Warsaw says visa-free travel was being systematically misused for illegal employment and irregular migration.
Poland has tightened entry rules for workers from Georgia, Colombia and Venezuela, requiring visas for people coming to the country to take up jobs.
The regulation, signed by Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski on August 10, took effect on Saturday and applies specifically to people entering Poland in connection with employment.
Citizens of the three countries can still visit Poland visa-free for tourism and other permitted short stays.
People who entered Poland before August 15 remain covered by the previous rules. For Colombians, a similar work-related visa requirement had already been in place since August 2024.
The government said visa-free travel by citizens of the three countries was being “systematically” used to take up work without meeting legal requirements.
Officials cited illegal employment and stays, growth of the grey economy, worker exploitation and human trafficking as reasons for introducing the new regulations. They also described the three countries as presenting a high migration risk.
Poland launched a nationwide crackdown on foreign criminal groups last year, involving increased police operations and deportations.
Georgian nationals have featured prominently in some of those enforcement operations. In December, Poland deported 10 Georgians who authorities said posed a threat to public order and state security.
A second change takes effect on August 22. Citizens of Georgia, Colombia and Venezuela who hold Polish work permits will no longer be allowed to work while staying in Poland visa-free.
