Poland Tightens Visa-Free Work Rules for Three Nationalities

Poland is set to introduce new regulations on August 22, ending visa-free work for citizens of Colombia, Georgia, and Venezuela. The Ministry of Family, Labor, and Social Policy published a decree on August 7, which takes effect 14 days after its announcement. This measure aims to address issues identified in an assessment of regulatory impact, which noted that foreigners from these countries often enter the EU through other member states, posing as tourists before coming to Poland to work legally with permits. The assessment highlighted that this practice leads to illegal stays and employment, a growing shadow economy, and instances of exploitation and human trafficking.

However, experts consulted by Puls HR express doubts about the chosen solutions. Nadia Winiarska, deputy director of the Labor Department at Konfederacja Lewiatan, questions whether Poland's visa system is adequately prepared for the potential increase in applications. She warns that this could lead to longer processing times for legal employment of foreign workers. Employers have long complained about the unpredictability and lengthy procedures for obtaining visas in Poland. "We would primarily expect an increase in the staffing and organizational resources of consulates, streamlining of procedures, and greater predictability of the process," Winiarska stated. She also suggested exploring alternative solutions like closer international cooperation and information exchange to better vet foreigners without overburdening the visa system.

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We would primarily expect an increase in the staffing and organizational resources of consulates, streamlining of procedures, and greater predictability of the process. We should also consider alternative solutions, such as closer international cooperation and information exchange between countries, which would allow for better vetting of foreigners without automatically increasing the burden on the visa system.

Jakub Tomczak, sales director at the Folga employment agency, echoed these concerns, emphasizing that "when making a decision of this magnitude, the state must also ensure the efficiency of visa and legalization procedures." He pointed out that "proven workers can wait for documents for weeks, and companies pay for this with downtime. This is a waste that the Polish economy cannot afford with such a change." Meanwhile, Rocio Flores Torres, president of the Commission of Latin American Workers in Poland, observes that the new decree does not effectively resolve the ongoing issues of illegal employment and exploitation. "If we truly want to fight illegal employment and exploitation, we need to justify..."

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When making a decision of this magnitude, the state must also ensure the efficiency of visa and legalization procedures. Proven workers can wait for documents for weeks, and companies pay for this with downtime. This is a waste that the Polish economy cannot afford with such a change.