Key Points
- Poland implements changes to immigration laws, including updates to national law in response to Schengen Information System changes and more
Overview
The government of Poland introduced changes to its immigration law on 7 April 2023. These changes include:
- Creating a new system for sharing information among Member States on the stay of third-country nationals and monitoring all departures;
- Transferring certain humanitarian and entry responsibilities and oversight to the Polish Border Guard office on 7 April 2023;
- Reducing the required period for voluntary departure for foreigners to return from 15 days to 8 days;
- Introducing new language skills assessment options beginning 24 June 2023:
- Through these new measures, the long-term resident’s European Union (EU) residence permit now requires confirmed knowledge of Polish at B1 level or greater. Foreign nationals will be permitted to use other certificates of proficiency in Polish at B1 level for confirmation, as listed in a regulation issued by the minister responsible for internal affairs.
- Introducing new fee exemptions for the issuance of Polish travel documents beginning 24 April 2023;
- Introducing alternative measures for issuing Polish travel documents to foreign nationals in order to ensure faster and simplified options beginning 1 June 2023.
For further information on these changes, check here.
What are the Changes?
Poland introduced several changes to its immigration laws that will enter into force over the next few months. The new regulations include updates in response to changes within the EU’s Schengen Information System, as well as modifications to the existing responsibilities of the Head of the Office for Foreigners, among other changes.
Looking Ahead
Continue to check the government of Poland’s website and Envoy’s website for the latest updates and information.
Content in this publication is for informational purposes only and not intended as legal advice, nor should it be relied on as such. For additional information on the issues discussed, consult an attorney at one of the two U.S. Law Firms working with the Envoy Platform or another qualified professional. On non-U.S. immigration issues, consult an Envoy global immigration service provider or another qualified representative.
