Poland’s immigration picture is changing fast, with 1.2 million national visas issued in 2023 and about 940,000 Ukrainians under temporary protection still active at the end of the year. At the same time, asylum outcomes remain selective, with 12,000 applications in 2023 and a 45% approval rate. Put together, these figures help explain why the foreign-born population reached 2.5 million by mid 2023, a sharp rise from 2019.
Key Takeaways
- 2023 asylum applications: 12,000, approval rate 45%
- Ukrainian temporary protection: 940,000 active statuses end-2023
- Belarusian asylum grants: 5,000 in 2023
- In 2022, Poland received 1,581,000 Ukrainian immigrants fleeing the war, marking the largest single-year inflow in EU history
- By mid-2023, the stock of foreigners in Poland reached 2.5 million, or 6.6% of the total population, up from 1.2% in 2019
- Net migration to Poland was positive at +248,000 in 2022, reversing decades of net emigration
- 40% of work permits to agriculture sector in 2023
- IT sector employed 100,000 foreign workers, 70% Ukrainians in 2023
- Construction industry: 200,000 immigrants, 50% seasonal from Asia
- 65% of immigrants to Poland in 2022-2023 were from Ukraine
- Indians numbered 25,000 immigrants in Poland by 2023, up 300% since 2020
- Belarusians: 120,000 residence permits granted 2020-2023
- In 2023, Poland issued 1,200,000 national visas, 90% short-term for Ukrainians
- Work permits issued: 450,000 in 2023, up 200% from 2021
- Type D residence permits: 350,000 granted 2022-2023
In 2023, Poland’s immigration surged with Ukrainian protection, rising work visas, and higher asylum approvals.
Related reading
01 · Category
Asylum And Refugees19 stats
01
2023 asylum applications: 12,000, approval rate 45%
02
Ukrainian temporary protection: 940,000 active statuses end-2023
03
Belarusian asylum grants: 5,000 in 2023
04
Recognition rate for Syrians: 70%, 2,000 granted
05
Refugee integration funding: 2 billion PLN allocated 2023
06
Unaccompanied minors asylum: 1,200 applications 2022-2023
07
Appeals overturned: 20% of negative decisions
08
Resettlement from Poland: 500 to other EU states
09
Humanitarian status grants: 10,000 to non-Ukrainians
10
Detention centers capacity: 2,000 places, occupancy 80% 2023
11
Afghan refugees via Poland: 3,000 post-2021
12
Processing time for asylum: average 6 months 2023
13
Family unity for refugees: 4,000 cases approved
14
Dublin transfers out: 1,500 asylum seekers 2023
15
Subsidiary protection: 8,000 granted mostly to Ukrainians
16
Access to healthcare for refugees: 95% coverage rate
17
Language course participation: 200,000 refugees enrolled 2023
18
Rejection rate: 55% for non-European applicants
19
Long-term refugees from Chechnya: 15,000 integrated
Interpretation
Asylum And Refugees Interpretation
In 2023 Poland recorded 12,000 asylum applications with a 45% approval rate, and while large-scale protection for Ukrainians continued with 940,000 active statuses, refugee integration also received a major push through 2 billion PLN in funding.
02 · Category
Inflows And Stocks30 stats
01
In 2022, Poland received 1,581,000 Ukrainian immigrants fleeing the war, marking the largest single-year inflow in EU history
02
By mid-2023, the stock of foreigners in Poland reached 2.5 million, or 6.6% of the total population, up from 1.2% in 2019
03
Net migration to Poland was positive at +248,000 in 2022, reversing decades of net emigration
04
Between 2021 and 2022, immigration to Poland increased by 450%, primarily due to Ukrainian refugees
05
In 2023 Q1, 120,000 new residence permits were granted, 80% to Ukrainians
06
Emigration from Poland dropped to 150,000 in 2022 from 300,000 pre-pandemic
07
Foreign-born population in Poland rose to 1.8 million by end-2022
08
In 2022, 5.1 million border crossings into Poland from Ukraine were recorded
09
Poland's immigrant stock grew by 1.2 million from 2020-2023
10
Monthly inflow of immigrants peaked at 250,000 in March 2022
11
By 2024, over 1 million Ukrainians held temporary protection in Poland
12
Net migration balance shifted to +300,000 in 2023 estimates
13
Foreign residents increased by 35% year-on-year in Warsaw alone in 2023
14
Total immigration 2018-2023: 3.2 million arrivals
15
Outflow of Polish citizens: 50,000 in 2023, lowest in 20 years
16
Immigrant stock from non-EU countries: 1.1 million in 2023
17
2022 saw 900,000 seasonal workers enter Poland
18
Cumulative Ukrainian arrivals since Feb 2022: 6.5 million, many transiting
19
Foreign population density highest in Mazovia voivodeship at 10%
20
Immigration contributed 0.5% to Poland's GDP growth in 2023, indirectly via stocks
21
In 2023, 40% of new immigrants were family reunifications
22
Stock of immigrants aged 18-35: 1.2 million in 2023
23
Return migration to Poland: 20,000 Poles in 2022
24
Total residence-based immigrants 2022: 1.9 million
25
Irregular entries detected: 15,000 in 2022 via Belarus border
26
Immigrant stock growth rate: 25% annually 2022-2023
27
2023 inflows from Belarus: 50,000
28
Poland hosted 950,000 refugees end-2022
29
Net positive migration per 1,000 population: +6.5 in 2022
30
Foreigners with PESEL numbers: 2.8 million by mid-2024
Interpretation
Inflows And Stocks Interpretation
Under the Inflows And Stocks lens, Poland’s foreign population surged from 1.2% in 2019 to 6.6% by mid 2023 as 1,581,000 Ukrainian refugees arrived in 2022 and immigration jumped 450% between 2021 and 2022.
03 · Category
Labor Migration22 stats
01
40% of work permits to agriculture sector in 2023
02
IT sector employed 100,000 foreign workers, 70% Ukrainians in 2023
03
Construction industry: 200,000 immigrants, 50% seasonal from Asia
04
Unemployment rate among immigrants: 5.2% vs 3% natives in 2023
05
Wage gap: immigrants earn 20% less than Poles in similar roles
06
60% of Ukrainian refugees in Poland working by end-2023
07
Foreign workers in manufacturing: 150,000
08
Hospitality sector: 80,000 immigrants filling shortages
09
Average remittance outflow by immigrants: 500 EUR/month
10
Labor force participation rate for immigrants: 65% aged 20-64
11
25% of new jobs in logistics filled by foreigners 2023
12
Overqualification rate among immigrants: 40%
13
Female immigrant employment: 55% in care and services
14
Hiring rate growth: 300% for Nepalese in warehouses 2022-2023
15
Social security contributions by foreigners: 15 billion PLN in 2023
16
Youth employment among immigrants under 25: 45%
17
Sectoral distribution: agriculture 30%, industry 35%, services 35%
18
Long-term contracts for foreigners: 200,000 in 2023
19
Skills mismatch reduction: 15% improvement via training programs
20
Remigration intent: 30% of Ukrainians plan to stay permanently
21
Foreign labor in transport: 50,000 drivers from Ukraine/Asia
22
Gender split in labor migrants: 60% male
Interpretation
Labor Migration Interpretation
Labor migration in Poland is being driven largely by major sector needs such as agriculture where 40% of work permits went in 2023 and construction which brought in 200,000 immigrants with 50% seasonal workers from Asia, while Ukrainians dominate the IT workforce with 70% of the 100,000 foreign workers and a majority of Ukrainian refugees are already working by end 2023.
More related reading
04 · Category
Origins And Nationalities26 stats
01
65% of immigrants to Poland in 2022-2023 were from Ukraine
02
Indians numbered 25,000 immigrants in Poland by 2023, up 300% since 2020
03
Belarusians: 120,000 residence permits granted 2020-2023
04
Vietnamese community: 15,000 long-term residents in 2023
05
Georgians: 40,000 immigrants, largest non-Ukrainian group post-2022
06
Turks: 10,000 work-related immigrants in 2023
07
Nepalese workers: 30,000 in Poland by 2024
08
Russians: 25,000 residence permits 2022-2023 despite sanctions
09
Filipinos: 8,000 immigrants, growing in care sector
10
Bangladeshis: 12,000 seasonal workers 2023
11
Moldovans: 18,000 long-term stays
12
Top 10 nationalities: Ukrainians 70%, Belarusians 8%, Indians 3%, others
13
EU citizens immigrating: Germans 5,000, Italians 3,000 in 2023
14
Chinese nationals: 7,000 business immigrants 2022-2023
15
Armenians: 22,000 refugees/asylum seekers
16
Pakistanis: 9,000 students and workers
17
Romanians: 15,000 intra-EU movers to Poland 2023
18
Syrians: 6,000 asylum applications 2022-2023
19
Brazilians: 5,500 digital nomads and workers
20
Egyptians: 4,200 students in higher ed
21
Colombians: 3,800 family reunions
22
Algerians: 2,900 irregular migrants detected
23
Ukrainians by region: 40% from Lviv oblast
24
Indians primarily from Kerala and Punjab states, 60% IT workers
25
Belarusians mostly from Minsk and Grodno, political migrants 70%
26
Vietnamese from Hanoi, traders 80%
Interpretation
Origins And Nationalities Interpretation
From the origins and nationalities perspective, Poland’s immigration has been overwhelmingly Ukraine led, with 65 percent of arrivals in 2022 to 2023 coming from Ukraine, while other nationalities such as Indians rising to 25,000 by 2023 up from 2020 show how fast new communities are also taking shape.
05 · Category
Visa And Permits24 stats
01
In 2023, Poland issued 1,200,000 national visas, 90% short-term for Ukrainians
02
Work permits issued: 450,000 in 2023, up 200% from 2021
03
Type D residence permits: 350,000 granted 2022-2023
04
Student visas: 50,000 issued to non-EU in 2023
05
Family reunification permits: 80,000 in 2023
06
Seasonal work visas: 300,000 under new law since 2023
07
EU Blue Card issuances: 12,000 to highly skilled in 2023
08
Asylum residence permits: 15,000 granted 2022-2023
09
Business visas: 20,000 for intra-company transfers
10
Digital nomad visas piloted: 1,500 issued 2024
11
Visa rejection rate for Indians: 25% in 2023
12
Long-term visas to Belarusians: 100,000 post-2020 elections
13
PESEL UKR status granted to 3.4 million Ukrainians by 2024
14
Work permit exemption for Ukrainians: applied to 1 million since 2022
15
Residence cards issued: 500,000 to temporary protection holders
16
Student residence extensions: 70% approval rate for non-EU
17
Intra-corporate transferee permits: 8,000 in 2023
18
Humanitarian visas: 50,000 to Belarusians and others
19
Schengen short-stay visas issued by Poland: 1.5 million in 2023
20
Permanent residence permits: 25,000 granted 2023, mostly to long-term residents
21
Visa overstay detections: 10,000 in 2023
22
Blue Card holders from India: 4,500 of total 12,000
23
Seasonal permits average duration: 9 months, 250,000 issued
24
Family permit processing time: 60 days average 2023
Interpretation
Visa And Permits Interpretation
In the Visa And Permits category, Poland massively expanded access in 2023 with 1,200,000 national visas, 90% of them short term for Ukrainians, while work permits surged to 450,000 in 2023, up 200% from 2021.
report visual · Key figures
Poland’s immigration influx accelerated sharply (2021–2023)
Immigration into Poland surged after 2021, driven largely by arrivals from Ukraine.
450%
Between 2021 and 2022, immigration to Poland increased by 450%, primarily due to Ukrainian refugees
1,581,000
In 2022, Poland received 1,581,000 Ukrainian immigrants fleeing the war, marking the largest single-year inflow in EU hi
248,000
Net migration to Poland was positive at +248,000 in 2022, reversing decades of net emigration
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Isabelle Moreau. (2026, February 13). Poland Immigration Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/poland-immigration-statistics
MLA
Isabelle Moreau. "Poland Immigration Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/poland-immigration-statistics.
Chicago
Isabelle Moreau. 2026. "Poland Immigration Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/poland-immigration-statistics.
Sources & references
31 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level