New statistics from Poland’s Office for Foreigners reveal that of 88 asylum applications lodged by Belarusian nationals in September 2026, only 24 were approved—21 refugee statuses and three subsidiary-protection grants—while 52 were rejected and 12 discontinued. That translates into a 27-percent approval rate, down from 35 percent in August and well below the pre-2024 average of roughly 60 percent. NGOs attribute the drop to tougher credibility assessments introduced after several high-profile espionage cases. Lawyers report an uptick in requests for additional biometric evidence and social-media screening. For employers using the Poland Business Harbour scheme to relocate Belarusian IT specialists, the figures signal longer processing times for family-reunification visas: over 3,200 Belarusian cases remain pending. Companies are therefore advised to apply early and explore alternative residence routes such as EU Blue Cards. The data also show that 129,830 Belarusians currently hold valid Polish residence documents—a slight month-on-month decline linked to expired permits and processing backlogs. Mobility managers should prepare for possible talent-retention challenges if approval rates continue to fall.
Source: Reform.news
