Poland is considering reinstating visa requirements for Ukraine: official statements and reasons

Poland may initiate the reinstatement of visa requirements for Ukraine. Find out who supports this idea, which countries may be the first to be added to the “visa” list, and what this means for Ukrainians in 2025

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In the third quarter of 2025, voices are being heard in Poland calling for the restoration of the visa regime with Ukraine. According to the publication Do Rzeczy, MP Krzysztof Bosak said that police and special services employees are unofficially in favor of such a move. However, the ruling parties – Law and Justice, the Social Democratic Party, and The Left, with the participation of PL2050 – are ignoring these intentions and do not currently plan to change their migration policy.

What is motivating Poland to reinstate visas?

The decision is justified by several dangerous trends:

● the growing activity of criminal groups (such as “Georgian gangs”) in Polish cities;

● incidents involving citizens of Ukraine, Armenia, and Colombia related to violations of the law or official investigations;

● general concerns among law enforcement agencies about uncontrolled entry from post-Soviet countries.

In particular, in Sopot, police detained a Ukrainian suspected of planning a terrorist attack against critical infrastructure. Although most media outlets have not paid much attention to this, the case has caused alarm in political circles and sparked discussions about tightening controls.

If a visa regime is introduced:

● Ukrainians will need to obtain visas for short-term trips to Poland;

● travel will become more expensive and complicated due to bureaucratic procedures;

● queues and long delays at the border are possible.

Therefore, Ukrainians who live in or plan to travel to Poland should:

● follow official announcements regarding Poland's migration policy;

● if necessary, contact Visit Ukraine migration lawyers for advice on residence rights, document processing, or changes to the regime;

● assess the possibility of extending or formalizing their stay through legal channels — work, study, family reunification, etc.

Currently, initiatives by Polish law enforcement agencies to reinstate the visa regime with Ukraine are receiving some approval but do not have the support of the political majority, so it is too early to talk about the adoption of a relevant decision.

Read also: Is insurance required when entering Poland — rules in 2025

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Which other countries are targeted by Poland's migration policy?

Poland has already named several countries with which it may resume the visa regime. These are countries whose citizens most often break the law and commit crimes. According to the portal In Poland, citing a statement by Polish Deputy Interior Minister Czesław Mroczek, the list may include:

● Georgia

● Armenia

● Venezuela

● Colombia

Reasons: a surge in crime among citizens of these countries, pressure on law enforcement agencies, and security concerns.

Reminder! Starting in 2026, Ukrainians in Poland will be able to apply for a new CUKR residence card — a temporary residence permit for 3 years for persons with UKR status. Read our previous article to find out who is eligible for CUKR status, what documents are required, how to apply online, and what changes are being made to the procedure for legalizing your stay.

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