On 27 March 2025, a temporary restriction on the ability to apply for international protection at the Polish–Belarusian border was introduced based on the Regulation of the Council of Ministers (Journal of Laws 2025, item 390). That decision was taken in line with Art. 33a of the Act on Granting Protection to Foreigners within the Territory of the Republic of Poland dated 13 June 2003 (Journal of Laws 2025, item 223 i 389). The restriction may be introduced for a limited time period of 60 days, with the ability to extend this period once for another 60 days, if approved by the Sejm. Restrictions can also be lifted ahead of time by the Council of Ministers if the reasons for their introduction no longer apply. 

The original restriction period was set for 60 days, ending on 25 May. It has since been extended once again, by a regulation dated 24 July 2025, for the maximum period permitted by law – until 23 September 2025. 

The legal basis for the restriction is the Act of 21 February 2025 amending the Act on Granting Protection to Foreigners within the Territory of the Republic of Poland (Journal of Laws 2025, item 389), which sets out three cumulative conditions required for its introduction: 

1. Instrumentalisation of migration – i.e. deliberate actions of a neighbouring country facilitating illegal crossing of the border of the Republic of Poland by foreigners (including the use of violence or destruction of border infrastructure). 

2. These activities must constitute a serious and real threat to the security of the state or society. 

3. The restriction must be necessary to eliminate the threat and other measures must be insufficient. 

While it’s in force: 

• The Border Guard will not accept applications for international protection in the border area mentioned by the Regulation (the Polish–Belarusian border), 

• Art. 28 of the Act that concerns the declaration of intent to submit an application will not apply. 

Despite the restrictions, the Border Guard does still accept applications from particularly vulnerable groups: 

• Unaccompanied minors 

• Pregnant women 

• Persons that require special treatment (e.g. due to age, sickness) 

• Persons that are in danger of severe harm in their country of origin 

• Nationals of states that utilise instrumentalisation, from whose territory they came to Poland 

The aforementioned groups will also be unable to apply if they crossed the border using violence and in coordination with others, and if the use of direct enforcement, weapons, or other armaments was necessary to restrain them. 

Sources: 

1. Ustawa z dnia 13 czerwca 2003 r. o udzielaniu cudzoziemcom ochrony na terytorium Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej (Dz. U. z 2025 r. poz. 223, 389).  

2. Ustawa z dnia 21 lutego 2025 r. o zmianie ustawy o udzielaniu cudzoziemcom ochrony na terytorium Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej (Dz. U. z 2025 r. poz. 389).  

3. Rozporządzenie Rady Ministrów z dnia 27 marca 2025 r. w sprawie czasowego ograniczenia prawa do złożenia wniosku o udzielenie ochrony międzynarodowej (Dz. U. z 2025 r. poz. 390).