Poland Restricts Work Authorization for Visa-Free Visitors From Georgia, Colombia, and Venezuela

Countries affected: Poland, Georgia, Colombia and Venezuela

Poland has implemented stricter work authorization rules for short-term visitors entering the country under visa-free travel arrangements. Effective August 22, 2026, citizens of Georgia, Colombia, and Venezuela are no longer permitted to undertake employment in Poland while present under the visa-free regime.

Under previous rules, certain visa-free visitors were able to engage in employment or start work using simplified declarations and administrative procedures. The updated policy removes this option for passport holders from Georgia, Colombia, and Venezuela, creating a strict separation between short-term visa-free visits and legal employment.

• Affected Nationalities: Citizens of Georgia, Colombia, and Venezuela.
• Policy Effective Date: August 22, 2026.
• Primary Restriction: Prohibition on taking up employment while in Poland under visa-free entry.
• Grandfathering Provision: Individuals already working under valid permissions prior to August 22, 2026, may continue working until their authorized stay expires.

Travelers from Georgia, Colombia, and Venezuela may still enter Poland without a visa for short-term tourism or personal visits, provided they meet standard Schengen entry conditions. However, they are legally prohibited from performing work for Polish employers or undertaking gainful activity without obtaining proper work authorization before starting employment.

To minimize immediate disruption for ongoing operations, Polish authorities established transitional guidelines for foreign workers already in the country. Individuals who were actively working under existing authorized permissions before August 22, 2026, are permitted to remain employed for the remainder of their current authorized visa-free stay.

Once their current visa-free stay expires, affected workers cannot continue working under visa-free status. Employers in Poland who plan to hire staff from Georgia, Colombia, or Venezuela must apply for formal work permits and ensure that prospective workers obtain the correct work visas before commencing job duties.

Immigration experts advise passport holders from the three affected nations to review their travel plans and work documentation before departing for Poland. Polish companies relying on foreign labor must also update their hiring timelines to accommodate standard work permit processing times.