Poland Extends 60-Day Restriction on Asylum Applications at Belarus Border

Poland has implemented a 60-day extension of the temporary restriction on the right to submit applications for international protection at the Polish-Belarusian border. The Polish government asserts that the grounds for introducing this restriction remain valid, as migration continues to be used as a tool posing a threat to the country's national security.

This restriction, which came into effect on March 27, 2025, can be extended with the consent of the Sejm. It is worth noting that similar extensions have already occurred six times. Since its introduction until April 21, 2026, Poland has not accepted asylum applications from 475 foreigners. However, 127 individuals from «vulnerable groups» were able to submit such applications.

The restriction does not apply to unaccompanied minors, pregnant women, or individuals requiring special treatment due to age or health conditions. The Border Guard also has the right to accept an application if it determines that the person concerned faces serious danger in the country from which they arrived in Poland.

Previously, Poland constructed a 5-meter fence with surveillance equipment on the border with Belarus to more effectively deter illegal migrants. Construction of this fence began shortly after the emergence of the migration route, facilitated by Belarusian authorities, in the summer of 2021. It was also reported that construction of a special barrier began on the Polish-Belarusian border to reinforce the existing fence. In April, Polish Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz stated that the situation at the border with Belarus was under full control.