Poland to request suspension of visa-free travel for several countries under Schengen rules

Poland is preparing to formally request the suspension of visa-free travel for nationals of several countries, citing repeated violations of Polish law by certain foreign visitors.

The move, which would be made under provisions of the Schengen Agreement, was announced by Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Czesław Mroczek, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

“We will most likely submit a request under the Schengen Agreement to revoke visa-free travel for several countries,” Mroczek stated, without disclosing which nations would be affected.

He clarified that the proposed restrictions would target countries whose citizens are frequently found in breach of Polish regulations. While the Deputy Minister stopped short of naming specific states, he did refer to Colombia as a relevant example. In August 2024, Polish authorities imposed new rules requiring Colombian nationals to obtain work visas for employment-related visits, although visa-free access for tourism purposes remained in place.

If approved, the request could result in more stringent travel requirements for citizens of the targeted countries, potentially impacting tourism, business, and labor mobility.

By Vafa Guliyeva