Ukrainians in Poland will need work permits starting in 2026: what will change and what to expect

Poland is preparing to change the rules for employing foreigners and abolish special privileges for Ukrainians. Find out what work permits will be required starting in 2026, who will be affected by the transition period, and what penalties will be imposed for violations

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Poland is preparing for a significant revision of the rules for the employment of foreigners. If the legislative changes are adopted, from March 2026, Ukrainians will no longer be able to work solely on the basis of special preferential rules — permits or declarations of work assignment will be required for legal work. This was reported by inpoland.

End of special rules for Ukrainians

After almost four years of special legislation for Ukrainian citizens, the Polish authorities plan to move to uniform employment rules for all foreigners. The government explains this step by the need to equalize conditions of access to the labor market, social benefits, and medical services, as well as to reduce the burden on the state budget.

The political context also plays a role: Polish President Karol Nawrocki has publicly stated that he opposes the privileged approach to certain groups of foreigners, in particular Ukrainians. As a result, the government has initiated changes to unify the rules for legal employment.

What documents will be required for work

According to current plans, from March 2026, Ukrainians will need a declaration of employment of a foreigner to officially work in Poland. This document will become the main basis for legal employment, replacing the current simplified mechanisms.

At the same time, the bill provides for a three-year transition period starting on March 5, 2026. It will apply to Ukrainians who already legally reside in Poland on the basis of other permits (e.g., residence permits or residence cards). This means that there will be no sudden “break” in the legal status of some workers, but the new rules will gradually become mandatory for everyone.

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Why these changes are critically important for Ukrainians

The scale of the issue is significant. In 2025 alone, Ukrainian citizens submitted over 455,000 applications for residence permits in Poland. At the same time, over 229,000 cases have not yet been considered, creating legal uncertainty for hundreds of thousands of people.

As of now, almost 1 million Ukrainians with PESEL UKR status live in Poland, of which about 670,000 are economically active. More than 460,000 Ukrainians are in the country on other legal grounds. For all these people, the change in rules means that they need to closely monitor their legal status and employment conditions.

In this situation, more and more Ukrainians are seeking professional legal support. In particular, employment lawyers at Visit Ukraine help to understand what kind of permit is needed in a specific case, how to properly complete the documents, and how to avoid the risk of losing legal status.

Risks for employees and employers

Yulia Novitska, an expert on the legalization of foreign employment at Grupa Progres, warns that after the new rules come into force, any deviation from the conditions of the permit will be considered a violation.

This applies not only to working without a permit, but also to:

● changing positions;

● changing the type of employment contract;

● changing the salary amount;

● performing work that does not correspond to the specialty specified in the documents.

Even formally minor violations may be grounds for sanctions.

Fines and possible sanctions

Polish law provides for a fine of PLN 3,000 to PLN 50,000 for each employee for the illegal employment of a foreigner. If an employer receives two fines within two years, they may be completely banned from hiring foreigners.

We remind you! Poland is increasing spending on pension supplements for Ukrainian citizens who have worked and lived in the country. Read about which Ukrainians are entitled to a minimum pension in Poland, what conditions are imposed by ZUS, and under what circumstances payments may be suspended.

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