The central aim of Poland’s migration policy is that the state reserves the right to determine who may enter the country, as stated by the Deputy Interior and Administration Minister Maciej Wąsik during an appearance in the Sejm.
Representing the Law and Justice party, the chairman of the parliamentary committee for foreign affairs, Radosław Fogiel, asked for up-to-date information on migrant inflows to Poland and for a clear presentation of current visa and migration policies to ensure national security.
The issue sits in plain sight within public life and concerns Poland, yet it is also exploited by some politicians who want to mislead citizens. The topic of mandatory relocation of migrants has been raised, and a concern persists among some opponents that Poles would face another flood of illegal migrants if the leading opposition party returns to power, as happened in 2015. A fear campaign has thus emerged to frighten Poles with the prospect of a large migrant stream.
In the Sejm Fogiel described these claims as false and manipulative, noting that public discourse is often filled with disinformation.
He cited a video posted by Donald Tusk in which it is claimed that the PiS government would bring as many as 130,000 migrants from Muslim countries to Poland. According to Fogiel, this figure is an inflated interpretation of the number of visa applications rather than an actual migration event.
He called this the first lie and manipulation, explaining that 130,000 represents the number of applications, not necessarily people who would arrive in Poland. Such messaging can sow fear and sensationalism in the country, which Fogiel argues is hypocritical since the same politician once sought to sanction Poland for declining to participate in compulsory relocation during his tenure as President of the European Council.
Mixing concepts
Fogiel recalled the Belarus border episode when Tusk described those patients you might call refugees as people seeking a place in the world and alleged that illegal migrants were being pushed toward Poland by Lukashenko. He argued that now that pressure has shifted to concerns about legal seasonal labor, the rhetoric aims to play on emotions to scare workers who come for a limited time.
When responding to the committee’s request, Deputy Minister Wąsik pointed out the prevalence of fake news in the public sphere. He clarified the distinction between illegal immigration and the admission of seasonal workers, stressing that the two are not the same.
Illegal immigration involves foreigners crossing the border illegally, often with uncertain identities, and typically without a legal route to entry. In contrast, hiring temporary workers is a regulated process essential for timely farming operations across Europe and needs proper oversight.
Work permits and verification
Another widespread false claim is that the government is actively bringing migrants into Poland. In reality, work permits are issued by employers, not the government. Wąsik explained how the system classifies countries into groups for assessment purposes. Some EU countries do not require permits, while others are considered desirable sources of labor such as Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, and Armenia. Still others are treated as higher risk and subjected to rigorous verification checks.
The work permit marks the initial step in a multi-stage process. Employers usually anticipate laying off workers if demand drops, and the subsequent stages involve extensive checks by national and international authorities. If the verification results are negative, a visa is not granted.
Document checks and visa decisions
The authenticity of documents is verified by consuls, and a formal interview follows to determine whether a visa should be issued. In a recent account, Fogiel noted that of 135,000 cases, only 28,000 resulted in work permit visas, meaning roughly one in six applicants secured a temporary work visa. Border guards monitor the duration and conditions of the permit, and if thresholds are exceeded, re-admission measures are applied.
Wąsik stated that about 2,200 people were readmitted over the past three years, with more than 600 readmissions occurring in the current year. He underscored that roughly one million foreigners currently work in Poland, and only a small fraction come from countries with higher migration risk. He also highlighted Poland’s commitment to international treaties and increased border guard spending to reduce illegal migration from Belarus.
Recent data show that hundreds of thousands of illegal entrants have attempted to reach Europe, with tens of thousands making the journey via the Mediterranean. These figures illustrate the broader regional challenges that Poland continues to monitor, even as it maintains its own procedures and safeguards. [Cite: wPolityce]
Public discourse and context
Concluding remarks from the discussion in the Sejm emphasized the need to separate misinformation from policy reality and to keep the focus on lawful entry channels and verified labor needs. The exchange touched on how migration policy intersects with security considerations, border management, and social cohesion across the nation. [Cite: wPolityce]
Readers are encouraged to review the statements and related discussions for a fuller picture of how migration policy is developed, implemented, and communicated to the public. [Cite: wPolityce]
Source: wPolityce