A 37-year-old citizen of Tajikistan who had just completed a prison sentence for theft was arrested again on 8 April 2026 when Border Guard officers in Oświęcim discovered he no longer had the right to stay in Poland. The man attempted to flee but was overpowered, fined PLN 5,000 and transferred to the guarded foreigners’ centre in Biała Podlaska pending deportation. The swift action illustrates how the Border Guard is stepping up so-called “exit checks” at prisons, detention centres and courts to ensure that foreign nationals who have lost their legal basis do not remain in the country. Once deported, the Tajik will face a five-year ban on re-entry to Poland and the Schengen Area. While the case involves a criminal offender rather than a business traveller, the underlying message is relevant for mobility compliance: overstaying—even by a single day once a residence title expires—can trigger a multi-year ban that also blocks travel to other EU countries. Companies are advised to audit the immigration status of foreign employees released from secondment, parental leave or long-term sick leave; HR files may no longer match actual residence permissions. Liaising with voivodeship offices before contracts end can prevent last-minute status gaps. The Border Guard has launched an English-language portal explaining voluntary-return programmes and the consequences of “obligation to return” decisions, which mobility managers should include in termination check-lists.
