Poland has announced that it cannot accept Ukrainian refugees indefinitely: details

The Polish government has announced restrictions on the admission of Ukrainian refugees and the preparation of a new citizenship law. Find out how these changes will affect Ukrainians living in Poland

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Poland has stated that it cannot accept new Ukrainian refugees indefinitely and must focus on integrating those who already live in the country. This was reported by Marcin Przydacz, head of the Polish Presidential Office for International Policy, on RMF24.

According to Przydacz, there are currently about 1.5 million Ukrainian citizens in Poland, but only 26,000 have obtained Polish citizenship in the last five years. This disproportion indicates that a significant portion of Ukrainians remain temporary residents rather than fully integrated members of Polish society.

“When the scale exceeds the capacity for acculturation, problems begin. We do not want such problems in Poland. I think we are already at the limit — we cannot accept any more,” said the representative of the president's administration.

Pszidacz stressed that an excessive number of new arrivals could exceed the state's capacity for integration and social adaptation of migrants. In some Polish cities, separate migrant districts are already forming, which, in his opinion, could complicate the cultural inclusion of refugees into Polish society.

Tightening rules for foreigners

It is known that earlier, Polish President Karol Nawrocki submitted a draft law to the Sejm that significantly tightens the requirements for foreigners, in particular Ukrainians, who apply for Polish citizenship.

According to the initiative, it is planned to increase the minimum period of continuous residence in Poland for obtaining citizenship from three to ten years. The draft amendments to the Polish Citizenship Act submitted by the president aim to make the naturalization process more selective and controlled.

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Focus on integration, not on new admissions

Thus, the Polish authorities are shifting their focus from admitting new refugees to the enculturation and adaptation of those who have already settled in the country. This means strengthening language, education, and professional integration programs, but at the same time, a more restrictive approach to new migration flows from Ukraine.

Experts note that this position could send a signal to other EU countries facing similar challenges in accommodating large numbers of Ukrainian refugees following the start of russia's full-scale invasion.

For those planning their future in Europe, it is important to prepare in advance and take the new requirements into account. This can be facilitated by consultations with specialized lawyers who accompany the turnkey legalization process and help to avoid risks.

We remind you! Poland has announced the end of the period of special rules for Ukrainians. Read about what the new law provides for, which benefits have been restricted, and how the conditions for legal residence will change after 2026.

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