Poland tightens rules on cash-for-visa scam

Poland is overhauling its visa regulations after investigations into an alleged cash visa scandal confirmed that irregularities under the country’s previous government had led to the loss of millions of euros to the public exchequer. According to the revised rules described by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Radek Sikorskythe acquisition of a Polish visa with its provision for unrestricted movement within the Schengen area of ​​the European Union (EU) will be subject to more rigorous scrutiny. Screening of visa applicants will be more thorough to ensure that student visa applications, for example, are not sought solely as a subterfuge to gain access to the EU.

Yesterday, Poland’s Supreme Audit Office published its investigative findings into allegations about the visa department of the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. His report confirmed claims made by the media in 2023 that Polish consulate offices in Asia and Africa had charged thousands of euros for each work visa they had issued. The investigation cited 46 types of irregularities in five specific areas, ranging from a lack of transparency, and an environment prone to corruption and inadequate oversight by the party Zbigniew Rau, who was the Minister of Foreign Affairs. minister at that time.

Acting Foreign Minister Sikorski told a press conference in Warsaw that the ministry had lost control over the visa system, particularly in the years 2018-2023. “We can confirm that, unfortunately, in a scandalous way, unlawful pressure has been exerted about the Polish consuls with the intention of increasing the number of visas issued to people … who should not necessarily get them, including citizens of the Russian Federation,” he stated.

The ministry, he added, was helping to draft Poland’s new policy to curb illegal immigration, which the prime minister Donald Tusk will be presented on Saturday. In its initial response to the scandal earlier this year, Sikorski increased visa fees, whichhaving been among the cheapest in Europe, attracting migrants from Asia and Africa seeking to enter EU countries through Poland. Prime Minister Donald Tusk is a to present Poland’s new policy to curb illegal immigration on Saturday.

The cash-for-visa system was developed under Poland’s previous law and justice government. The audit investigation revealed that thousands of visas were issued between 2018 and early 2024 to applicants who were overcharged by agencies cooperating with Polish consulates. Some applicants paid the equivalent of 7,000 euros, say the auditors. The Audit Office is studying whether to refer the case to the prosecutor’s office. A separate ongoing investigation by Poland’s anti-corruption office led prosecutors to charge the former deputy foreign minister Piotr Wawrzyk and nine more

In addition, a special parliamentary commission formed after last fall’s election is conducting its own investigation.

Audit authorities say Poland issued 6.1 million visas between 2018 and 2018, including 1.2 million Schengen visas, out of a total of 6.5 million applications. About 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.