The 5 most important changes in Poland’s migration law in 2025

The year 2025 is fast approaching and with it will come significant changes to Poland’s migration law. The new solutions are expected to facilitate formalities related to the employment of foreigners, shorten the waiting time for decisions and improve access to highly qualified specialists. Entrepreneurs and investors operating in Poland stand to gain from these reforms by better utilising the potential of the international labour market.

Our migration department has been describing individual changes throughout this year. If you are interested in a particular topic in more detail, I encourage you to follow the link to the article in the paragraph heading.

1. Poland’s Migration Strategy

An important part of the reforms of the migration management system is the announced Migration Strategy of Poland, which has the character of a declarative document that sets directions for the development of the country’s migration policy. Although the Strategy is a general and framework document, its assumptions are gradually implemented in practice through specific draft laws and administrative initiatives.

The main objective of the Strategy is to create a transparent, effective and flexible migration system, which will respond to the needs of the dynamically changing labour market, as well as support the integration of migrants into Poland’s society. 

Among the key assumptions of the document are:

• The rules for employment in deficit occupations will be simplified to facilitate access to work in industries where there is a shortage of workers, while limiting employment in surplus occupations.
• The process of legalising the residence of foreigners will be digitalised, allowing online applications and relieving offices of the need to process paper documents.
• The rules for obtaining citizenship will be changed with the introduction of a test on knowledge of Polish culture and social norms and a requirement to live in Poland before citizenship can be restored.
• Visa policy will be simplified and made more transparent so that visa granting procedures are easy to understand and unambiguous.
• Integration of foreigners will be supported by a system of incentives for employers and changes in the functioning of employment agencies that will streamline hiring processes.

The implementation of the document is staggered and its effects are to be monitored and updated regularly in response to new challenges.

2. New rules for the provision of work by foreigners

In the coming 2025, the rules on the employment of foreigners in Poland will undergo significant modifications aimed at streamlining and unifying legalisation procedures.

According to the proposed regulations, the changes will include, in particular:

• shortening of application processing times,
• wider use of integrated electronic tools – applying for a work permit will only be possible online,
• as well as a reduction in the use of civil law forms of employment in favour of employment contracts. The increased emphasis on full-time employment is expected to strengthen the protection of foreigners’ rights, provide them with clear benefits and increase the predictability of working conditions.

3. Modifications concerning the so-called Blue Card

As of the first quarter of 2025, Poland is planning significant changes regarding the EU Blue Card, aimed at simplifying procedures and increasing the attractiveness of this permit for highly skilled non-EU workers.

The amendment to the Foreigners Act provides for the possibility for EU Blue Card holders to conduct business activities on the same basis as Poland’s citizens. In addition, it is planned to introduce more flexible rules for changing employers without having to obtain a new permit, which is expected to facilitate the professional mobility of foreigners in Poland.

In the context of short-term mobility, holders of an EU Blue Card issued by another EU Member State will be able to stay and work in Poland for a period not exceeding 90 days in any 180-day period without having to obtain an additional work permit.

4. Electronic submission of applications through the MOS

An important improvement will be the implementation of the MOS (Moduł Obsługi Spraw) platform for electronic submission of applications for work and residence permits for foreigners.

From 2025 onwards, interested parties will be able to remotely upload the necessary documents, as well as check the status of the proceedings in real time. At the same time, this involves closing the possibility of handling cases on paper. This solution will not only shorten case handling times and reduce the number of visits to offices, but will also facilitate access to information about the required documents and deadlines, ensuring greater transparency of the entire process.

5. Simplified legalisation of residence for Ukrainian citizens

From 2025, Poland will introduce a simplified procedure for applying for a residence card with a CUKR endorsement for Ukrainian citizens under temporary protection.

The process will be fully electronic, with applications submitted online via the website of the Office for Foreigners. The residence card, valid for three years, will be available to those who meet certain conditions, such as having an uninterrupted CUKR status for at least 365 days and having a CUKR PESEL on 4 March 2024, as well as on the date of the application itself.

What impact will the changes have?

The changes to Poland’s migration law, planned for 2025, are clearly moving towards greater flexibility, transparency and efficiency in procedures related to the employment and residence of foreigners. Simplified formalities for concluding employment contracts, lowered thresholds for Blue Card, the possibility of electronic submission of applications, facilitation for Ukrainian nationals and fuller integration with EU standards will all contribute to a more favourable investment climate in Poland.

Thanks to these reforms, entrepreneurs will gain faster access to talent and specialists from outside the country, while candidates from abroad will be provided with clear and efficient paths to legalise their stay and work. The result will be the strengthening of Poland’s position as a dynamically developing market, eagerly chosen by global investors and highly qualified personnel.