Important changes in immigration procedures from 1 December 2025
Four new executive regulations to the Act on the Conditions for the Admissibility of Entrusting Work to Foreigners in Poland came into force on 1 December.
The changes include a simplified procedure, new fee rates, clarification of cases allowing work without a permit, and new scope of required documents.
Important changes in immigration procedures from 1 December 2025
Four new executive regulations to the Act on the Conditions for the Admissibility of Entrusting Work to Foreigners in Poland came into force on 1 December.
The changes include a simplified procedure, new fee rates, clarification of cases allowing work without a permit, and new scope of required documents.
Changes in the list of countries covered by the simplified declaration procedure
The list of countries whose citizens can benefit from the simplified procedure for declarations on entrusting work and the provisions on seasonal work permits has been revised.
- Georgia has been removed from the existing list, which means that it is no longer possible for citizens of that country to apply for a declaration.
- Declarations for Georgian citizens registered before 1 December 2025 will remain valid until their expiry date.
- Applications submitted before 1 December 2025 are subject to the regulations in force on the date of submission.
New fees for work legalisation
From 1 December, increased fees apply for the issuance of documents:
| Type of document | Rates after 1 December |
| Work permit for up to 3 months | PLN 200 |
| Work permit for more than 3 months | PLN 400 |
| Work permit for foreigners posted to Poland | PLN 800 |
| Seasonal work permit | PLN 100 |
| Entry of a declaration on entrusting foreigners in the register of declarations | PLN 400 |
Clarification of cases where work is carried out without a permit
The new regulation specifies situations in which foreigners legally residing in Poland may work without a work permit or a declaration on entrusting work.
- The list of cases entitling foreigners to work without additional documents has been rearranged.
- Regulations concerning students, academics and certain categories of persons exempt from the obligation to hold a work permit have been clarified.
- Students of higher educational establishments that no longer meet the new criteria exempting them from having a work permit have a transitional period until 30 June 2026.
- Foreigners currently working without a permit under previous regulations that are not included in the new regulation have the right to work for a period of 6 months from 1 December 2025.
New requirements for documents submitted with the application
The list of documents that an employer must submit with an application for a work permit or a declaration on entrusting work has been updated.
The new regulations:
- specify which attachments are mandatory for each type of application,
- overcome discrepancies within the authorities’ current practice,
- introduce uniform documentation requirements regardless of region.
From 1 December 2025, a new application form for a temporary residence permit for foreigners and new templates of attachments to this application will also come into force.