New immigration law in Poland 2025! New visa, work, study rules coming!

Summary

In 2025, Poland is set to implement significant immigration and labor market reforms that will directly impact foreigners looking to work and live in the country. Key changes include fully digitalized work permit applications, the elimination of labor market tests for employers, and stricter regulations for student and work visas. The reforms aim to streamline processes, reduce administrative delays, and better support foreign workers' integration. While the updates offer improvements, such as simplified procedures, they also introduce stricter compliance, particularly in terms of visa eligibility, language proficiency, and job market access, creating challenges for some foreign experts.

Takeaways

• 😀 Significant changes are coming to Poland's immigration laws in 2025, impacting foreigners working and staying in the country.
• 😀 The new legislation aims to streamline processes, reduce administrative delays, and fully digitalize work permits and visa applications.
• 😀 The changes are a response to irregularities in Poland's visa system and a need to modernize immigration procedures for a better labor market fit.
• 😀 The draft bill addresses the misuse of visas, particularly student visas, which have been exploited for work and migration purposes.
• 😀 A major change is the elimination of the labor market test, which previously required employers to prove that no local workers were available before hiring a foreigner.
• 😀 Instead of the labor market test, a reverse solution will be introduced, restricting work permits for certain jobs in regions with high unemployment or insufficient demand.
• 😀 Stricter penalties will be imposed on employers for illegal employment, with fines ranging from 3,000 to 50,000 PLN per case.
• 😀 Work permits may be denied to employers who cannot justify hiring a foreign worker or whose primary purpose is to facilitate immigration.
• 😀 For student visas, new language proficiency requirements (minimum B2 level) and qualification tests will be implemented.
• 😀 Work visa applications will be prioritized for key economic sectors, and there will be stricter controls to prevent fraud and abuse of the visa system.

Q & A

What are the key legislative changes coming in 2025 for foreigners working in Poland?

In 2025, Poland will implement significant updates to its immigration laws, including fully digitalized work permit and visa application processes, elimination of the labor market test, stricter penalties for illegal employment, and reforms for student visas. These changes aim to streamline immigration procedures and address issues like the Visa scam and misuse of student visas.

Why are these changes in the immigration law necessary?

The changes are necessary due to significant irregularities in the Polish Visa system, including uncontrolled migration, misuse of work and student visas, and inefficiencies in processing residency permits. These reforms aim to restore control over immigration, meet EU obligations, and ensure migration supports Poland's economy and security.

What will be the main change in the work permit process in 2025?

The work permit application process will be fully digitalized in 2025. Work permit applications, decisions, and appeals will all be handled electronically, eliminating the option for paper submissions. This is expected to reduce administrative delays and improve processing times.

What is the labor market test and how will it change?

The labor market test required Polish employers to prove that no local workers were available for a position before hiring a foreign worker. In 2025, this test will be eliminated, and instead, a reverse solution will be introduced where lists of occupations with restricted work permits will be created if there is a local labor market shortage.

What happens if an employer hires a foreign worker illegally under the new law?

Employers who hire foreign workers illegally will face fines ranging from 3,000 to 50,000 PLN per violation. Additionally, employers may have their work permits denied if they cannot justify hiring a foreign worker or if they primarily operate to facilitate immigration.

How will the reforms affect student visas for foreign nationals?

The reforms to student visas will introduce stricter language proficiency requirements (minimum B2 level) and qualification tests. Foreign students will also be monitored through a national database accessible to consulates, and universities admitting students from high-risk regions will face stricter controls.

How will the reforms impact foreign workers in Poland?

The reforms will make the work permit and visa process more streamlined and transparent, with better support for foreign workers, including integration programs, language courses, and job market adaptation services. However, there will be stricter oversight and compliance, especially for foreign experts.

What are the expected challenges of these new regulations for foreign workers?

The challenges include tougher student visa rules, stricter language and qualification requirements for foreign students, and potentially stricter employment conditions by 2026, such as mandatory work contracts and regional restrictions on which jobs foreign workers can apply for.

How will Poland's immigration system change regarding student visas?

Poland will implement stricter controls on student visas, including the introduction of language proficiency requirements (minimum B2 level), qualification tests, and closer monitoring of foreign students. Universities will also face stricter admissions standards, particularly for students from high-risk regions.

What measures will be taken to ensure that immigration supports Poland's economy?

The reforms include prioritizing work permits for key economic sectors, ensuring that foreign workers contribute positively to the labor market. Stricter controls, such as fraud prevention and monitoring, will be enforced to align immigration with Poland's economic needs and national security.