Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has suspended its participation in the Poland.Business Harbour Programme until solutions are in place that guarantee proper verification of its beneficiary companies and foreigners.
According to the MFA, the program has failed to achieve its goals, and there have been concerns about the misuse of visas issued under the program.
Background about the PBH Program
The PBH program was created in September 2020 to attract IT specialists and companies from the IT and New Tech industry from Belarus to relocate to Poland. The program was later extended to additional countries, including Georgia, Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Armenia, and Azerbaijan.
Under the program, if additional conditions were met, it was possible to obtain visas for foreigners regardless of citizenship.
What to Expect for the PBH Program and Visa Processing
- It is still possible to obtain a national visa through the regular procedure on the basis of earlier received work authorization.
- The MoFA’s decision doesn’t affect visas already issued. Already issued visa remain valid.
- Foreign national IT specialists can still apply for a work visa. The MFA says that it will start work on streamlined visa procedures for applicants from high-demand industries.
Erickson Insights
Erickson Immigration Group will continue to monitor developments and share updates as more news is available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or case-specific questions.