The ministry said the number of work visas issued fell by 87 percent from 123,000 in the first quarter of 2022 to 16,000 in the first three months of this year.
The number of work permits also declined sharply.
Poland issued 38,000 work permits in the first quarter of 2026, down from 122,000 in the same period of 2022, according to the ministry.
Officials said the changes were the result of reforms aimed at preventing abuses in the labour migration system and ensuring that permits are granted only to foreigners whose presence benefits the Polish economy and does not pose a security risk.
The ministry also reported a significant decline in student visas after introducing stricter verification procedures at consulates and increasing cooperation with universities.
Poland issued around 11,000 student visas last year, compared with nearly 31,000 in 2021.
At the same time, deportations increased substantially. The Border Guard carried out about 2,700 deportation orders in the first quarter of 2026, compared with around 900 in the first quarter of 2022, an increase of nearly 200 percent, the ministry said.
It described the changes as part of a broader overhaul of Poland's migration policy, which it said was necessary to address shortcomings and challenges that emerged in previous years.
The government has introduced a series of measures in recent months to tighten migration procedures and prevent abuse of the system, according to the ministry.
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Source: IAR, PAP