Poland tightens visa rules as probe confirms previous government’s cash-for-visa scandal

Poland is tightening its visa regulations as investigations into an alleged cash visa scandal have confirmed irregularities under the previous right-wing government that cost the public purse millions of dollars, the country’s minister said on Thursday Foreign Affairs of this country of the European Union.

Radek Sikorski said that it will now be much more difficult to obtain a visa for Poland, a document that gives access to unrestricted travel within Europe’s border-free Schengen zone, and that the verification of applicants will be intensified. For example, student visa applications will be reviewed to avoid situations where they were only used as a means of entering Europe.

On Thursday, the state’s Supreme Audit Office released the report of its investigation into the foreign ministry’s visa department, confirming media allegations last year that the Polish consulates in Asia and Africa charged thousands of dollars for each work visa, against the regulations. He said he found 46 types of irregularities in five different areas, including a lack of transparency, a corruption-prone environment and poor oversight by then-minister Zbigniew Rau.

One of the most egregious examples involved visas for dozens of farmers from India, who were described in their documents as Bollywood filmmakers.

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The ministry lost control over the visa system, especially during the years 2018-2023, Sikorski said at a press conference.

“We can confirm that, unfortunately, in a scandalous manner, illegal pressure was exerted on Polish consuls with the intention of increasing the number of visas issued to people… who should not necessarily obtain them , including citizens of the Russian Federation, said the ministry was contributing to the process of drawing up Poland’s new policy to curb illegal immigration, which Prime Minister Donald Tusk will present on Saturday this year, Sikorski’s initial reaction to the scandal was to raise visa fees, which used to be among the cheapest in Europe and attracted migrants from Asia and Africa seeking access to Europe through Poland The cash-for-visa system was developed under the previous Law and Justice government, in stark contrast to its anti-migrant policies and statements.

The report released on Thursday said that between 2018 and early 2024, thousands of visas were issued to people who paid large sums to agencies cooperating with Polish consulates.

One agency alone issued more than 4,200 visas between January 1, 2018 and March 29, 2024. Some applicants paid as much as 30,000 zlotys ($7,600; 7,000 euros), auditors said.

The audit room weighs whether to take the case to the prosecutor’s office.

Based on an independent investigation by the state anti-corruption office, prosecutors have so far charged former Deputy Foreign Minister Piotr Wawrzyk and nine others, and are continuing the investigation.

A special parliamentary commission that was formed after last fall’s election is also investigating visa irregularities, and its findings so far have confirmed many flaws in the system.

The audit chamber said that, overall, between 2018 and 2023, Poland issued 6.1 million visas, including 1.2 million Schengen visas, out 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 aggression against Ukraine in February 2022.