The Polish government has introduced a wave of new legislative changes affecting foreign workers and the companies that employ them. The updates, coming into force from June 1st and July 1st, 2025, are designed to increase transparency, strengthen labor protections, and improve oversight of the employment process.
As Residence Angels, we’ve broken down the most important updates — what they mean for you and how to stay ahead of the curve.
📅 What Changes on June 1?
Several key amendments will affect all employers of foreign nationals, including those hiring under civil law contracts, employment contracts, or through work permits.
1. Longer Document Retention
Employers must now keep copies of foreigners' residence documents for:
The entire period of employment, and
2 additional years after the end of the calendar year in which the employment relationship ended.
2. Bilingual Contracts
All employment contracts must:
Be signed before work begins,
Be in Polish and a language understood by the foreigner (mother tongue or confirmed secondary language such as English).
3. PESEL Number Requirement
The PESEL number (if available) must now be included in work permit applications.
4. Increased Work Permit Fees for Employers
The work permit fee is expected to rise to 200 PLN (potentially ranging from 150 to 500 PLN). Official confirmation is still pending.
5. New Grounds for Refusal
Work permits may be denied if:
A foreigner previously entered Poland for work but didn’t take up employment (without a valid reason).
The employer obstructed labor inspections in the last 24 months.
6. System Overhaul Coming
The government plans to replace praca.gov.pl with a new IT platform by the end of 2025. Employers will be required to use this system for all foreign employment procedures.
7. Possible Work Permit Quotas
The Council of Ministers may impose annual limits on work permits based on:
Industry, region, type of work, or
Proportions of Polish vs. foreign workers.
📢 Employers’ New Duties
Starting June:
Contracts must be submitted electronically within 7 days after employment begins.
Employers must inform foreign workers of their right to join trade unions in a language they understand.
Salary must be proportionally increased when work hours increase.
Authorities must be notified if the foreigner:
Doesn’t start work within 2 months,
Interrupts work for over 2 months, or
Ends work prematurely.
Failure to comply may lead to fines ranging from 500 to 50,000 PLN per case.
📅 What Changes on July 1?
July introduces changes to citizenship fees and residence rules:
1. Higher Citizenship Fees
Citizenship by recognition: from 219 PLN to 1,000 PLN.
Presidential citizenship: now 1,669 PLN.
2. Educational Certificates for Citizenship and Long Term Residence of EU
This section of the law concerns the confirmation of Polish language proficiency when applying for the EU long-term resident permit in Poland. It outlines transitional rules valid until June 30, 2026, and applies to people who completed specific educational paths before June 30, 2025.
Let’s break it down in detail:
✅ 1. Ongoing cases before July 1, 2025
If someone started their application for the EU long-term resident permit before July 1, 2025, and the case is not yet finalized, the old rules apply.
That means they can still use older documents, such as a diploma from a Polish-language school, to confirm their Polish language proficiency.
✅ 2. Polish post-secondary school diploma (before June 30, 2025)
If a person graduated before June 30, 2025 from a post-secondary school mentioned in the law (e.g. a szkoła policealna — post-lyceum technical school), that diploma can still be used to prove they know Polish well enough — for applications submitted between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026.
✅ 3. Foreign Polish-language school diploma (before June 30, 2025)
If someone graduated before June 30, 2025, from a school abroad where Polish was the language of instruction, and that school is equivalent to a Polish post-secondary school, then that diploma is also valid to confirm Polish language skills — again, for applications submitted between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026.
Graduates of post-secondary Polish-language schools (szkoła policealna) can still use their diplomas to confirm Polish language skills issued until June 30, 2025. After this date, stricter requirements will apply.
3. Foreign Students & Schengen Residents
Foreigners holding residence cards or visas from other Schengen states cannot apply for a Polish residence card based on work, unless they fall under specific mobility exemptions.
However, they can still apply for other purposes (e.g. family reunification, language courses, business).
✅ Key Takeaways
Employers must update their internal processes immediately to stay compliant.
Foreigners should review their visa and work status before June to avoid issues with upcoming changes.
Companies must be ready for digital-only processing via a new national platform.
Citizenship applicants should consider submitting documents before July to avoid higher fees.
💬 Need Help?
Whether you're:
An employer unsure about the new obligations,
A foreigner planning to change your residence status,
Or simply confused about how this affects your future in Poland...
We're here to help.
📩 Contact Residence Angels for one-on-one consultations and full support with documentation, compliance, and planning ahead.