The Nadwiślański Border Guard Unit (NwOSG), which covers Warsaw Chopin Airport and much of central Poland, conducted an intensified legality-of-stay operation over the weekend of 24-26 September. According to an official communiqué issued on 28 September, officers screened 130 third-country nationals across the Mazowieckie, Łódzkie and Kujawsko-Pomorskie regions. Eight people were detained directly by Border Guard patrols and another seven were handed over by local police for immigration violations or public-order offences. Administrative proceedings concluded with 11 decisions obliging the individuals to leave Polish territory. Three of the offenders—described as posing a risk to public security—were immediately escorted to the state border. The remainder received 30-day departure orders and entry bans to the Schengen Area ranging from six months to two years. Those affected hold passports from China, Ukraine, Colombia, Nigeria, Vietnam, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Peru. The weekend sweep is part of Poland’s broader campaign to curb overstays now that the EU Entry/Exit System logs every non-EU traveller’s days in the Schengen Zone. Since April 2026, overstayers risk rapid detection during spot checks at transport hubs, work sites and short-term-rental apartments. Employers hosting foreign contractors are therefore reminded to keep copies of residence permits and to report status changes promptly. For HR and mobility managers, the case underscores the importance of audit-ready documentation: staff found without a valid legal basis can be issued return decisions on the spot, leaving projects short-handed. Companies relying on seasonal or short-term talent—particularly in construction, logistics and IT contracting—should schedule proactive compliance reviews at the 70-day mark of any 90-day visa-free stay. Professionals travelling on longer-term national visas (type D) are unaffected, but they can still be subject to identity checks. Advising staff to carry passport copies and digital scans of residence cards can prevent costly delays if questioned by authorities.
Source: Komenda Główna Straży Granicznej
