The newspaper Dziennik Gazeta Prawna spoke with 37-year-old Vita from Donetsk a year ago. At that time, she was waiting in Warsaw for a decision on granting her refugee status. After a few weeks and a more thorough review of the rules for obtaining status, she realized she had no chance.
'I asked to cancel my application and returned to Ukraine to get a visa,' the woman, who is again living in Warsaw, tells us. 'A year ago, I managed to find an employer who agreed to officially employ me. For this, it is necessary to settle formalities in various offices. At this stage, I am in Poland on the basis of a visa and a work permit. I plan to get a residence permit,' Vita says.
There are more and more such foreigners who want to stay legally in the neighboring country. According to the latest data from the Office for Foreigners, in 2015 Poland issued 65,000 residence permits. In 2014 – 42,000, and in 2013 – 31,700.
There have never been so many people wanting to live and work in Poland. This is mainly the result of migration of Ukrainian citizens (last year they received 33,500 residence permits), as well as the effect of the new law on foreigners, which simplifies their employment.
'We are not dealing with a one-time jump. This is a trend that will persist for many years, because the basis of this process is economic factors,' explains Jakub Bińkowski, an analyst at the Polish Employers' Union. He believes that the trend will continue due to the uneven economic development of Poland and Ukraine. 'There is a chasm between us now. 25 years after the collapse of the USSR, neighboring Ukraine offers its residents such poor conditions in economic matters, average salary, etc., that many of them choose emigration,' the expert believes. 'It's more profitable. Many Ukrainians are also thinking not only about going to work, but are moving to us with their families, building their lives here.'
Year after year, more and more Ukrainian citizens legalize their stay in Poland. Since 2007, 150,000 Ukrainians have done so, 111,000 people have received residence permits. Officially, 650,000 Ukrainians live and work in Poland. Experts believe that another 270,000 citizens of the neighboring country are unofficially present in the country. Their growing number indicates a new trend.
'We are dealing with a change in the perception of Poland by foreigners. Our country is perceived not only as a place where you can earn money and return home, but also to stay and live here. Migration from Ukraine is very reminiscent of Polish migration to the UK, Ireland or Germany,' says Karolina Zawiasa, an analyst at the EWL agency. 'For our economy, this is a good sign. Not only because we need workers. This process shows that it is worth living here, that in terms of living conditions we are beginning to compete with Western Europe.'