In Poland, the rules for the employment of foreigners have changed since August 22

On August 22, 2026, new rules for the employment of citizens of Colombia, Georgia, and Venezuela came into effect in Poland. For legal work, it is no longer enough to have just a work permit; a work visa is additionally required. These changes do not apply to those who started working in the country before that date. This is reported by InPoland.

Who now needs a work visa in Poland

The changes were stipulated by the decree of the Minister of Family, Labor, and Social Policy of Poland. The new requirements apply to citizens of Colombia, Georgia, and Venezuela who plan to seek employment after the document comes into force.

From now on, citizens of these three countries need to have not only the appropriate permit but also a work visa to work in Poland. At the same time, for foreigners who started working before August 22, the previous conditions still apply.

Employer representatives opposed the tightening of rules even during public consultations. Piotr Rogowiecki from the Employers' Association stated that the Polish market needs labor migrants, so creating additional barriers for workers from these countries may complicate the search for personnel.

According to the provided data, 23,177 citizens of Colombia, 22,118 citizens of Georgia, and 1,117 citizens of Venezuela are officially employed in Poland. A significant portion of foreigners is engaged in jobs where Polish companies find it difficult to find local workers.

Rogowiecki also pointed out the demographic situation. According to forecasts from the Central Statistical Office of Poland, by 2060, around 200,000 Poles will leave the labor market each year.

If you are interested in work in Poland, we suggest exploring 350,000 job vacancies on the Layboard portal.

The number of foreign workers in Poland has sharply increased

Data from ZUS indicates a long-term increase in the number of foreigners covered by the social security system. In 2016, there were approximately 293,200, while by the end of 2025, it had grown to 1.2 million.

The number of Colombian citizens, in particular, has grown rapidly. Over ten years, their number in the ZUS system increased almost 144 times: from 100 individuals in December 2016 to 19,500 at the end of 2025.

The number of Georgian citizens increased approximately 42 times during this period. In December 2016, there were around 600, while by the end of 2025, there were already 26,000.

At the same time, Poland is reducing the number of new work permits for foreigners. According to the Ministry of Interior and Administration, in the first half of 2026, about 69,000 were issued, which is 50% less than in the same period in 2025. For comparison, in the first half of 2024, 173,000 permits were issued, and in 2025, 144,000.

It is worth noting that the general consulate of Ukraine in Lublin will provide outreach services for citizens in Bialystok on September 17 and 18, 2026.