Poland in 2025 has ceased to be a country of “easy legalization” for small businesses. If just a couple of years ago launching a company or a JDG (sole proprietorship) was seen as a guaranteed ticket to a residence permit, today refusal statistics in the Voivodeship Offices (Urząd Wojewódzki) are breaking records.
Entering 2026, entrepreneurs must realize one thing: Poland’s migration policy has definitively shifted its focus from “quantity” to “quality.” Moreover, the transition to a fully digital application system via the updated MOS portal and mandatory verification through mObywatel means that obtaining a residence card now requires impeccable business “digital hygiene.” Any inconsistencies in registers or delays in reporting are instantly visible to the inspector. In this article, we will analyze the critical mistakes of 2025 that led to mass refusals and explain how to avoid repeating them in the new business season—so that your application is not rejected already at the stage of automatic data verification.
“On-paper” income vs. real value for the economy
The main reason for refusals in 2025 was non-compliance with Article 142 of the Act on Foreigners. Many business owners, out of habit, submitted applications as soon as they reached minimal profitability.
- Mistake of 2025: Applying for a residence card with net profit below the threshold (12 average monthly salaries in the voivodeship for the previous year) without a clear future business plan.
- Reality of 2026: Inspectors now require proof that your company is already bringing tangible benefits to Poland. If profits are insufficient, you must prove the availability of funds for investment or the innovative nature of your product.
Advice: If your business does not generate the required amount (currently around PLN 80,000–90,000 in net annual profit depending on the region), focus on creating jobs for Polish citizens—this is the second legal path to a residence card.
“Empty” companies and lack of an office
In 2025, Polish authorities intensified checks on the physical presence of businesses. The era of “virtual offices” for the real services sector is coming to an end.
- Mistake of 2025: Using a mass legal address (where another 500 companies are registered) without an actual workplace.
- Problem: Border Guard inspectors (Straż Graniczna) have begun conducting on-site inspections more frequently. If there are no signs of real activity at the registered address (desks, computers, employees), the residence card is refused on the grounds of “fictitious business activity.”
The B2B contract crisis and “hidden employment”
For the IT sector and freelancers, 2025 became a turning point. Authorities began closely examining B2B contracts for signs of employment relationships (Umowa o pracę).
- Why refusals happen: If your contract with a single client specifies a fixed schedule, paid vacation, and work under direct supervision, the inspector may conclude that your activity is not a business but tax evasion.
- How to avoid this in 2026: Diversify your client portfolio. Having 2–3 different clients is the strongest argument that you are a genuine entrepreneur rather than a “hidden employee.”
Ignoring the new income criteria (effective January 1, 2025)
Please note that since January 2025, Poland has increased the minimum income thresholds required to support oneself and one’s family.
- For a single foreigner: PLN 1,010 net
- For a family member: PLN 823 net
In 2025, many business owners calculated profits “to the limit,” without accounting for inflation and the new requirements, which resulted in refusals due to insufficient means of subsistence.
Checklist for a Business Owner in 2026
✅ Finances: Make sure the company’s net profit for the previous tax year exceeds 12 average salaries in the voivodeship.
✅ Staff: Employ at least 2 Polish citizens (or foreigners with free access to the Polish labor market, e.g., holders of permanent residence cards) on full-time contracts.
✅ Logistics: Confirm the existence of a real—not virtual—place of business activity (office, warehouse, or retail lease agreement).
✅ Documentation: Prepare an up-to-date and realistic business plan for the next 2 years, including a detailed profit forecast and a description of the development strategy.
Conclusion
In 2026, a business-based residence card will become a “premium” product. Poland is ready to grant residence permits to those who create jobs and pay taxes, not to those who use a legal entity merely as a tool to legalize their stay.
Would you like us to help you obtain a residence card or prepare the structure of a convincing business plan for Poland? Simply submit an application: magfin.pl
