Poland tightens visa issuing procedure for Belarusians

• 18.12.2008, 14:59

After joining Schengen zone Polish consulates in Belarus, Russia and Ukraine have considerably decreased the number of visas issued to the citizens of these countries.

It has been informed by Interfax with the reference to the Polish newspaper “Gazeta Wyborcza”.

“After Poland joined Schengen zone, our consulates in the Eastern Europe issued by 66% less visas for Belarusians, by 46% less visas for Ukrainians and by one third less visas for Russian citizens,” the newspaper informed.

After Poland entered Schengen zone, consulates of this country have tightened the policy of issuing visas to citizens of countries outside the EU.

Limiting issuing visas has mostly touched upon Belarusian citizens, who in the period from January to August 2007 received 208,000 visas, while in the same period of 2008 only 70,000.