Podlaskie Voivodeship Office Seeks Solutions to Accelerate Legalization Processes for Belarusians

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"We are making efforts to ensure that all cases are resolved fairly and in accordance with current regulations, while simultaneously seeking solutions to improve the performance of our services," states the official response from the Podlaskie Voivodeship Office to the appeal by Pavel Latushka, Deputy Head of the United Transitional Cabinet and Head of the NAM. In his appeal, he highlighted alarming signals from Belarusians regarding a significant slowdown in the processes for legalizing their stay in the Podlaskie Voivodeship.

In his appeal to the Podlaskie Voivodeship Office, Pavel Latushka emphasized that according to official data published on the migracje.gov.pl portal at the end of January 2026, there is a sharp decline in the number of decisions issued regarding the legalization of stay in Poland's Podlaskie Voivodeship. For example, while Belarusian citizens received approximately 6.3 thousand residence permits in Białystok in 2023, this number dropped to fewer than 2 thousand in 2025. It was also noted that according to public information, at the end of 2025, the Office was processing applications submitted as far back as February 2025, and the waiting time just for an invitation to submit fingerprints now exceeds one year.

"For many Belarusian citizens fleeing repression and seeking safe haven in Poland, such prolonged legal uncertainty is an enormous life burden," Pavel Latushka noted in the appeal.

The Deputy Head of the Cabinet emphasized that this situation is causing particular concern within the Belarusian community. He presented the Podlaskie Voivode with a petition signed by more than 550 people expressing deep concern over the crisis in the field of services for foreigners.

In its response, the Podlaskie Voivodeship Office noted:

"The Voivode takes the challenges you presented with the utmost seriousness. The difficult procedural situation is the result of a significant increase in the number of applications in recent years, which places a heavy burden on the Office... I wish to assure you that the Bureau of the Podlaskie Voivode remains at your disposal regarding the provision of information and clarification of current issues related to administrative procedures."

"I am grateful to the Polish side for their openness and communication regarding complex issues, especially in the area of legalizing Belarusians in Poland who were forced to leave Belarus due to the repressive domestic policies of the Lukashenko regime. We will continue communication with both the central authorities of Poland and local ones to advocate for the swiftest possible resolution of the problematic issues Belarusians face in Poland today," noted Pavel Latushka.

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