Poland’s law enforcement and security agencies are seeking to reintroduce visa requirements for travelers from several countries, including Ukraine, according to a senior opposition figure, amid rising public skepticism toward migration policies. Krzysztof Bosak, deputy speaker of parliament and a leader of the right-wing Confederation party, stated that police and security officials had privately expressed support for reinstating visas to address what they describe as insufficient oversight of immigration.
The claims, shared by Bosak in a social media post on Monday, underscore a growing political divide over migration in a nation that initially welcomed over a million Ukrainian refugees following Russia’s 2022 invasion. “Unofficially, police officers and [public] services would like to see the return of visas,” he wrote, accusing the ruling coalition of neglecting their concerns. Bosak argued that authorities lack adequate resources to manage “mass, multicultural immigration from the post-Soviet area,” a reference to arrivals from Ukraine and other neighboring regions.
Tensions have intensified following the recent arrest of a 36-year-old Ukrainian man in the city of Sopot, accused of attempting to sabotage local water supply infrastructure. While the case remains under investigation, Bosak seized on the incident to criticize Poland’s border controls, alleging that inadequate screening has allowed criminals to enter the country. He also warned of potential risks to the Schengen zone’s stability, though he provided no evidence to support this assertion.
Public sentiment toward Ukrainian refugees has cooled significantly, according to recent polling. A March 2025 survey by the CBOS Center revealed only 50% of Poles support accepting them, down from 81% two years prior. Government figures indicate approximately 2.5 million Ukrainians currently reside in Poland—nearly 7% of the population—with official registrations showing one million arrivals since 2022. The BBC reports that Poland has allocated 4.2% of its GDP to refugee support, a significant economic commitment amid broader debates over integration and security.
Bosak’s Confederation party, long a proponent of stricter border measures, has positioned itself as a critic of the government’s approach. Critics argue the party’s rhetoric risks exacerbating social divisions, particularly as some Poles increasingly view Ukrainian immigrants through lenses of suspicion or resentment. The ruling coalition has yet to formally respond to Bosak’s latest claims, leaving unresolved questions about potential policy shifts in one of Europe’s most complex migration landscapes.
