Important update (2026-07-27): since 26 January 2024, Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has suspended its participation in issuing visas under the Poland.Business Harbour programme, pending the introduction of stricter verification mechanisms for companies and applicants. In practice this means new fast-tracked PBH visas are currently not being issued by Polish consulates. General work-visa and work-permit channels remain fully in force; this article explains how relocation to Poland’s IT sector works right now.

What Poland.Business Harbour is: a brief history

The Poland.Business Harbour (PBH) programme was launched by the Polish government in September 2020 to support IT specialists and companies from Belarus facing a difficult political situation at home.

From 13 July 2021, the programme was extended to other Eastern Partnership countries (Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia) and to Russia. From 1 February 2022, Azerbaijan joined as well, and the rules for all seven countries were unified. By that point, PAIH reported that more than 24,000 PBH visas had already been issued.

In September 2022, the programme’s “business path” (for companies implementing projects of strategic importance to the Polish economy) was expanded to companies from any country in the world, not only the original list. By then, more than 55,000 visas had been issued in total.


– Current status of the programme in 2026
– How PBH worked during its active phase
– How to relocate to Poland now, without a PBH visa
– Rights of PBH visas already issued
– FAQ

Current status of the programme in 2026

According to an official communication from Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs dated 26 January 2024, Minister Radosław Sikorski decided to suspend the Ministry’s participation in the Poland.Business Harbour programme until solutions guaranteeing proper verification of participating firms and foreign nationals are introduced.

The stated reason: public concern that a share of PBH visas were being used not for genuine work in Poland, but as a “ticket” into the Schengen area, with holders subsequently relocating to other EU states.

An important distinction: this is a suspension, not a formal closure, of the fast-tracked visa annotated “PBH” specifically. General employment and national-visa procedures for IT specialists continue to operate normally, simply without the accelerated PBH track and without the exemption from a separate work permit.

As of this article’s preparation (July 2026), we have not found any official announcement confirming that PBH visa issuance has resumed or that a revised verification procedure has launched. The Ministry has signalled its intention to develop improved visa procedures for representatives of the economic sector, but without a confirmed date or format. Before applying, we recommend checking the latest information on gov.pl or speaking with our team.

How PBH worked during its active phase (historical background)

While the programme was active, a visa annotated Poland.Business Harbour granted a unique set of rights:

  • the right to work in Poland without a separate work permit;
  • the right to establish a business on terms analogous to Polish citizens;
  • family relocation (a spouse received a visa with the same annotation and could also work without a permit or register as a sole trader);
  • validity of one year.

Eligibility criteria for individual IT specialists: at least 1 year of IT-sector work experience or a relevant technical education, plus a mandatory letter of interest or recommendation from one of the programme’s partner companies (the list was published on the gov.pl portal).

How to relocate to Poland now, without a PBH visa

The standard procedure for legalising IT-sector employment in Poland today involves the following steps:

1. The Polish employer obtains a work permit (zezwolenie na pracę) for the employee, or, for citizens of a limited set of countries (Armenia, Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine), uses the simplified declaration of entrustment of work (oświadczenie o powierzeniu wykonywania pracy). 2. The applicant submits documents for a national visa (wiza krajowa) at the Polish consulate covering their place of residence, attaching the permit or declaration. 3. On arrival in Poland, employment starts and, if a longer stay is planned, an application for a temporary residence permit follows.

The suspension of PBH does not eliminate the possibility of relocating to Poland to work in IT; it only removes the fast-tracked procedure and the exemption from a work permit. Moja Firma continues to help IT specialists relocate through standard channels.

Rights of PBH visas already issued

If you already hold a PBH visa and submitted an application for a temporary residence permit to conduct business before 31 July 2023, you retain the right to conduct business on terms analogous to Polish citizens, regardless of subsequent changes to the programme itself (per UDSC’s 2023 communication on the revised method of identifying programme beneficiaries).

FAQ

Can I still apply for a PBH visa in 2026? No. Polish consulates have not been accepting applications under the fast-tracked PBH procedure since 26 January 2024. The current status is a suspension, not a formal closure.

Does this mean it is now impossible to relocate to Poland as an IT specialist? No. Standard procedures (work permit plus national visa) remain fully operational.

Will the programme be reinstated? The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated its intention to develop new verification procedures, but no confirmed date exists; we recommend monitoring official announcements on gov.pl.

Bibliography and Sources

  • Communication of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 26 January 2024, on the suspension of participation in the Poland.Business Harbour programme (gov.pl/web/dyplomacja).
  • UDSC communication (2023) on the revised method of identifying beneficiaries of the Poland.Business Harbour programme.
  • PAIH, press communications on the expansion of the programme (January and September 2022).
Book a consultation

Author: Moja Firma team.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every situation depends on the specific circumstances involved. Book a free consultation with our team if you have questions.