The Warmia-Masuria Border Guard unit confirmed on 15 September that it had escorted another group of foreigners out of the country after issuing immediate-effect return orders. According to the statement, officers have already overseen the departure of more than 200 non-EU nationals since January, most of whom were found to be living or working in Poland without a valid immigration status. The latest operation targeted individuals who had ignored previous exit deadlines or whose residence permits had expired. Border Guard teams accompanied the travellers to road crossings and airports, ensuring that exit stamps were properly registered in the Schengen Information System (SIS). The agency stressed that non-compliance with departure orders automatically triggers multi-year re-entry bans covering the entire Schengen Area and can jeopardise future visa applications. Poland has stepped up so-called “return operations” in 2026 as part of a wider EU effort to increase the effective execution rate of return decisions, which still averages below 30 % across the bloc. To speed up procedures, Warsaw has invested in additional detention space, expanded digital case-management tools and intensified cooperation with carriers on document verification. For employers, the message is clear: carrying out due-diligence checks on work-permit holders is no longer optional. Companies that are found to have hired foreigners without valid status face fines of up to PLN 30,000 and temporary exclusion from public tenders. Mobility managers are advised to audit assignment files and remind assignees that the Entry/Exit System (EES) launching in 2027 will automate over-stay tracking, leaving very little room for error.
