The Republic of Poland traditionally attracts migrants from the CIS countries. People come here to study and work, and then often stay for permanent residence. Modern Belarusians in Poland represent a fairly large diaspora. Many of them hold high positions, achieve success in scientific activities, get married and have families. There are agreements between the governments of the two states, the purpose of which is to protect the rights of Belarusians on Polish territory.
Migrants in the Republic of Poland
According to official statistics, the number of migrants in Poland is increasing. This trend has continued for several years.
Number of migrants in Poland:
| Grounds for stay in Poland | 2017 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|
| Residence permit | 156275 | 201845 |
| Permanent residence permit | 54578 | 68832 |
In 2021, the following number of applications were sent to departments for foreigners in Poland:
- 192,173 - for a temporary residence permit;
- 16 526 - on granting a permanent residence;
- 3 927 - on international protection;
- 2 504 - on granting the status of a long-term resident of the EU.
When asked how many Belarusians there are in Poland, statistics provide a figure of about 48,000. In 2021, just over 10,000 applications for the legalization of stay on Polish territory were submitted on behalf of Belarusian citizens.
Most often, applications come from male Belarusian citizens. Most of them are 20-25 years old.
Geographically, the largest number of foreigners' applications for the legalization of their stay in Poland goes to the Mazovian Voivodeship Uzhond (the department that mainly deals with the issues of permanent residence and residence permit, citizenship); by cities - Warsaw, Radom, Siedlce.
How Belarusians are treated in Poland
The attitude towards Belarusians in Poland can be judged by the results of a poll conducted by the correspondent of “Salidarnastsi”.
Characteristic features of Belarusians from the point of view of the Poles:
- Wealth and wastefulness: This opinion was probably formed due to the large volume of purchases made by Belarusian citizens in Polish stores. It's simple: goods in Belarus itself are much more expensive.
- Fearfulness. This conclusion was made by the respondents on the basis that Belarusians never speak openly about the shortcomings of life at home. At the same time, the number of migrants from Belarus in Poland is equal to the number of migrants from Ukraine. Together they occupy the first two places among other nationalities.
- Friendliness. Marked as one of the main positive qualities.
- Enterprise and hard work. The opinion is based on the fact that the majority of Belarusian migrants and tourists are very active: visiting Poland, they make purchases, get a job or start their own business. The Poles simply did not have to deal with the majority of other Belarusian citizens.
Based on this, we can conclude that the attitude towards Belarusians in Poland is generally positive.
Education for Belarusian citizens in the Republic of Poland
Studying at Polish universities is an excellent springboard for young and active people who want to get an education of the European level. Citizens of Belarus can get education in Poland in two language programs:
- Polish language: the cost of education is lower, however, the graduate receives only one diploma - Polish;
- English: the cost of training is higher, which is compensated by the receipt of two diplomas - Polish and British.
With a Polish or even British diploma in hand, university graduates can look for work in other countries, not only in Europe, but even in the United States.
Belarusians can apply to study not only in commercial, but also in state universities of the country. In most cases, tuition will be paid.
Free education in Poland for Belarusians is available subject to the following conditions:
- the presence of a Card to stay;
- availability of the Pole's Card;
- passing the competitive selection to a specific university;
- compliance with the special requirements of a number of universities (the average mark of the certificate and the points on the entrance exams are not lower than the established minimum, successful passing of the exam for knowledge of the Polish language).
Employment of Belarusians in Poland
For 2021, most vacancies for Belarusian citizens in Poland are offered in:
- construction companies;
- leisure and service enterprises;
- large industrial enterprises;
- farms that invite short-term workers.
Most often these are blue-collar specialties or low-skilled labor. However, Belarusians with a good education and work experience in their specialty can even get a job in leadership positions.
Average earnings that a Belarusian labor migrant can count on in Poland: 1200-1500 € per month for skilled labor (excluding the IT sphere) and 500-800 € for work that does not require qualifications.
Legal work in Poland for Belarusians requires a work visa of category D and the conclusion of an employment contract. However, before that, the Polish employer must independently issue a work permit for a foreigner at the voivodeship administration.
This procedure can take about a month. And only after receiving an official invitation, you can start applying for a work visa to Poland.
It is recommended to search for vacancies through agencies, specialized portals or thematic publications.
Living standards in modern Poland
At the beginning of 2021, the standard of living of the population in Poland exceeds that of Romania, Estonia, Latvia, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Greece and Hungary. At the same time, it is assessed as Central European.
The country's economy is classified as developed. The unemployment rate is around 8%.
The life in Poland of both local residents and immigrants can be characterized by the following indicators:
- Average salary - 1,092 €.
- Average net income of the population - 787 €.
- The average pension that people receive is 437 €.
- The minimum pension is 210 €.
- The cost of a grocery basket is € 16.75.
- The average rate for mortgage lending is 3-4%.
Since 2001, the inflation rate in the country has not exceeded 5%. This characterizes the country's economy as stable.
Poland's GDP at par per capita is 12,048 €.
The amount that Polish citizens spend every month on utility bills is on average about 100 € for a studio or one-bedroom apartment with an area of 30-40 sq. M; with a housing area of 85 square meters, this figure rises to 150 €. At the same time, additional costs (payment for mobile communication, kindergarten, Internet, purchase of a subscription to a fitness club) can reach 320 € and more.
Approximate food prices in Poland in 2021:
| Product | Price |
|---|---|
| Milk, 1l | up to 1 € |
| Bread, 0.5 kg | up to 1 € |
| Tea, 1 pack (20 sachets) | from 1 to 2 € |
| Wine, 0.7 l | 6, 02 € |
| Tomatoes, 1 kg | 1, 35 € |
The best regions for migrants to live in Poland
How Belarusians live in Poland directly depends on the region of the country. The choice here is determined by many factors.
Belarusians in the republic are one of the largest national minorities. And if we consider the ease of adaptation, it will be easiest to go through it in the Podlaskie Voivodeship, where 96.6% of Belarusian migrants live. Their share of the total population of the region is 20%. This allows you to use your native language in everyday communication and in official contacts with the administration.
As for education, the Department of Belarusian Culture operates at the University of Bialystok, and the Department of Belarusian Philology at Warsaw University.
However, for labor migrants it is preferable to enter for the purpose of residence in such large cities as Warsaw, Gdansk, Poznan, Torun.
Warsaw attracts with a high level of earnings.However, life in the capital is much more expensive than in cities on the periphery. Torun has a high quality of life. Gdansk is a port city with a wide range of vacancies.
Summarizing
Currently, living in Poland for Belarusians is an attractive opportunity that allows them to significantly improve the quality of life or receive additional income.
At the same time, migrants are divided into two main categories: those who wish to obtain a permanent residence permit and those who are interested in working in the Republic of Poland on a temporary basis.
It should be noted that life in Poland for Belarusians who do not have a good education or their own business will definitely be associated with working in low-paid positions that do not require special skills.
