It has been nearly a year since the immigration law reform took effect, a reform intended to simplify and speed up the process of hiring foreign nationals in Poland.
The new regulations were touted as a breakthrough:
- full digitization of proceedings
- faster issuance of permits
- less red tape
- streamlining procedures for businesses
In practice, however, many business owners and HR departments today feel quite differently.
👉 Instead of shorter processing times—longer wait times.
👉 Instead of simplifications—more formal verification.
What has the reform changed?
Following the implementation of the new regulations, the entire process of legalizing employment was transferred to an electronic system.
Conclusions regarding:
- work permits,
- declarations of work assignment,
- seasonal permits
Applications are submitted exclusively through the praca.gov.pl website.
In addition, the requirement for the so-called “labor market test”—that is, the need to obtain information from the county administrator—has been eliminated.
The premise was simple:
👉 Less red tape = faster decisions.
In practice, proceedings take longer
However, the data show that the duration of proceedings has not decreased.
According to information from the Ministry of Family, Labor, and Social Policy:
- In June 2024, the average duration of proceedings was 58 days,
- In May 2025, it had already been 78 days,
- In April 2026, the average duration was 81 days.
In practice, companies are increasingly facing wait times of several months for decisions.
Why the delays?
The ministry cites several main reasons.
The Overlap Between “Old” and “New” Cases
Provincial offices continue to conduct proceedings that were initiated before the reform took effect.
As a result:
- Two procedural models operate in parallel,
- Government agencies are facing an additional administrative burden.
Errors and formal deficiencies in applications
A significant portion of the proceedings requires:
- completing documents
- further explanations
- re-examination of the application
This prolongs the process regardless of the agency's actions.
A more restrictive approach to legalization
The new regulations have introduced additional grounds for denial:
- issuance of a work permit,
- entry of the statement into the registry.
In practice, this means a more detailed analysis of each case.
Digitization Is Still Incomplete
One of the most important goals of the reform was the full digitization of the process.
However, the ministry itself admits that:
👉 digitization has not yet been fully implemented.
The reason is the necessary changes and integration of IT systems.
Full implementation is scheduled for:
📅 two years after the law takes effect
This means that the administration still has about a year to complete the process.
More changes are already in the works
Importantly, work has already begun on another amendment to the regulations governing the employment of foreign nationals.
This shows that:
- the system is still undergoing a redesign,
- Companies must prepare for further procedural changes.
From the perspective of the labor market, the immigration law reform makes one thing clear:
👉 Digitization alone does not speed up the process if it is not accompanied by operational efficiency.
For employers, this means they must:
- advance workforce planning
- more thorough preparation of documentation
- reducing the risk of formal errors
In 2026, the legalization of employment will become a process that requires not only knowledge of the regulations but also effective time and risk management.
The immigration law reform was intended to simplify and expedite the hiring of foreign nationals.
In practice, companies continue to face:
- prolonged proceedings,
- overburdening government agencies,
- greater formalization of the process.
That is why organizations that are able to plan for legalization well in advance and minimize procedural risks are gaining an advantage today.