Poland is overhauling its visa regulations after investigations into an alleged cash-for-visa scandal confirmed irregularities under the country’s previous government had resulted in the loss of millions of euros to the public exchequer. Under the revised rules outlined by Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski, acquiring a Polish visa with its provision for restriction-free movement within the European Union’s (EU) Schengen zone will become subject to more rigorous scrutiny. Screening of visa applicants will be more thorough to ensure that student visa applications, for example, are not being sought solely as a subterfuge for gaining entry to the EU.
Yesterday, Poland’s Supreme Audit Office released its investigative findings into allegations about the country’s Foreign Ministry visa department. Its report confirmed claims made by the media in 2023 that Polish consulate offices in Asia and Africa had charged thousands of euros for every work visa they had issued. The investigation cited 46 types of irregularities in five specific areas, ranging from a lack of transparency, and a corruption-prone environment to inadequate supervision by Zbigniew Rau, who was the Foreign Minister. minister at the time.
Incumbent Foreign Minister Sikorski told a Warsaw news conference that the ministry had lost control over the visa system, especially in the years 2018-2023. “We can confirm that, unfortunately, in a scandalous way, unlawful pressure was exercised over Polish consuls with the intention of increasing the number of visas issued to people … who should not necessarily obtain them, including the citizens of the Russian Federation,” he declared.
The ministry, he added, was helping draw up Poland’s new policy for curbing illegal migration, which Prime Minister Donald Tusk is to present on Saturday. In his initial response to the scandal earlier this year, Sikorski raised visa fees, which, having been among the cheapest in Europe, were attracting migrants from Asia and Africa seeking entry into EU countries via Poland. Prime Minister Donald Tusk is to present Poland’s new policy for curbing illegal migration on Saturday.
The cash-for-visa system was developed under Poland’s previous right-wing Law and Justice government. The audit investigation revealed that thousands of visas were issued between 2018 and early 2024 to applicants who were charged large sums by agencies cooperating with Polish consulates. Some applicants paid the equivalent of 7,000 euros, say the auditors. The Audit Office is considering whether to refer the case to prosecutors. A separate ongoing investigation by the Polish anti-corruption bureau led prosecutors to charge former deputy foreign minister Piotr Wawrzyk and nine others.
Additionally, a special parliamentary commission formed after last autumn’s elections is conducting its own probe.
Audit authorities say Poland issued 6.1 million visas between 2018 and 23, including 1.2 million Schengen visas, out of a total of 6.5 million applications. Some 3.4 million visas were granted to Ukrainian citizens, 1.6 million to Belarusians, and more than 357,000 to Russian citizens, some after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
