KEY POINTS

• A 37-year-old Zimbabwean truck driver was ordered to leave Poland over alleged unauthorised weekend taxi work.

• Authorities gave him 30 days to depart and imposed a one-year ban on entering Poland and other Schengen countries.

• The case warns foreign workers to check whether their permits allow additional employment or self-employment.

A 37-year-old Zimbabwean truck driver has been ordered to leave Poland after immigration authorities found that he had allegedly been transporting passengers for money during weekends without the required authorisation.

The man was legally employed by a transport company as a tractor-trailer driver. However, Polish authorities said his additional work using a private vehicle violated the conditions governing his employment.

According to the Polish Border Guard, officers from its Częstochowa unit uncovered the arrangement during routine inspections checking the legality of foreign nationals’ residence and employment in the country.

Driver given 30 days to leave Poland

During questioning, the Zimbabwean national presented a work permit authorising him to work for a transport company as a tractor-trailer driver. He reportedly told officials that he worked for the company from Monday to Friday.

Investigators found that he used his private car during weekends to transport passengers who booked rides through a mobile application.

The authorities said he had allegedly been providing the service since April 2025 without the documentation required to operate as a taxi driver.

Following an investigation into the legality of his employment, the Commander of the Border Guard Post in Częstochowa ordered him to return to Zimbabwe.

He was given 30 days to leave Poland and was also issued a one-year ban on entering Poland and other countries within the Schengen area, according to the report.

Warning for African workers seeking jobs abroad

The case highlights the risks foreign workers may face when they take on additional jobs without checking the conditions attached to their work permits.

Although some workers seek supplementary income to support their families, permission to work for one employer or in a specific occupation does not necessarily authorise other paid activities.

Depending on the country and type of permit, additional employment, self-employment or operating a side business may require separate approval.

African truck drivers and other foreign nationals working overseas have therefore been advised to check their immigration documents and seek guidance from the relevant authorities before accepting extra work.

The report warns that failure to comply with these requirements can jeopardise employment, residence rights and future travel opportunities.

For the Zimbabwean driver, an attempt to earn additional income on weekends has resulted in an order to leave Poland and a one-year Schengen entry ban.