Poland has extended restrictions on asylum claims at its border with Belarus for the sixth time since March 2025, citing continued attempts to weaponize migration.
Suspension of Asylum Rights
The Ministry of Interior and Administration (MSWiA) confirms this is the sixth extension of temporary restrictions since their introduction in March 2025. The Council of Ministers’ regulation states the reasons for the restriction remain and that migration instrumentalization continues.
The Border Guard is not accepting applications from individuals attempting illegal border crossings as part of a hybrid operation, the ministry emphasizes.
Legal Basis for the Regulation
The regulation is issued under the so-called asylum law, adopted by the government in December 2024. This law aims to counter the phenomenon of migration being exploited by Belarus, which, in cooperation with Russia and international criminal groups, organizes the transit of migrants to the European Union.
Exceptions to the Suspension
Despite the temporary limitation on submitting applications for international protection at the border with Belarus, the Border Guard can accept applications from unaccompanied minors, pregnant women, and individuals who may require special consideration due to their age or health.
The restriction also excludes individuals assessed by the Border Guard as being at “real risk of serious harm in the country from which they came.”
Application Statistics
From February 27, 2025, to March 26, 2025, Border Guard facilities on the border with Belarus received 162 applications covering 189 individuals. From March 27, 2025, to February 22, 2026, applications were not accepted from 451 foreigners, but 94 applications were accepted from vulnerable groups, according to the MSWiA.
Comparison with Previous Year
In the analogous period last year, from March 27, 2024, to February 22, 2025, 2,723 applications for international protection were filed on the border with Belarus, covering 3,117 people, the ministry recalls.
Criticism from NGOs
Organizations involved in refugee assistance oppose the regulations restricting the right to apply for international protection, arguing they are inconsistent with the Constitution of the Republic of Poland, particularly Article 56, paragraph 2, which guarantees foreigners the right to seek refugee status, and with international obligations such as the 1951 Refugee Convention.