Recent Trends in International Migration: The 2007 SOPEMI Report for Poland.

Poland continues to export large numbers of migrants to EU labour markets, although there are signs that the exodus is slowing down. Recent developments on the Polish migration scene include the introduction in 2007 of measures that ease access to the Polish labour market for foreigners, and the introduction of the Polish Chart which grants substantial rights to people of Polish descent living in the territory of the former Soviet Union. The amendment in 2007 of the "Aliens Act of 2003" facilitated the second regularisation program of undocumented migrants. On the night of December 21, 2007 Poland entered the Schengen zone. Migration from Poland has been increasing steadily since the end of the nineties. The upward trend accelerated upon accession of Poland to the EU on May 1, 2004. Labour Force Survey data reveal that in the second quarter of 2007, approximately 537,000 Poles stayed abroad for more than two months, about 148,00 more than in the corresponding quarter of 2006, and about 274,000 more than in the second quarter of 2005. The corresponding number in the third quarter of 2007 dropped to 522,000, presumably signaling the beginning of a downward trend in the magnitude of the outflows. Recent data reveal that long-term migration, particularly to the six main destination countries (the United Kingdom, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the United States, and the Netherlands), has been growing in importance. However, short-term moves still constitute an important part of the migration phenomenon. The proportion of men among all types of migration has been increasing consistently as of Poland's accession to the EU. Women migrants are better educated, and are younger than men migrants. Migration to Poland remains low. According to the population register, the stock of foreigners who were permanent residents of Poland at the end of 2006 was approximately 54,800. This number constitutes 0.14% of the total population of Poland. Women comprise 53% of the foreign residents. The three main national groups are Germans (21%), Ukrainians (9%), and Russians (6%). Despite a two-year decrease in the number of first asylum applications in Poland, which mimicks the downward trend in many OECD countries, more asylum applications were recorded in Poland in 2007 than in 2006, an increase which is attributable to Poland's accession to the Schengen zone. The number of first asylum applications increased considerably in the second half of 2007, reaching approximately 1,150 applications in November 2007, and 2,270 applications in December 2007. The bulk of the asylum applicants continued to be the nationals of the Russian Federation (particularly Chechens). A refugee status was granted in 2006 to approximately 485 applicants. In 2006, approximately 2,130 tolerated statuses were granted, similar to the number recorded in the preceding year. The main group of recognised refugees, which was also the main group of recipients of the tolerated statuses, was Russians (particularly Chechens). Undocumented migrants who continuously lived in Poland for a period of ten years (since January 1, 1997), had housing and financial means to cover necessary living expenses (or a work promise from an employer), gained the right to submit, between July 20 and December 31, 2007, an application for a one-year temporary residence permit (that is, legalise their status in Poland). The second regularisation was directed at those who, because of the short application period (only four months), did not manage to participate in the first regularisation in 2003.… [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]