Several European countries changed their work permit rules during 2026, and more changes take effect in 2027. The most important points for workers and employers are these: Poland has a new permit system, higher fees and a higher minimum wage for 2027; Italy has opened its 2027 quota programme with fixed application days; Sweden now links work permit pay to 90% of the median wage; Hungary has stopped issuing new guest worker permits; Romania has moved its procedures online; and the EU has new common rules on single permits and new border systems. This guide explains each change, separates rules already in force from changes confirmed for 2027 and proposals that are not yet law, and links to the official source for every point. All information was checked on 11 November 2026.

How to read this tracker

Immigration rules change often, and articles online frequently mix announced plans with laws that actually apply. To keep this guide useful, each country section uses three labels:

• In force: the rule already applies to new applications.
• Confirmed for 2027: the rule has been adopted and has a fixed start date or applies to the 2027 calendar year.
• Proposal: a draft law or plan that has not been adopted. It may change or never take effect.

Before you apply, always open the official page linked in each section. If a page has been updated after 11 November 2026, the official page takes priority over this article.

Summary table

Poland

In force

Poland replaced its old rules with the Act of 20 March 2025 on the conditions for entrusting work to foreigners, which has applied since 1 June 2025. The most visible change for employers is that the labour market test has been abolished, so an employer no longer needs a statement from the labour office confirming that no local candidate was available (Warsaw Labour Office). Applications for work permits can now be filed only online through the praca.gov.pl service, and a work permit can be issued for up to three years (Zielona Linia).

New fees apply to applications filed from 1 December 2025. A work permit for up to three months costs PLN 200, a work permit for more than three months costs PLN 400, a permit for a posted worker costs PLN 800, a seasonal work permit costs PLN 100 and registering a declaration of entrusting work costs PLN 400 (Lubuskie Voivodeship Office). The declaration route remains open only to citizens of Armenia, Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine and allows work for up to 24 months (Zielona Linia).

Residence applications have also moved online. Since 27 April 2026, applications for temporary residence permits must be filed through the MOS portal (Wielkopolska Voivodeship Office). For applications filed from 5 March 2026, the stamp duty is no longer refunded, even if the case is discontinued or refused (Wielkopolska Voivodeship Office).

A further change came on 8 July 2026. If a foreign worker moves from a civil law contract to an employment contract with the same employer, a new permit is no longer needed for that switch (Zielona Linia).

Confirmed for 2027

The national minimum wage for 2027 is PLN 4,950 gross per month and PLN 32.30 gross per hour, up from PLN 4,806 per month in 2026 (Journal of Laws 2026, item 1213). This matters for permits because the pay stated in a work permit must not be lower than the pay of comparable workers in Poland and cannot fall below the statutory minimum (Warmia-Masuria Voivodeship Office). Employers who plan contracts that run into 2027 should check that the agreed pay reaches the new level from 1 January 2027.

Proposals

Two draft laws, listed in the government legislative work plan as UD396 and UD408, would amend the rules on employing foreigners (Chancellery of the Prime Minister). They were not law on 11 November 2026. Do not plan a recruitment process around their content until they are adopted and published.

For a wider overview of Polish entry requirements, see our guide to Poland work visa requirements.

Italy

Confirmed for 2027

Italy admits most non-EU workers through annual quotas under its flows decree. For 2027 the quota is 165,850 entries: 76,200 for non-seasonal employment, 89,000 for seasonal work and 650 for self-employment (Ministry of Labour). Circular 7185 of 1 October 2026 sets out the operating rules.

Employers could pre-fill applications on the ALI portal from 23 October to 7 December 2026. Applications are then sent on fixed click days from 9:00: 12 January 2027 for agriculture, 9 February 2027 for tourism, 16 February 2027 for other non-seasonal work and 18 February 2027 for family care work. Applications can be sent until 31 December 2027, but places are allocated in order of submission, so the first minutes of each click day matter. Our separate article on countries with quotas for non-EU workers explains the Italian process step by step.

Sweden

In force

Since 1 June 2026, a new Swedish work permit generally requires a salary of at least 90% of the median salary. From 16 June 2026 this means at least SEK 34,470 per month, based on a median of SEK 38,300 (Swedish Migration Agency). Around twenty occupations are exempt and need only 75% of the median (Swedish Migration Agency). Workers who applied for an extension between 1 June and 1 December 2026 remain covered by the previous 80% level. The EU Blue Card threshold in Sweden is SEK 53,625 per month.

Some older articles, including earlier coverage on this site, give SEK 33,390 as the minimum. That figure no longer applies to new applications. Our guide to work permit salary rules in Europe for 2027 compares salary rules across countries.

Czech Republic

In force

Employee card holders whose employment ended on or after 2 August 2025 have 90 days, instead of the earlier 60, to report a new employer (Ministry of the Interior). A change of employer is generally possible after six months from the issue of the first employee card. The worker must report the change at least 30 days before starting the new job, and the new employer must provide a confirmation; no fee is charged for the report (Czech public administration portal). The vacancy must also be listed in the central database of vacancies before the employer can recruit a foreign worker for it (Ministry of the Interior).

Hungary

In force

Under Government Decree 92/2026, Hungary stopped issuing new guest worker residence permits from 6 June 2026. Existing holders may still apply to extend their permits under the conditions set by the authority (National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing). The cap set for 2026 had been 35,000 permits (NGM Decree 35/2025). Employers relying on new guest workers in Hungary need to look at other permit types or other countries.

Romania

In force

Emergency Ordinance 32/2026 changed the rules on employing foreigners from 27 April 2026. Since 7 August 2026, employers must use the WorkinRomania.gov.ro platform for the procedure (National Employment Agency). The new rules use a list of shortage occupations, and a certificate for highly qualified roles is valid for 90 days. The 2026 quota was 90,000 workers under Government Decision 1169/2025. We could confirm that quota figure only through news reports, not an official page, so check it with the authority before relying on it. The 2027 quota had not been published on the date of checking.

Croatia

In force, with a stage in 2027

Amendments to the Croatian Aliens Act were published in the Official Gazette, issue 55/2026, and took effect on 4 June 2026 (Narodne novine). According to secondary summaries of the law, a worker may generally change employer after six months, and holders who extend their permit will need an A1.1 Croatian language exam one year after the amendments, which places that requirement in June 2027. The Official Gazette page could not be read automatically during our check, so confirm these details on the gov.hr information page before acting on them.

Malta

In force

Malta requires many new third-country workers to complete a pre-departure course, and this was confirmed as applying from 1 March 2026. The assessment costs EUR 250 (Identità). The government also doubled several permit fees, requires salaries to be paid through a bank, and gave the authority powers to disqualify employers who breach the rules (Department of Information).

Germany

In force

For 2026, the EU Blue Card salary threshold in Germany is EUR 50,700 per year, or EUR 45,934.20 for shortage occupations, recent graduates and some IT specialists (Make it in Germany). Germany normally publishes new thresholds for the next year around the turn of the year, so the 2027 figures should be checked when they appear. Our guide to Germany work permit types covers the main German routes.

Proposal

Germany is planning a Work and Stay Agency to act as a single digital point of contact for skilled workers. On 17 February 2026 the Bundestag was at an early stage of discussing it (Bundestag). It is not yet operating.

Changes at EU level

Single Permit Directive

The revised Single Permit Directive, Directive (EU) 2024/1233, had to be transposed into national law by 21 May 2026 (EUR-Lex). It requires a decision on a complete application within 90 days, which can be extended by 30 days in exceptional cases. It also gives permit holders the right to change employer, subject to conditions that each country may set, and allows a period of unemployment of three months, or six months after two years as a permit holder. Not every country had finished updating its law by the deadline. Our article on EU single permit rules after May 2026 explains what this means in practice.

Entry/Exit System and ETIAS

The Entry/Exit System began on 12 October 2025 and has been fully operational since 10 April 2026 (Council of the EU). It registers short-stay travellers at the external Schengen border. ETIAS, the travel authorisation for visa-exempt travellers, was not operating on 11 November 2026 and no start date had been announced (European Commission). Our guide to EES and ETIAS rules for foreign workers explains who is affected.

EU Talent Pool

The EU Talent Pool is planned as the first EU-wide platform to help employers recruit jobseekers from outside Europe, especially for shortage occupations (European Commission). It is still being built and cannot be used to apply for jobs yet.

What these changes mean for workers

If you are planning to work in Europe in 2027, the changes above lead to a few practical conclusions.

• Check the salary first. Sweden and Poland both tie permits to pay levels that have risen. A job offer that met the rules in 2025 may not meet them in 2027.
• Expect online procedures. Poland, Romania and Italy now use online systems for key steps. Paper applications sent outside these systems may be rejected.
• Watch the calendar in quota countries. In Italy, your employer must act on a specific click day. A late application may fall outside the quota.
• Do not rely on Hungary for new guest worker permits. The route is closed to new applicants.
• Keep evidence of every step. Save confirmations, receipts and decisions. You may need them if you change employer, lose your job or appeal a refusal.

What these changes mean for employers

• Budget for higher costs. Fees have risen in Poland and Malta, and Polish stamp duty is no longer refunded.
• Review pay in contracts that run into 2027. The Polish minimum wage rises on 1 January 2027, and pay must also match comparable workers.
• Plan quota applications early. In Italy, pre-filling closed on 7 December 2026, and click days start in January 2027.
• Know your notification duties. Several countries require employers to report changes quickly. Our article on employer duties after hiring a non-EU worker explains them.

How to keep up with further changes

Rules will keep moving during 2027. The most reliable way to stay informed is to check the official sources directly: the Polish Zielona Linia service and the voivodeship offices, the Italian Ministry of Labour, the Swedish Migration Agency, the Czech Ministry of the Interior, the Hungarian aliens policing authority, the Romanian National Employment Agency and the EU Immigration Portal. Treat news reports and social media posts as a prompt to check, not as confirmation.

If you are an employer looking for workers, or a worker looking for a legal job, you can register with AtoZ Serwis Plus and describe your situation. Our team can then contact you to discuss routes that may fit. No permit can be guaranteed, because every decision is made by the authorities.