Poland publishes landmark law phasing-out the 2022 “Special Act” for Ukrainian refugees
Free healthcare for most adult Ukrainian refugees ends on 5 March – new rules explained
More Poles leave Sweden than arrive for first time since 2011, SCB data show
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Poland’s January unemployment edges down to 4.9 % – officials eye foreign-worker quotas
GUS figures published 24 February 2026 put Poland’s January unemployment at 4.9 percent, underscoring persistent labour shortages in key industrial regions. Businesses are calling for higher foreign-worker quotas and faster permit processing, while mobility teams should expect longer lead-times for assignments starting in mid-2026.
Poland repeals “Special Act”, folds Ukrainian refugees into EU-wide temporary-protection regime
Poland has enacted a law that ends its stand-alone Special Act for Ukrainian refugees. From 5 March 2026 Ukrainians will fall under the standard EU Temporary-Protection Directive and lose several fast-track benefits, while their legal stay is prolonged until 4 March 2027. Employers must switch Ukrainian staff to full Polish work-permit rules and ensure PESEL registration within 30 days. The change heralds a more uniform—but stricter—immigration landscape for business travellers and assignees.
UNHCR issues 23 February Protection-Sector bulletin mapping Poland’s 2026 immigration reforms
UNHCR’s 23 February legal update consolidates Poland’s fast-moving 2026 immigration changes. Highlights: Special Act ends 5 March; MOS 2.0 becomes the sole filing channel on 1 July; national-visa fees jump to €200 from 1 March; and border checks with Germany/Lithuania stay in place until April. The bulletin doubles as a compliance checklist for employers moving staff into or within Poland.
Senate committee warns of ‘MOS 2.0 crunch’ as digital-only residence system enters final testing phase
At a 23 February Senate hearing, officials confirmed that MOS 2.0—the digital-only residence-permit portal—will launch on 1 July 2026 and that work-permit fees will rise sharply from 1 May. With 800,000 legacy files to be scanned, voivodeships face a capacity crunch. Employers should file renewals early, obtain e-signatures for staff and budget for higher government fees.