Almost four years after Poles opened their homes to people fleeing Russia’s invasion, sentiment toward the more than one million Ukrainian refugees living in Poland is souring. High-profile incidents—such as the assault on a Ukrainian couple in Szczecin for speaking their native language—have dominated local headlines and social media. The Guardian reports a marked rise in verbal and physical attacks, fuelled by viral disinformation and the election of right-wing populist President Karol Nawrocki on an anti-migration platform.
Polling by Warsaw-based think-tank IBRiS shows support for continued refugee benefits has fallen below 40 %, down from 72 % in mid-2023. New government rules now condition cash assistance on proof of job search and Polish-language classes, a shift critics say disproportionately affects single mothers and the elderly. Employers in logistics and construction—sectors that leaned heavily on Ukrainian labour—fear talent shortages as some refugees consider onward migration to Germany or return to western Ukraine.
For Ukrainians trying to keep their legal status current—and for Polish employers that rely on their talent—VisaHQ can simplify the red tape. The company’s Warsaw-based team (https://www.visahq.com/poland/) guides clients through residence-permit renewals, work-permit filings and Schengen visa applications, tracking policy changes in real time and offering bilingual support that lightens the administrative load.
![‘Teach your daughter to speak Polish’: backlash against Ukrainian refugees grows]()
The changing mood complicates corporate duty-of-care. Mobility managers relocating Ukrainian staff to Polish sites must factor in potential social hostility and ensure access to bilingual counselling. Legal advisers note that temporary-protection residence permits remain valid until at least March 2026, but municipalities have tightened rules on public-housing eligibility, lengthening wait-lists in Warsaw and Wrocław.
Integration NGOs warn that political rhetoric is reviving historical grievances such as the Volhynia massacre, straining neighbourly relations. Businesses can help by sponsoring language courses and community outreach programmes that pair Polish and Ukrainian employees. Experts argue that faster recognition of Ukrainian qualifications—especially in healthcare and IT—would shift public perception from “welfare burden” to “economic contributor”.
With Poland’s unemployment at a record-low 2.6 %, economists say the country can ill-afford to lose productive residents. Whether the government balances electoral promises with labour-market realities will shape Poland’s mobility landscape in 2026.
Polling by Warsaw-based think-tank IBRiS shows support for continued refugee benefits has fallen below 40 %, down from 72 % in mid-2023. New government rules now condition cash assistance on proof of job search and Polish-language classes, a shift critics say disproportionately affects single mothers and the elderly. Employers in logistics and construction—sectors that leaned heavily on Ukrainian labour—fear talent shortages as some refugees consider onward migration to Germany or return to western Ukraine.
For Ukrainians trying to keep their legal status current—and for Polish employers that rely on their talent—VisaHQ can simplify the red tape. The company’s Warsaw-based team (https://www.visahq.com/poland/) guides clients through residence-permit renewals, work-permit filings and Schengen visa applications, tracking policy changes in real time and offering bilingual support that lightens the administrative load.
The changing mood complicates corporate duty-of-care. Mobility managers relocating Ukrainian staff to Polish sites must factor in potential social hostility and ensure access to bilingual counselling. Legal advisers note that temporary-protection residence permits remain valid until at least March 2026, but municipalities have tightened rules on public-housing eligibility, lengthening wait-lists in Warsaw and Wrocław.
Integration NGOs warn that political rhetoric is reviving historical grievances such as the Volhynia massacre, straining neighbourly relations. Businesses can help by sponsoring language courses and community outreach programmes that pair Polish and Ukrainian employees. Experts argue that faster recognition of Ukrainian qualifications—especially in healthcare and IT—would shift public perception from “welfare burden” to “economic contributor”.
With Poland’s unemployment at a record-low 2.6 %, economists say the country can ill-afford to lose productive residents. Whether the government balances electoral promises with labour-market realities will shape Poland’s mobility landscape in 2026.
