On Friday, 6 November, the Sejm agreed to extend the temporary restriction on the right to submit applications for international protection at the Belarus border. The restriction will remain in force from 17 November for another 60 days.
Voting result
425 deputies voted for the Council of Ministers’ motion to consent to the extension, 17 were against, and one abstained. The motion reached the Sejm on 29 October.
Government justification
In its motion, the government stated that the reasons for introducing the restriction have not ceased. In its view, migration is still being instrumentalised, and the actions taken within its framework pose a serious and real threat, including to state security.
How the mechanism works
The regulation on the temporary restriction of the right to submit an application for international protection at the Belarus border entered into force on 27 March 2025. It was issued on the basis of the asylum law that the government adopted in December 2024. The provisions are meant to counter the exploitation of migration by Belarus, which, according to the government, cooperates in this with Russia and international criminal groups.
Under the law, the restriction lasts 60 days but may be extended with the consent of the Sejm, on a motion from the Council of Ministers. The Sejm has already agreed to this many times.
The government also commented earlier on changes at the border, including the closure of border crossings with Belarus in September 2025.
