Poland News in English, 18 October 2026
Short answer: On 17 October 2026 reports said Poland's president signed a law letting more towns charge a visitor fee of up to PLN 5 a night from 1 January, and Warsaw pressed tech firms over violent content.
This brief covers items reported on 17 October 2026: a signed law that lets many more towns charge a nightly visitor fee, the government's pressure on tech firms after school attacks, and Prime Minister Donald Tusk's comments on EU migration policy. It is based on the outlets named below, with dates.
More towns can charge a visitor fee from 1 January
Notes from Poland reported on 17 October that President Karol Nawrocki signed this week a change to the law that drops the environmental requirements for charging a daily visitor's fee. Until now the fee was limited to municipalities with beneficial climatic features or scenic qualities, and to areas with spa protection status, which in practice meant mostly seaside and mountain resorts. Kraków, which Notes from Poland says received 8.7 million overnight tourists last year, had pushed for the change. It charged the fee from 2004 to 2015.
According to the same report, from 1 January municipalities with scenic qualities will be able to charge up to PLN 5 per night for stays of up to one month in hotels, guesthouses and short-term rentals, up from the current maximum of PLN 3.46. Citing the broadcaster TVN, it says the fee will apply to all visitors, including those who stay for work or health reasons, not only tourists. People with significant disabilities, children with certified disabilities and their carers are exempt. Accommodation providers will collect the fee, keep detailed records and, if they pass the money on in time, keep at least 10% of it, according to the Infor news service as cited by Notes from Poland.
Warsaw presses tech firms over violent content
Polish Radio, citing Reuters, reported on 17 October that the Digital Affairs Ministry summoned internet companies on Friday and told them to do more to limit violent content after a series of school stabbing attacks. Thousands of police officers were sent to schools this week after three attacks in four days led to a wave of online threats. The latest attack, on the previous Saturday, injured three people at a further education college in Warsaw.
Digital Affairs Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski said that between 7 and 12 October Poland flagged 89 cases of illegal content linked to the attacks to internet companies, and that in two thirds of cases the companies took no action. Representatives of Google, Meta, TikTok, Discord and Telegram attended. X was invited but did not come. TikTok told Reuters it had acted on all requests it received from Poland. The government is fast-tracking legislation to make removal of harmful content easier and quicker.
Tusk says other EU states want Poland's migration approach
PAP reported on 17 October that Tusk, speaking after a two-day EU leaders' summit in Brussels, said Poland's approach of a tough asylum policy, border security and, when necessary, force to stop illegal migrants is becoming a model that most EU states would like to follow. He named Spain and, to some extent, France as countries with a different view, and said around 20 countries support a robust policy against illegal migration. Tusk also said he had received an invitation to visit China and that an official visit is likely later this year. These are the prime minister's statements as reported by PAP, not a count of any formal decision.
What it means for expats
The visitor fee change does not apply until 1 January 2027 and depends on each municipality adopting its own fee, so check with your host or the city. If you rent out a room short term, the new record-keeping duties are worth reading about before then. The tech-firm talks have not changed any rule for residents yet. Parents of school-age children should watch for messages from their school.
* Photos: school building in Kętrzyn (Rastenburg Gymnasium, public domain) and House under the Eagle, Kraków (CC0), both from Wikimedia Commons, used as illustrative images only.
Frequently asked questions
Can any town in Poland charge the visitor fee from 2027?
Not any town. Notes from Poland reports that the requirement for beneficial climatic features is dropped, but municipalities with scenic qualities will be able to charge, up to PLN 5 per night. Each municipality decides whether to introduce it.
Who pays the visitor fee?
According to Notes from Poland, citing TVN, all visitors staying overnight, including those on work or health trips. People with significant disabilities, children with certified disabilities and their carers are exempt.
What did the Digital Affairs Ministry ask tech firms to do?
According to Polish Radio and Reuters, it asked them to do more to curb violent content after school attacks. The minister said two thirds of 89 flagged cases got no action.
