Poland to Implement New Work Permit System for Ukrainians Starting March 2026

Overhaul of Employment Regulations in Poland

According to ХВИЛЯ: Poland's government has announced a major reform to its residence and employment rules for Ukrainian citizens, set to take effect in March 2026. The current system of temporary work permits will be replaced by a new framework centered on a "declaration of work entrustment." The Polish Council of Ministers stated this move aims to standardize rights for all foreign workers and generate savings for the state budget.

Key Details of the Reform

From March 2026, Poland will apply a uniform, systematic set of rules for the residence and employment of all foreigners. The core requirement for legal work will be obtaining a declaration of work entrustment. If the legislation is signed, a three-year transition period will begin on March 5, 2026, affecting nearly one million Ukrainians with PESEL UKR status, of whom approximately 670,000 are economically active. Furthermore, over 460,000 Ukrainians reside under other permits, and as of 2025, more than 229,000 pending residence permit applications remained unprocessed.

Employers who violate the new rules face substantial fines ranging from 3,000 to 50,000 złoty per worker. If a company receives two fines within a two-year period, it risks a complete ban on hiring foreign nationals. Julia Nowicka, an expert from Grupa Progres, noted that illegally entrusting work will become the highest-risk area for employers. Violations will include:

• performing duties that do not match the official documentation;
• commencing work before the required permit is obtained;
• any change to employment terms-including position, contract type, or even salary-without updating the declaration.

These legislative changes reflect Poland's effort to create a more structured and transparent system for foreign workers, a significant shift given the large Ukrainian community that arrived following Russia's 2022 invasion. The reform is likely to impact the labor market, requiring employers to adhere more strictly to the new requirements. The three-year transition period will be a critical phase for adaptation, providing clearer rules for both Ukrainian workers and Polish companies in managing employment relationships.