Poland Reduces Work Visas to Foreigners by 33% in Effort to Address Visa Scandal
Key Points
1. Polish consulates abroad have reduced the number of work visas issued to foreigners by 33%.
2. This measure aims to address the visa scandal by implementing stricter visa-issuing rules.
3. Some Asian diplomats have expressed concerns over Poland's tightened visa policies.
Summary
In an effort to address last year's visa scandal, Poland has significantly reduced the number of work visas issued to foreign nationals. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland reports that Polish consulates have decreased the issuance of work visas by one-third. Additionally, Poland has tightened visa-issuing rules for foreigners visiting family members working in the country.
A Polish consul in an Asian country stated that the situation has improved, noting that the new measures prevent individuals who do not meet requirements from obtaining visas through irregular means or bribes. The consul highlighted that work visas are now primarily issued to high-earning IT industry employees.
Response from Asian Diplomats
Asian diplomats have raised concerns about Poland's stricter visa policies. Some governments have lodged complaints with Polish consular missions, requesting urgent visas that are being denied. The consul mentioned that this reaction indicates the effectiveness of the new measures and the previous scale of visa abuse.
Additional Measures
Poland is also planning to make it more difficult for foreign students to obtain visas. This decision follows revelations that some non-EU students were using student visas to enter other Schengen member states irregularly.