration, or full work permit, depending on nationality).
![Poland tightens rules on foreign students’ right to work after 1 July 2026]()
To help both employers and international students navigate these new obligations, VisaHQ’s Poland desk (https://www.visahq.com/poland/) offers end-to-end support: from confirming whether a university is on the MSWiA positive list to preparing the correct work-permit or declaration packages and lodging them through the MOS portal. HR teams can track every case in real time via VisaHQ’s online dashboard, reducing the risk of costly compliance surprises.
Hiring in breach of the rule can trigger fines of up to PLN 30,000 and even a temporary ban on employing foreigners. Universities welcome the change as a quality-control measure but warn of short-term disruption. “Legitimate students from newly established private institutions could suddenly lose their ability to finance their studies,” says Dr. Marta Kubiak, dean of international programmes at the University of Łódź. Law firms are already urging multinational clients to audit all student employees, review contract wording, and update onboarding checklists before 30 June. Practically, companies that count on large student pools—retail chains, logistics hubs near Warsaw and Wrocław airports, and shared-service centres—may need to switch to other permit types or temporary-agency arrangements. With unemployment below 3 percent in major cities, the scramble for authorised labour could push up wage costs in the second half of the year. Foreign investors should monitor MSWiA’s forthcoming guidance on how often the list will be updated and what appeal procedures will be available for excluded schools.
To help both employers and international students navigate these new obligations, VisaHQ’s Poland desk (https://www.visahq.com/poland/) offers end-to-end support: from confirming whether a university is on the MSWiA positive list to preparing the correct work-permit or declaration packages and lodging them through the MOS portal. HR teams can track every case in real time via VisaHQ’s online dashboard, reducing the risk of costly compliance surprises.
Hiring in breach of the rule can trigger fines of up to PLN 30,000 and even a temporary ban on employing foreigners. Universities welcome the change as a quality-control measure but warn of short-term disruption. “Legitimate students from newly established private institutions could suddenly lose their ability to finance their studies,” says Dr. Marta Kubiak, dean of international programmes at the University of Łódź. Law firms are already urging multinational clients to audit all student employees, review contract wording, and update onboarding checklists before 30 June. Practically, companies that count on large student pools—retail chains, logistics hubs near Warsaw and Wrocław airports, and shared-service centres—may need to switch to other permit types or temporary-agency arrangements. With unemployment below 3 percent in major cities, the scramble for authorised labour could push up wage costs in the second half of the year. Foreign investors should monitor MSWiA’s forthcoming guidance on how often the list will be updated and what appeal procedures will be available for excluded schools.
