The Polish Ombudsman calls for changes in the law following appeals from Belarusians, including participants of the "Personnel Reserve"

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Yury Hubarevich, coordinator of the "Personnel Reserve for New Belarus" campaign

The Office of the Ombudsman in Poland is calling for amendments to the draft law that limits the use of certificates from police schools as proof of Polish language proficiency when applying for citizenship or EU resident status. This initiative emerged following numerous appeals, including from participants of the "Personnel Reserve" who studied in Polish police schools.

A petition signed by 90 individuals calls for a revision of the deadlines for foreign students who have already invested significant resources in their education.

According to the draft law, certificates from police schools obtained before June 30, 2025, will be recognized as proof of Polish language proficiency only until June 30, 2026. This has raised concerns among students who may not have enough time to use their certificates for obtaining citizenship or EU resident status.

The Ombudsman has proposed changing the transitional provisions so that foreigners who started studying in police schools before 2025 can continue to use their certificates as proof of Polish language proficiency.

Yury Hubarevich, coordinator of the "Personnel Reserve for New Belarus" campaign, stated: "The Ombudsman's initiative and the response to the appeals, including from participants of the 'Personnel Reserve,' demonstrate the activity of the Belarusian community in Poland, which strives for fair conditions for integration and legalization of their status in the country".

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