Poland plans to restore visa regime with Ukraine: how will the new initiative affect Ukrainians

Oksana06.08.2025

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Зміст

In the summer of 2025, political calls to revise the visa-free regime with Ukraine began to be heard again in Poland. This topic, which seemed to be finally resolved back in 2017, suddenly appeared on the agenda again – against the background of a long war, a tense situation on the labor market, high-profile criminal incidents and a general increase in political polarization in Europe. For Ukrainians who have found shelter in Poland in recent years, who work, study, receive treatment or simply maintain ties with family, the threat of losing a visa no longer seems hypothetical. And although the government does not officially confirm its intentions to change the regime of crossing the border, the very existence of a discussion about visas is a wake-up call.

Initiators of changes in the visa regime

At the beginning of the third quarter of 2025, the Polish edition To the Point published information about unofficial calls to restore the visa regime with Ukraine. According to Seimas deputy Krzysztof Bosak, representatives of the police and special services are in favor of returning visas for reasons of security, crime prevention and control of migration flows. These opinions, although not declared at the executive level, are already circulating in the professional environment and are actively being promoted in the information field.

Currently, the initiative is not supported by the main parliamentary forces: the “Law and Justice” party, the social democrats, the leftists, as well as the centrist PL2050 association. In the government environment, no preparations are being made to change the rules, and no draft laws on this topic have been officially registered. But the very fact that the topic is being discussed again within the walls of the parliament means that in the event of a public outcry or another political crisis, it can become a lever of pressure or even part of the election campaign.

The main reason given by supporters of the visa-free revision is the increase in crime, allegedly linked to migrants from post-Soviet countries. Public statements mention “Georgian gangs”, criminal groups from Armenia and Colombia, as well as incidents involving citizens of Ukraine. The loudest of them is the detention in Sopot of a Ukrainian suspected of planning a terrorist attack on a critical infrastructure facility. The case did not receive wide media coverage, but caused serious concern in political and power circles.

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Georgia, Armenia, Venezuela and Colombia are already included in the list of states with which, according to Polish Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Czeslaw Mrocek, the visa regime can be restored. The argument is the increased level of criminal offenses among citizens of these countries. Ukraine is not directly mentioned in this list, but the discussion of its status is already in the public space. Against the background of the political rhetoric of the right and part of the conservative media, this indicates the reality of the threat — especially if a new high-profile incident occurs in Poland or the political configuration in the Sejm changes.

What does return to visas mean in practice

The return to visas means that it will fundamentally affect the mobility of hundreds of thousands of people, making it difficult to access services, education, temporary protection and work.

If Poland returns the visa regime for Ukrainians, each trip to the country will require the prior issuance of a visa – short-term (Schengen) or national (type D). This means that:

it will be necessary to collect a package of documents, register at the visa center, pass an interview, apply for a visa with confirmation of the purpose of the trip;
consular processing will last from several days to several weeks – depending on the season and the number of applicants;
there will be queues, technical interruptions, as well as opportunities for fraudulent schemes and intermediary services;
the cost of the visa and accompanying services (insurance, road to the center, logistics) will constitute an additional financial burden on citizens;
in case of a refusal – even a formal one – the citizen will not be able to enter the territory of Poland, even if there are urgent reasons (family matters, treatment, education).

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Thus, the return of visas will mean the loss of the right to spontaneous, affordable, unhindered mobility. And for Ukrainians who have been building ties with Poland for years, this can be a dramatic blow to family, economic and household ties.

Who will suffer the most?

The most vulnerable to the consequences of such a decision will be:

refugees without a long-term residence permit – those who did not have time to legalize after receiving temporary protection or live in Poland with an exhausted status;
seasonal workers who came every year for several months — they will lose the opportunity to earn, as it will be more difficult for employers to issue an invitation;
students who have not yet submitted their documents for a residence card, or are entering Polish higher education institutions, but do not have confirmation of long-term residence;
relatives of Polish citizens or Ukrainians legally residing in Poland — such trips may become impossible without a lengthy procedure;
patients who are being treated in Poland and need regular visits — these visits may be disrupted due to bureaucracy.

The situation will be especially critical for refugees who left Ukraine with minimal resources and do not have a financial cushion for the costs of documents, mediation, translations and consultations.

What can Ukrainians do now

Despite the lack of an official decision, it is better not to delay and now:

check your legal status in Poland: if there is only temporary protection, study the possibility of issuing a residence card;
update all documents that can confirm the grounds for legalization: employment contract, education, family reunification;
if possible, use the channels of long-term immigration, and not just temporary permits;
consult with migration lawyers about the prospects of staying in Poland legally in 2026;
carefully monitor the official messages of Polish consulates, PL.ua, MZ.gov.pl, VisitUkraine and government portals.

Poland is still a key country for millions of Ukrainians as a temporary shelter, a work and educational platform, a place of treatment and a new home. Therefore, any restriction of access to it is a matter of basic rights, security and human dignity. And even if the political rhetoric about visas does not become law in the coming months, its appearance is a sign of changes that Ukrainians should be ready for.

Oksana06.08.2025

0 0 4 minutes read