Over 1.1 million foreigners employed in Poland as new residency and healthcare rules take effect

The number of foreigners performing work in Poland has surpassed the barrier of 1.1 million people, as confirmed by the latest data from the Central Statistical Office. As of the end of September 2025, exactly 1,128.9 thousand foreigners were employed in the Polish economy, representing a clear increase compared to previous reporting periods. The largest nationality group remains Ukrainian citizens, whose number in the registers in September was 759 thousand people. The upward trend continues steadily, as evidenced by the comparison with the end of June 2025, when there were nearly 30 thousand fewer working foreigners. Experts point out that the growing presence of foreigners is becoming a permanent foundation of the domestic labor market, filling gaps in sectors struggling with staff shortages. Growth in the number of employed foreigners: 2024-06: 1032.4, 2025-06: 1099.5, 2025-09: 1128.9

From March 5, 2026, significant changes to the regulations governing the stay and care of refugees came into force, resulting from amendments to the special Ukrainian act. Although the UKR status has been officially extended and will be valid until March 4, 2027, the legislature has decided to significantly restrict access to free medical benefits. Currently, the right to free doctor visits and examinations is granted only to working and insured individuals, which is intended to serve as an additional incentive for the professional activation of arrivals. Exceptions to this restrictive rule are provided only for children, pregnant women, and victims of torture. The new regulations repealed previous provisions that guaranteed broad access to healthcare for all refugees regardless of their form of employment or payment of contributions. Changes in healthcare access for refugees: Access to free treatment: Universal for all refugees with UKR status → Only for the insured, children, pregnant women, and victims of torture

Parallel to the tightening of health regulations, the Polish government decided to introduce facilitations for the agricultural sector by extending the period of work for farm helpers under simplified rules. This change is crucial for farm owners who, during periods of seasonal work peaks, largely rely on support from workers from the East. Simultaneously, opinion polls indicate growing aspirations among the employed themselves, as 60% of professionally active Ukrainians declare a desire for greater opportunities for professional development in the Polish market. These challenges are related not only to access to job offers but also to the need for better recognition of qualifications and legal stability of residence in the longer term. The Special Act on Assistance to Citizens of Ukraine was passed in March 2022 in response to the mass influx of refugees after the Russian invasion. Initially, it assumed a broad social package and facilitations in access to the labor market for an 18-month period. In subsequent years, the document was amended multiple times, gradually shifting the emphasis from immediate aid to systemic integration and tightening state budget expenditures.

Regional analysis shows that foreigners are not evenly distributed across the country's map, with one region clearly dominating in terms of the number of issued permits and social insurance registrations. Although the overall number of working foreigners is increasing, the dynamics of changes vary depending on the country of origin of migrant workers. While the number of Ukrainians still shows an upward trend, other nationality groups experience periodic fluctuations. This situation forces employers to continuously monitor changing regulations, especially in the context of the expiration of extraordinary entitlements for some refugees, which may affect employment fluidity in certain industries. Key dates for Ukrainian citizens in 2026 and 2027: March 5, 2026 — Change in treatment rules; March 4, 2027 — End of temporary protection