The Nadodrzański Border Guard, responsible for Poland’s western frontier with Germany and Czechia, reported that between 1 January and 16 July 2026 its officers issued 2,297 return decisions to foreign nationals found in violation of Poland’s residence or employment rules. Ukrainian citizens formed the largest nationality group among the returnees, followed by Georgians, Moldovans, Belarusians and, interestingly, a rising number of Latin American nationals attracted by seasonal farm work. In the single week of 9-16 July alone, 78 people were ordered to leave and simultaneously received Schengen-wide entry bans ranging from six months to five years. The agency attributes the high numbers to targeted checks at construction sites, logistics hubs and shared accommodation, often carried out with Labour Inspectorate officials. Since Poland’s labour market remains tight—unemployment is under 3 percent—many employers still risk hiring people who lack the correct permits, officials warned. For HR and mobility teams the figures confirm that audits are intensifying ahead of the peak summer travel season. Companies sending personnel to Poland on short-term projects should double-check that workers hold the right type of national visa or temporary residence card and that assignments match the purpose stated in those documents. Fines for illegal employment can reach PLN 30,000 (≈ €6,700) per person and may lead to a temporary ban on hiring non-EU staff. Strategically, the data also inform workforce-planning: with EU-wide Entry/Exit System (EES) and ETIAS pre-screening in place, individuals who overstay in Poland risk being flagged automatically across the Schengen Area, restricting future mobility for both the worker and any employer who relies on them.
