Following numerous scandals that have taken place in Poland, the Foreign Ministry has proposed that the country further tightens the visa system and starts applying higher fines to those who break the rules.
In its proposal, the Foreign Ministry has recommended that the country drastically increase penalties for companies that employ foreign workers irregularly or help to bring foreigners to the country by falsely claiming that they need additional workers, Schengen.New reports.
Additionally, to put an end to the abuse of the visa system, the Ministry has proposed that tightened rules also be introduced for foreign students who want to enter Poland for study purposes and for the country’s universities.
As it has been explained, the Ministry wants to increase the penalties for Polish employers who hire foreign workers irregularly to around €670 (PLN 3,000). Moreover, the Ministry has recommended that the fine for employers who help foreigners enter the country under the guise of employment should be fined €23,214 (PLN 100,000).
To further avoid any abuse in the visa system, the Ministry has said that the country’s authorities should also check frequently on foreigners who enter the country for work or study purposes.
The same has stressed that with the new rules, the number of visas issued both to foreign workers and students will decrease drastically.
Student Visas Will Be Granted Under Stricter Rules, Ministry Says
Regarding student visas, the Ministry said that the document would not be granted to foreign nationals who have not submitted a certificate proving that they have completed secondary school and to those who do not demonstrate knowledge of the language in which their program will be taught, at least that the B2 level.
These two new requirements will apply to all those who will apply for a student visa to attend their studies in Poland for the academic year 2026/2027.
In addition, foreign students who enter Poland will be under supervision. Their data will be transferred to the Integrated Information System on Higher Education and Science, and the main purpose of this measure is to make sure that foreigners are not misusing their student visas for other purposes.
So far, there has been no control of foreign students. Visas were issued automatically. This must end.
Poland has already cut the number of visas granted to foreign students. Although the authorities did not provide any specific numbers, they stressed that over one-third of applications have been rejected.