Migration to Poland is what tens of thousands of Ukrainian citizens dream of. And this is confirmed by the many annually issued entry permits for the purpose of employment or registration of permanent residence. Although Ukrainians in Poland have begun to experience some difficulties related to the complication of the political situation, the flow of migrants is not decreasing. Indeed, for many, moving to the republic becomes an intermediate stage for continuing their studies or employment in Europe.
Total number of migrants in the Republic of Poland
The flow of migrants to Poland is increasing every year. As of 2021, 201,845 foreigners live in the country. And this is 45,570 more than in 2021. The number of foreign citizens who received a residence permit increased in 2021 compared to the previous one by 14,254 and amounted to 68,832 thousand people.
Voicing the number of Ukrainians in Poland, statistics speak of more than 1 million citizens. About 200,000 representatives of the southeastern part of Ukraine received the Pole's Card.
It should be noted that among the countries of the world, Ukraine is the leader in the number of citizens leaving for Poland. In 2021, 141 610 Ukrainian citizens applied for a residence permit in the Republic of Poland. Most of them are men under the age of 25.
However, the flow of labor migrants has slightly decreased. If in 2021 their growth was 114%, then in the first half of 2021 it was already only 20%. However, the number of Ukrainians in Poland was not significantly affected: immigrants from Ukraine still make up about half of all migrants in Poland.
As for the regions of preferred residence, most of the foreigners prefer to settle in the Mazovian and Wielkopolskie Voivodeships and Lower Silesia.
How do Poles treat migrants from Ukraine
A significant number of native speakers of the Ukrainian language live on the territory of Poland. That is why the adaptation of new migrants in most cases is quite successful.
The attitude of native Poles towards newcomers is ambivalent. On the one hand, in the responses of immigrants about how they treat Ukrainians in Poland, the European politeness of local residents is emphasized. On the other hand, there is a share of negativity associated with some complications in the political relations of the two countries. Nevertheless, most Poles are positively disposed towards Ukrainian immigrants.
The reverent and extremely respectful attitude of Poles towards children, regardless of their nationality, is especially emphasized.
Among the stereotypes, there is an idea of Ukrainians as labor migrants, aiming at uncomplicated and low-paid jobs. But this does not affect the attitude towards highly qualified specialists, who always have a chance to be hired for a serious position.
In many ways, the attitude towards Ukrainians in Poland depends on the beliefs of the indigenous people themselves and the personality of the settlers. Mentally, nations are similar and this simplifies communication.
Opportunities for training Ukrainians in the Republic of Poland
The Polish educational system meets international standards and allows you to get a diploma that is quoted almost all over the world. In addition, having managed to find a job immediately after graduation, foreign students have a real opportunity to obtain a permanent residence permit, and then obtain the right to Polish citizenship.
If one of the prerequisites is met, free study in Poland is available for Ukrainians:
- permanent residence permit;
- Pole's card;
- passing through the competition as a result of passing the entrance exams;
- compliance with the requirements, which include the average mark of the certificate established by the university, a sufficient level of knowledge of the Polish language, successful passing of the entrance exams;
- participation in a scholarship or exchange program.
The law “On Foreigners” in force in the country (Ustawa o cudzoziemcach w Polsce) allows you to enter Poland for the purpose of studying: you need to get an invitation from the university and apply for a student visa. Initially, it is issued for a year, after which it is regularly renewed during the training period.
It should be borne in mind that free education is only possible in Polish. Getting paid education is possible in English and Polish, and in the first case it will cost more.
Work for Ukrainians in the Republic of Poland
According to employment companies, 14% of Polish firms and enterprises have ever hired Ukrainian citizens as employees. At the same time, 37% of Polish companies were satisfied with the way Ukrainian employees performed their duties. Only 2% left negative reviews. The attitude of the rest is neutral.
Most of the vacancies for which jobs are offered in Poland for Ukrainians are low-skilled labor. The most sought-after employees include:
- among women: waitresses, cleaning ladies, nannies;
- among men: civil engineers, bricklayers, painters, fitters, construction workers, public transport / taxi / special equipment drivers.
Popular universal jobs for both genders:
- seasonal worker in agriculture;
- a packer in a warehouse;
- cook / kitchen worker.
The popularity of Ukrainian specialists in Poland is due to the outflow of local youth to neighboring European countries, due to which vacancies are vacated and the help of foreigners is required. At the same time, migrants are offered the same wages as local specialists. Vacancies for serious posts are also open for them. However, this will require knowledge of the Polish language, proper qualifications, work experience and confirmation of the diploma.
In general, the number of Ukrainians working in Poland speaks of the benefits of such cooperation both for Polish employers and for the migrants themselves.
The standard of living of Ukrainian migrants in the Republic of Poland
Most of the Ukrainian migrants who have chosen Poland as their permanent place of residence have noted a significant improvement in the quality of life. This is due to a stable economy and a higher level of social protection.
As the experience and life of the majority of native Ukrainians in Poland shows, there is no difference in wages in the same positions as compared to the Poles.
Accommodation in most cases has to be rented, which costs about 600-900 € per month. If you rent a room, you can reduce your housing costs to € 250–300.
It is not uncommon for seasonal farm workers to receive temporary dorms at even lower rates. Those who decide to buy their own apartment will need to spend at least € 90,000-100,000 on this.
About 30% of wages are spent on food. At the same time, in order to provide yourself with the necessary minimum, it is enough to spend 5 € per day.
The average salary in the country at the beginning of 2021 is 1,100 €. Very often hourly wages are offered, especially on farms and construction sites: 10-15 zlotys / hour (0.23 €). At the same time, specialists without experience receive about 40% less than more qualified ones.
Where it is easier to get a job and easier to live for Ukrainian migrants
The region of compact residence of Polish Ukrainians is the Warmia-Mazury Voivodeship. If you are interested in the closest possible communication with representatives of their native nationality, Ukrainian migrants should move here.
Large cities - Warsaw, Poznan, Krakow, Gdansk - are an ideal choice for those who are interested in developing their own business or career. There are a lot of vacancies for specialists of any level of training, including those without knowledge of the Polish language, which is very important at first.
Very often, employers offer free accommodation for Ukrainians in Poland. In this way, they try to attract experienced foreign workers.
But do not forget that the larger the city, the more migrants there are, which means the more intense competition in the labor market and the higher the cost of living.
Naturally, for students, the choice of place of residence is determined by the location of the university.
Summarizing
Temporary labor migration or moving to a permanent place of residence in Poland of Ukrainian citizens is a mass phenomenon. The modern life of Ukrainians in Poland gives migrants the opportunity to gain a stable income, social security and confidence in the future.
The way Ukrainians live in Poland is no different from the life of the local population. The attitude towards migrants of any nationality in the country is generally positive. The settlers note the similarity of mentality and the absence of difficulties in communicating with the native Poles.
If necessary, unemployment benefits / pensions are issued to foreign migrants. And even the smallest income allows you to rent a house, provide yourself with food and the necessary things.
