Poland Implements New Migration Rules to Regulate Foreign Student Entry

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New rules restricting foreign student entry and enabling local authorities to refuse work permits for immigrants in certain professions have been implemented in Poland. This move is part of a crackdown on immigration by the government of Donald Tusk, who asserts that the preceding Law and Justice (PiS) administration was excessively lenient on the matter.

“This is another step towards regaining control over migration and increasing the safety of Poles,” announced the government, confirming that the new regulations would commence from 1 June.

The tally of foreign students in Poland has surged in recent years, surpassing 100,000 in 2023, accounting for 9% of all students.

However, Tusk’s administration contends that PiS, left the system vulnerable to exploitation, with some migrants misusing student status to work in Poland or immigrate to other EU nations.

In 2024, an audit by the Supreme Audit Office (NIK) on visa system irregularities found that it was impossible to validate whether 17,000 student visas were issued correctly due to inadequate system entries and short document retention.

After clamping down on visa abuses last year, the number of student visas issued by Poland declined significantly. Additional measures have now been introduced to ensure genuine student admission to study in Poland.

“We welcome global students aiming to study at Polish universities, but we will introduce requirements that will limit unlawful immigration opportunities,” said Tusk, introducing the new regulations.

Prospective students must demonstrate a minimum of B2 level proficiency in the instruction language. According to 2023 data, about 60% of foreign students study in Polish, 37% in English, and 3% in another foreign language.

New rules now require universities to verify candidate qualifications, and the National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA) must confirm high-school graduation exam completion. Universities must also notify the relevant consulate if a student does not begin their studies.

The new migration rules also affect economic migrants, specifically enabling local authorities to control the type of incoming workers. The head of a district authority, or starosta, can specify a list of professions and kinds of work in their area for which foreigners cannot be issued permits. Penalties for illegally employing foreigners have been raised from between 1,000 and 30,000 zloty (€235 to €7,050) to between 3,000 and 50,000 zloty.

Poland has also implemented the EU Blue Card Directive, providing new rules for highly skilled third-country nationals, including enhanced mobility and residence rights.

Poland has witnessed levels of immigration in recent years that are unprecedented in the country’s history and among the highest in the European Union. The major groups of foreign nationals are Ukrainians (67.3%), followed by Belarusians (11.5%) and Georgians (2.3%).