POLAND MORE FRIENDLY TO FOREIGNERS
According to the latest data published by the Office for Foreigners, nearly 152,000 foreigners applied for a temporary residence permit in Poland in 2016. It is 30% more than in 2015. Almost 142,000 applications were filed by citizens of third countries, with only 10,000 by residents of the European Union.
LIBERALISATION OF LAW
The upward trend has been apparent for 3 years in filing applications for a temporary residence permit in Poland. This is clearly the result of the liberalization of the law in the legalization of stay and employment of foreigners in Poland and the simplification of procedures.
On 1 May 2014, the new act on foreigners of 12 December 2013 (Journal of Laws 2013 item 1650) entered into force, which, among other things, introduced the model uniform residence and work permit.
The legalization of a foreigner’s stay in Poland for a period longer than the visa is issued takes place in the department for foreigners of the voivodeship office competent for the place of residence of the foreigner. According to statistics, majority of applications for the legalization of stay in 2016 were filed by citizens of Ukraine: 96,500 applications, which accounts for 68% of all applications. It is 40% more applications than in 2015. The Citizens of Belarus, China, India, and Vietnam also applied for temporary residence permits in Poland. Of the citizens of countries of the European Union, the largest number of applications was in case of German (2,400), Italian (1,100), Bulgarian (800), and Romanian (about 700) citizens.
UKRAINIAN CITIZENS WANT TO WORK IN POLAND
According to the predictions of the Office for Foreigners, constantly rising number of foreigners who legalize their stay in Poland may be expected in the future. The largest increase refers to the citizens of Ukraine, who had about 100,000 valid documents allowing for a legal stay on the territory of Poland at the end of 2016.
The closer look at the statistics shows that about 70% of temporary residence permits for Ukrainian citizens were issued in connection with work on the territory of Poland. The remaining number of applications was issued in connection with education and due to family ties.
The number of people who lodged an application for a temporary residence permit or a residence for a fixed period in the years 2007–2015:
The total number of applications for a temporary residence permit or residence for a fixed period in the years 2007–2015:
The total number of applications for a temporary residence permit or residence for a fixed period in the years 2007–2015:
Author: Trainee Attorney-at-law Marta Szczepanowska
Editorial Supervisor: Attorney-at-law Paweł Tokarski
