Georgians are one of Poland’s fastest growing immigrant groups, with their number quadrupling in the space of three years, new data show.
Their arrival has come amid overall levels of immigration to Poland in recent years that are unprecedented in the country’s history and among the highest in the European Union.
The number of Georgians with valid residence permits passed 10,000 this month, reports Poland’s Office for Foreigners (UdSC). That is more than double the figure in late 2019 and more than four times that in 2018.
The figures do not include those staying in Poland temporarily on the basis of visas, or those visiting without visas, notes the UdSC.
📊 Niemal wszyscy Gruzini posiadają zezwolenia na pobyt czasowy, a najczęstszym celem pobytu jest podejmowanie pracy.
👥 Większość to osoby w przedziale wiekowym 18 – 40 lat.
➡️ https://t.co/ncJvkDovVv#Gruzja #cudzoziemcy pic.twitter.com/SAs91Wzx7f— Urząd do Spraw Cudzoziemców (@UdSC_gov_pl) December 8, 2021
The overwhelming majority of Georgians (96%) have received residence permits for work purposes, with only 2% coming for family reasons and 1% for education. Most (58%) are aged between 19 and 40 years, and men (82%) predominate.
The most common destination for Georgians is Wielkopolska Province, whose largest city is Poznań. That differentiates them from other large immigrant groups in Poland, for whom the Mazovia Province, which contains Warsaw, is the number one destination.
One of the most visible signs of Poland’s growing Georgian community has been the springing up of Georgian bakeries and restaurants in many cities, offering khachapuri breads and pastries filled with cheese, egg and other ingredients.
Can’t get enough of all of the Georgian bakeries in Warsaw. Chaczapuri heaven. pic.twitter.com/tHXwAGXtBf
— Joanna Plucinska (@joannaplucinska) March 25, 2019
But the UdSC also notes that many Georgians have taken advantage of the Polish government’s “Business Harbour” programme that facilitates the entry of IT specialists and entrepreneurs. The introduction of a visa-free entry regime in 2017 also accelerated arrivals.
The Business Harbour scheme was initially aimed at attracting Belarusians in the wake of last year’s protests and repression in Belarus. In July this year, the government expanded it to cover other former Soviet states, including Georgia.
Poland has for the last four years in a row issued more first residence permits to immigrants from outside the EU than any other member state. The vast majority of arrivals have been from Ukraine, but the most recent data show that Georgians were the fourth-largest group.
Main image credit: Robert Robaszewski / Agencja Gazeta
Daniel Tilles is editor-in-chief of Notes from Poland. He has written on Polish affairs for a wide range of publications, including Foreign Policy, POLITICO Europe, EUobserver and Dziennik Gazeta Prawna.
