New Restrictions on Polish Study Visas to Curb Misuse and Improve Diploma Verification

By Vaidant August 25, 2024
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In his interview with the TV broadcaster TVN 24, Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski stated that study visas will not be granted to international students without verification of their high school diplomas. This move follows claims that some universities are admitting thousands of students without proper examination of their qualifications.

As Sikorski explained, this decision is prompted by the fact that some international students are using visas to gain employment in the Schengen Area rather than pursuing their studies in Poland.

“A student visa allows the right to work for one year; this has led to numerous situations where individuals obtained visas but never attended the universities that helped them secure those visas,” Sikorski told the broadcaster, as quoted by the Polish news website TVP World.

This development follows reports indicating that only 37% of international students have graduated from Polish universities over the past decade.

Data from the Polish daily Rzeczpospolita revealed that, over the last ten years, 321,000 international students from nearly 200 nations came to Poland, of which only 118,371 graduated.
In response to media reports, the ministry expressed surprise at the emphasis on sorting study visas, stating that no new rules are being implemented.

“This document does not introduce new legal solutions but outlines the principles for applying existing laws, including those for verifying the authenticity of foreigners applying for visas,” the ministry said in a statement on August 12.

“These documents are issued periodically to standardise practice in applying the law by Polish consular offices.”

This could be the first of many restrictions on international students in Poland, as reports suggest that Polish ministries are also planning to raise the minimum funds required from international students in addition to changes to visas and residence cards.

Source: THE PIE NEWS

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