MRPiPS: Employment of foreigners in Poland in 2025
Despite an 8% decline in the number of documents issued, actual employment is growing. At the end of 2025, there were nearly 1.289 million foreigners in the ZUS system — 96,000 more than a year earlier. The share of foreigners in the Polish labor market reached 7.9%
Number of issued documents and the overall trend
In 2025, there was an 8% decline in the total number of documents legalizing work (declarations, permits, notifications) compared with 2024.
Type of document | Number in 2025 | Year-over-year change |
Notifications (Ukrainian citizens) | approx. 1.034 million | +3% |
Declarations | 328 thousand | -23% (100 thousand fewer) |
Work permits | 252 thousand | -22% (71 thousand fewer) |
Seasonal work permits | approx. 20 thousand | +22% (3.6 thousand more) |
Causes of the downward trend:
Tightening of the system: Introduction of a new act (June 1, 2025), which aims to eliminate applications submitted 'for appearances' (facilitating entry into the Schengen area without the intention to work).
Digitization: Full digitization of processes from June 2025.
Procedural changes: Extending the possibility of work under a declaration to 24 months and introducing fast notifications for Ukrainians reduced the need to apply for standard permits.
Directions of change by nationality
Employers are increasingly looking for workers from distant regions due to the outflow of men from Ukraine.
Where was there growth?
In the overall number of people insured in the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS), there were more citizens of Belarus (up to 139 thousand), Georgia, India, and Colombia.
Seasonal work permits saw a sharp increase for citizens of Guatemala (from 22 to 213 issued documents).
Increases are generally visible for countries from Asia, South America, and Africa (e.g. Zimbabwe +1,709 permits).
Where was there a decline?
Nepal: down 40% (12.7 thousand fewer documents).
Uzbekistan: down 29%.
Belarus and Georgia: decline in the number of registered declarations (Belarus by 45 thousand, Georgia by 20 thousand).
The Philippines and India: decline in the number of work permits by 22% and 13%, respectively.
Comparison with ZUS data
The report points to a significant discrepancy between the number of documents and actual employment:
ZUS system (Growth): The number of foreigners covered by social insurance is rising and by the end of 2025 reached 1.289 million people (an increase of approx. 96 thousand y/y).
Market share: Foreigners already account for 7.9% of all insured persons in Poland (in 2024 it was 7.3%).
Form of employment: Although the civil contract dominates among legalizing documents (67%), actual ZUS data show that as many as 57% of employed foreigners have an employment contract.
Employment sectors and occupational groups
In 2025, foreigners found employment mainly in the following industries:
Manufacturing: 27%.
Transport and warehousing: 23%.
Administration and support activities (including employment agencies): 16%.
Construction: 10%.
Most common occupational groups:
Workers performing simple jobs (38%).
Industrial workers and craftsmen (19%).
Machine operators and assemblers (15%).
