Despite a growing number of recruits, Polish police, fire departments, and border guards continue to face staffing shortages, particularly in Warsaw, Mazowsze, and western border regions, as the government and local authorities launch pay and housing support measures to address the issue.
Staff shortages persist in uniformed services
While recruitment interest is rising in Poland’s Police, National Fire Rescue Service, and Border Guard, vacancies remain due to staffing deficits in major urban areas—such as Warsaw and Mazowsze—and stretches of the western border. The government and local authorities are implementing financial and housing incentives to improve the situation. The number of departures is decreasing, while new recruits are increasing.
Police vacancy rates reveal regional disparities
As of August 1, 2025, the Police had 98,005 officers serving out of a total of 110,709 positions, leaving 12,704 vacancies (11.48% of available posts). The capital region, along with areas like Lower Silesia, Lubusia, Pomerania, Łódź, and Silesia, showed the highest vacancy rates. This increase has also been driven by the expansion of staffing quotas under the modernization law. In the first half of 2025, 3,562 new officers were recruited, while 2,685 left, a significant decline from the previous year. By July 18, 2025, over 19,900 applications had been submitted to the Police, marking a 73% increase year-on-year.
Border Guard faces localized staffing gaps
As of June 30, 2025, the Border Guard had 15,800 officers serving out of 16,700 positions, resulting in a 5% vacancy rate. The Nadodrze and Nadwiślański border units reported the highest vacancy rates at 12% and 8%, respectively. Nadwiślański unit includes Warsaw, Mazowsze, and airports (Okęcie, Modlin). The Border Guard plans to recruit 1,400 new officers in 2025 and has introduced updated qualification procedures since January 22, 2025.
National Fire Rescue Service reports 5% vacancy rate
As of June 30, 2025, the National Fire Rescue Service had 30,049 firefighters serving out of 31,759 roles, leaving 1,471 vacancies (5% of positions). Twenty-four units exceeded 10% vacancy rates, including the Poznań Fire Rescue District, Opatów Fire Rescue District, and the Poznań Fire Rescue Department. Salaries vary based on position and additional benefits, with recruits earning approximately 5,656.68 zł brutto plus allowances and a 300 zł monthly housing allowance, adjusted by a location multiplier. In 2024, base pay increased by 20%, and in 2025, a 5% indexation was applied.
Capital’s housing support boosts recruitment
Warsaw’s local government has launched additional housing support measures for uniformed services. The Warsaw City Council increased the availability of municipal housing for officers from 0.6% to 2% annually. The Wola district pledged 30 apartments, and the city is analyzing further resources, including properties acquired by the capital. This initiative, according to officials, is expected to reduce housing costs and improve recruitment efficiency.
Simplified recruitment procedures take effect
New qualification procedures for Police recruitment, including revised stages, waiting periods, and a new physical ability test, became effective on March 15, 2025. Online document submission was also introduced. The Border Guard updated its qualification process on January 22, 2025, while the Fire Rescue Service conducts open, competitive hiring through relevant units.
Eligibility and hiring criteria
Potential Police recruits must have Polish citizenship, be free of criminal convictions, possess full legal rights, hold at least secondary education, and be physically and mentally fit for service. The process includes document verification (online available), knowledge and fitness tests, psychological and medical evaluations, a qualification interview, and background checks. For the Fire Rescue Service, similar requirements apply with a mandatory fitness test. The Border Guard requires exclusive Polish citizenship, complete legal rights, secondary education, a clean record, and a guarantee to maintain confidentiality.
Source: MiejskiReporter, – Polish Police’s official recruitment portal, – Information from the Border Guard’s press releases, – Data provided by the National Fire Rescue Service, – Warsaw City Council announcements, – Government proposals for housing allowances, – Municipal housing allocations reports
