A lack of resources to manage immigration is prompting calls for visa reinstatements, according to a deputy speaker.
According to a leading opposition member, Polish police and security agencies are seeking the reintroduction of visas for certain nations, including Ukraine.
While Poland has been a key ally of Ukraine since the conflict with Russia escalated in 2022, initially welcoming over a million refugees, public and political sentiment towards Ukrainian asylum seekers has recently changed.
Krzysztof Bosak, the deputy speaker of parliament and a leader within the right-wing Confederation party, stated that law enforcement and security bodies had informally communicated this desire to him. He posted on social media that police and public services would “unofficially” like to see visas reinstated.
He criticized the ruling coalition’s politicians for disregarding these issues, arguing that they “do not provide sufficient funds or tools to supervise mass, multicultural immigration from the post-Soviet area.”
Bosak’s Confederation party, known for its criticism of the government’s immigration policies, has been advocating for increased border security.
These comments follow the arrest of a Ukrainian national in Sopot, accused of attempting to sabotage electrical equipment at the city’s water facilities.
Bosak previously accused Polish authorities of allowing criminals into the country and speculated that the Schengen zone’s existence could be in jeopardy.
Social tensions are growing in Poland, with some citizens perceiving Ukrainian immigrants as burdens or potential criminals. Government figures show that approximately 2.5 million Ukrainians now reside in Poland, representing almost 7% of the population.
Public support for Ukrainian refugees has decreased significantly. A CBOS Center poll from March 2025 indicated that only 50% of Poles were in favor of accepting them, a drop from 81% in 2023. While approximately one million Ukrainians have officially registered as arriving since 2022, the BBC reports that Poland has allocated 4.2% of its GDP to supporting them.
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