Poland is changing its approach to employment of Ukrainian citizens. Starting from March, Ukrainians will need declarations of assignment for legal work, and employers are advised to prepare for new requirements now. The government announces a transition from special decisions to uniform rules for all foreigners. This is reported by inPoland.
According to government representatives, after four years of separate legislation for Ukrainians, the state is transitioning to systemic solutions in the field of employment, social payments, and healthcare. This step aims to equalize conditions for all foreigners with temporary protection and reduce the burden on the budget.
Work permit in Poland: what will change for Ukrainians
If the bill is signed, from March 5, 2026, a three-year transitional period will begin for Ukrainian citizens who legally reside in Poland under other permits. Instead of temporary permits, they will be able to apply for residence for employment purposes based on declarations of assignment for work.
According to official data, in 2025 Ukrainian citizens submitted more than 455,000 applications for residence permits, of which about half were approved, while over 229,000 cases remained unaddressed. Currently, about 990,000 Ukrainians in Poland have PESEL UKR status, of which approximately 670,000 are economically active.
If you are interested in working in Poland, we offer to familiarize yourself with 350,000 job vacancies on the Layboard portal.
New employment rules for Ukrainians: risks for employers
Violating the new requirements may lead to fines and loss of employees. It is considered illegal, in particular, to start working without a permit, perform duties outside the declared conditions, or continue working after the expiration of documents.
Violations also include:
- change of position without updating documents;
- a different type of contract than specified;
- different wage amount.
Fines for such violations range from 3,000 to 50,000 zlotys for each foreigner. Two fines within two years may lead to a ban on employing foreigners for the company.
Commenting on the situation, employment expert Vitaliy Serhiyovych Belents notes that the new rules will require more careful preparation from both employees and businesses.
«For Ukrainians, this means the need to carefully monitor the validity of documents and the compliance of work conditions with permits. For employers — the risk of fines and loss of staff if the arrangement is formal or untimely», — he emphasizes.
We remind you that Galina Kirichenko, Vice President of the international employment company Gremi Personal, reported on the professions of Ukrainian workers that will be in demand in the Polish labor market in 2026.