During a two-day visit to Islamabad that began on October 23 2025, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski signed a bilateral co-operation memorandum with his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar and used a joint press conference to warn that Warsaw “has zero tolerance for illegal migration” via the Belarus route.
Sikorski told reporters that Polish intelligence confirms Pakistani nationals are now being marketed bogus travel packages that promise entry into the EU through Belarus and Poland. “We remain open to genuine students and skilled workers,” he said, “but anyone tempted by smugglers will find the Polish border closed.”
The minister’s language echoes Prime Minister Tusk’s migration strategy of “regaining control” and is the clearest signal yet that Poland will lean on origin countries to curb irregular flows. Pakistani officials welcomed Polish investment in the local gas sector but asked Warsaw to expand legal work-visa quotas for IT specialists, arguing that managed labour mobility is a safer alternative to clandestine routes.
Business-mobility practitioners should note that Poland may soon tighten background-check requirements for Pakistani applicants and that corporate-sponsored visas will be scrutinised for links to potential smuggling networks. Companies recruiting from South Asia are advised to review their compliance procedures and prepare applicants for possible interview call-ups at Polish consulates.
For the wider region, the visit underscores Poland’s dual strategy: courting economic links with emerging markets while projecting a hard security line on Europe’s eastern frontier. The message to would-be migrants is clear, but so is the invitation to investors who can help diversify Poland’s supply chains beyond Russia and China.
Sikorski told reporters that Polish intelligence confirms Pakistani nationals are now being marketed bogus travel packages that promise entry into the EU through Belarus and Poland. “We remain open to genuine students and skilled workers,” he said, “but anyone tempted by smugglers will find the Polish border closed.”
The minister’s language echoes Prime Minister Tusk’s migration strategy of “regaining control” and is the clearest signal yet that Poland will lean on origin countries to curb irregular flows. Pakistani officials welcomed Polish investment in the local gas sector but asked Warsaw to expand legal work-visa quotas for IT specialists, arguing that managed labour mobility is a safer alternative to clandestine routes.
Business-mobility practitioners should note that Poland may soon tighten background-check requirements for Pakistani applicants and that corporate-sponsored visas will be scrutinised for links to potential smuggling networks. Companies recruiting from South Asia are advised to review their compliance procedures and prepare applicants for possible interview call-ups at Polish consulates.
For the wider region, the visit underscores Poland’s dual strategy: courting economic links with emerging markets while projecting a hard security line on Europe’s eastern frontier. The message to would-be migrants is clear, but so is the invitation to investors who can help diversify Poland’s supply chains beyond Russia and China.
