The Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy has published a new regulation introducing important changes in employing foreigners in 2026 in Poland under the visa-free regime. The regulation was signed on 31 July 2026, published in the Journal of Laws (Dz.U. 2026, item 1072) on 7 August 2026 and takes effect on 21 August 2026 — fourteen days after publication. The change concerns three countries: the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Georgia and the Republic of Colombia.
What exactly is changing
From 21 August 2026, citizens of Venezuela, Georgia and Colombia will no longer be able to work in Poland on the basis of a work permit (zezwolenie na pracę) while staying under the visa-free regime. Until now, this route allowed many workers from these countries to start working in Poland without first obtaining a national (type D) visa or a temporary residence permit. The new regulation closes this loophole: working on the basis of a work permit alone, without an appropriate residence title, will no longer be possible for citizens of these three countries.
The legal basis of the regulation is Article 3(4) of the Act of 20 March 2025 on the conditions for entrusting work to foreigners in the Republic of Poland. The regulation was signed by Minister Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk.
Who is affected by the 2026 changes in employing foreigners, and who is not?
The regulation contains a transitional provision that is key for people already working in Poland. Citizens of Venezuela, Georgia or Colombia who started work in Poland under the visa-free regime before 21 August 2026 may continue working on the existing terms until their visa-free stay expires. In other words, nobody loses their job overnight.
The restriction applies only to people who plan to start work after 21 August 2026. For them, the “visa-free entry + work permit” route is no longer available and they will need to use another, fully legal procedure.
Why this change matters
Until now, visa-free travel to Poland made it easy to start work quickly: the worker could arrive without a visa and the employer obtained a work permit for them on site. This was convenient, but in practice it also led to situations in which some workers were in a legally uncertain position that depended solely on how long their visa-free stay lasted. The new rules aim to bring order to this route and align it with the solutions already applied to citizens of other non-EU countries, for whom employment in Poland requires an appropriate visa or residence card from the outset.
Which legal routes remain available
Candidates from Venezuela, Georgia and Colombia who want to start work in Poland after 21 August 2026 have two main options:
- A national (type D) visa for the purpose of work — issued on the basis of a work permit obtained by the employer before the candidate arrives in Poland. The whole process is handled at the diplomatic mission in the country of origin.
- A temporary residence and work permit — a solution for people already staying legally in Poland on another basis (for example after a change of status) who want to settle both their residence and their employment in a single procedure.
In both cases it is crucial that the employer prepares the paperwork in advance — including obtaining a work permit or a labour market test where required — before the candidate starts the visa formalities.
What employers and candidates should do now
For recruitment agencies and employers, this means redesigning recruitment processes for candidates from these three countries — from a “visa-free arrival, paperwork on site” model to a “full documentation before arrival” model. In practice, this means recruitment takes longer, so it is worth starting the procedures early, ideally before 21 August 2026 if possible.
Alimat Group is continually adapting its recruitment processes for candidates from Venezuela, Georgia and Colombia so that every hire is fully compliant with the new rules from day one — with no risk of a gap in legal residence or work.
Frequently asked questions
Will workers who are already employed lose their jobs?
No. People who started work before 21 August 2026 may continue working on the existing terms until the end of their visa-free stay.
Do the changes also apply to other visa-free countries?
The regulation of 31 July 2026 lists only three countries: Venezuela, Georgia and Colombia. Citizens of other visa-free countries are not affected.
What if a candidate is already in Poland but not yet working?
If work did not actually start before 21 August 2026, the candidate will have to use one of the alternative routes described above.
