Recent data from the Polish Ministry of Interior and Administration reveals a significant decline in the number of Schengen visas issued to Russian nationals this year compared to the previous year. From January to October 2024, Poland granted only 1,821 Schengen visas to Russians, according to Schengen.News.
Of these visas, 875 were issued under the Pole’s Card program, which facilitates entry for individuals of Polish descent. The second-largest group, totaling 452 visas, was granted for humanitarian reasons. Additional visas were allocated for various purposes: 86 for study, 175 for repatriation, and 168 for visits.
In contrast, Poland issued 4,294 Schengen visas to Russians last year, primarily for scientific purposes. This reduction in visa issuance underscores Poland’s commitment to maintaining strict visa regulations following a recent visa scandal that emerged in September.
The Ministry emphasized that the number of Russians entering and exiting Poland does not reflect the strictness of its visa policy. Poland has one of the most stringent visa policies toward Russian citizens, and entry statistics do not accurately represent its governmental stance.
In conjunction with these strict visa rules, Polish authorities have conducted thorough checks on Russian nationals entering the country. The Polish Border Guard reported that over 60,000 Russians were scrutinized during the first half of this year. Most of these individuals (42,000) held documents from other EU countries. Additionally, 34,900 had valid residence permits from EU nations, while 12,500 possessed Polish Residence Cards.
This rigorous verification process at Poland’s borders reflects the country’s ongoing efforts to regulate immigration and uphold national security amid heightened scrutiny of its visa policies.
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