Polish foreigners office head: migration strategy not an obstacle to legalization of Belarusians

November 1, Pozirk. Warsaw’s new migration strategy will not affect most Belarusians staying or planning to stay in the country legally, Tomasz Cytrynowicz, head of the Polish Office for Foreigners, has told Belarusian opposition politician Pavieł Łatuška.
The strategy is primarily aimed at raising a reliable barrier to illegal immigration. The changes will primarily concern those who storm the border with support from the Belarusian border service as part of the “hybrid war,” Łatuška’s Telegram channel quoted Cytrynowicz as saying.
Polish authorities will also check whether visas are used for declared purpose, Cytrynowicz said, noting that it will be impossible to get a job in Poland on the basis of a tourist visa.
“Those who have legal jobs, families in Poland, or stood up for democratic values in Belarus and have been forced to leave the country, and most importantly those who respect the Polish law, should not worry about the upcoming changes in Poland’s migration policy, he said.
Following the 2020 political crisis in Belarus, Poland became a primary destination for Belarusians fleeing politically-motivated persecution at home.
More than 118,000 Belarusian nationals resided in Poland in late 2023, including 578 with refugee status.
Since January, some 12,300 foreigners, including 2,900 Belarusians and 4,500 Ukrainians, have applied for asylum in Poland.
According to Cytrynowicz, 137,000 Belarusians already have the legal right to live in Poland. Taking into account those in the process of legalization, the total number is close to 200,000.
Cytrynowicz also said that Polish authorities consider extending the issuance of travel documents for Belarusians from January 1.
About 1,500 such documents were issued to Belarusians in 2024 and 450 last year.
For his turn, Łatuška warned that more Belarusians may seek asylum in Poland amid the relentless repression in Belarus, especially in the run-up to the January presidential election.
Also read: Duda criticizes new migration strategy as a mistake
- Politics
- PoliticsEU leaders welcome pardon of 14 prisoners, urge release of allThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsŁukašenka’s spokeswoman: release of Cichanoŭski – act of humanismThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsUS diplomat on Minsk visit: President Trump encouraged this tripThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsBelarusian ambassador presents credentials to Leo XIVThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Society
- Politics
- PoliticsReprisals: police raids target Novaja Biełaruś application’s usersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, PoliticsBiełavija resists sanctions, plans new long-haul routeThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja thanks Spain for prisoner aidThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyBelarusian woman detained in Poland for transporting undocumented migrantsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, Security
- Politics, SecurityDefense minister voices concern about armed conflicts in Ukraine, Middle EastThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, PoliticsLatvia bars eight luxury bikes from entering BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, SocietyProminent businessman Atroščanka dies of cancerThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityŁukašenka meets with Russia’s chief investigatorThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- PoliticsInterior ministry brands 27 people as extremistsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- Economy, SocietyOfficial says government controls, competition with Russia prevent price hikesThe material is available only to POZIRK+