During an unannounced inspection on 23 October 2026, the Border Guard station in Gorzów Wielkopolski discovered that 11 Colombian nationals employed at a wood-processing facility lacked both valid residence titles and work permits. Officers initiated administrative procedures to issue return decisions, while the employer faces fines up to PLN 50,000 for illegal employment. Investigators say the workers entered Poland on tourist visas issued by another Schengen state and were hired through an unregistered intermediary. The case illustrates loopholes that persist despite the 2025 amendment to the Act on Employment Promotion, which tightened due-diligence obligations for companies. Human-resources teams—especially in manufacturing and agriculture—should revisit compliance checklists: verify every foreign employee’s PESEL status, confirm visa purpose codes and store copies of permits on site. Inspections are expected to rise as Poland prepares a digital registry of foreign workers in 2027 under EU Single Permit rules. For the Colombians, a work-ban of up to three years in Schengen could apply, complicating future mobility. Trade groups urge the government to accelerate e-permit processing, noting that chronic delays push some employers toward grey-zone recruiters.
Source: Komenda Główna Straży Granicznej
