Poland Tightens Migration Rules for Foreign Students & Workers: Language Proficiency, Attendance Checks & Job Restrictions

On June 1, 2025, Poland introduced stricter migration rules for international students and foreign workers. The new rules include language proficiency requirements, university attendance reporting, and professional restrictions for non-citizens.

As of June 1, Poland enforces new entry rules targeting international students and foreign employees. Authorities say the goal is to ensure legal, safe, and controlled migration flows, and to curb misuse of visa pathways.

Students Must Prove Language Skills & Attend Classes

International students applying for Polish national visas must now prove B2-level proficiency in the language of instruction — whether Polish or English.

Authorities say the reform ensures that students come to Poland for genuine academic purposes, not as a backdoor to employment or long-term irregular stay. To help enforce this, universities are now legally obligated to notify immigration authorities if a student fails to attend classes or never shows up.

Foreign Workers Face Stricter Sectoral Restrictions

Foreign workers are also subject to new constraints. Under the updated law, county governors (powiat leaders) will compile lists of professions that cannot be filled by foreigners, giving employment priority to Polish citizens.

"Foreign workers are vital, but our priority is to protect local labor markets," said the Ministry of the Interior.

Poland Remains EU Leader in Residence Permits

According to Eurostat, Poland issued 642,789 residence permits in 2023, leading all EU countries and accounting for 17.2% of the bloc’s total. Of these:


427,162 permits were for employment purposes;

30,926 permits were for education.

These figures underline Poland’s central role as a destination for labor and education-based migration in the EU — now under stricter control.