Poland has tightened entry rules for citizens of Georgia, Colombia and Venezuela seeking to enter the country for employment.
Based on media reports, the regulation, signed by Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski on August 10, came into force on Saturday and specifically applies to people entering Poland for work.
Citizens of the three countries will still be able to travel to Poland visa-free for tourism and other permitted short-term stays.
Those who entered Poland for employment before August 15 will remain subject to the previous rules.
Polish government officials said citizens of Georgia, Colombia and Venezuela had been systematically using visa-free travel to take up employment without meeting the relevant legal requirements.
Officials cited illegal employment and overstaying, the growth of the shadow economy, worker exploitation and human trafficking among the reasons for introducing the new regulations. They also said the three countries are considered to pose a high migration risk.
