"Poland Is Not What It Used to Be." Emigrants Who Returned to Belarus Explained Why and Shared Their Impressions

Warsaw. Illustrative photo. Photo: "Nasha Niva"

"Documentary Issues Drained So Much Energy That It Was Easier to Return"

Maryna went to Poland with her IT husband. He received a work visa, and she came as a family member — for reunification. While Maryna was waiting for her residence permit (TRP), she could not work.

"We had to live only on my husband's salary. It was exhausting; I wanted to work already, I also wanted to fulfill myself," she recalls.

When her husband decided to leave his job and start his own project, the problems with documents only intensified: officials returned papers, some documents were constantly missing for legalization, and deadlines were delayed.

The couple didn't want to leave Poland until the very last moment, but still decided to return to Belarus.

"We really liked Poland: the apartment, the city we lived in, and our circle of friends. But the documentary issues drained so much of our energy that it turned out to be easier to return," says Maryna.

Now, according to her, the main change is that the constant stress has disappeared. But life has to be rebuilt from scratch, and the usual circle of acquaintances is gone.

"Regretted 300 Times That We Returned to Belarus"

Katsiaryna and her husband went to Poland for work back in 2020. They did not apply for a residence permit — they expected to get new visas each time and come for seasonal work.

"When the validity period of the documents expired, we calmly returned to Belarus, rested for half a year, and wanted to re-apply for them. But some kind of visa collapse began: it was impossible to get documents even with the help of 'helpers' (visa intermediaries)," she says.

For almost a year, the couple tried to re-apply for a visa to travel to Poland. But eventually, an opportunity arose to go work in Spain.

"We went there for a year, but Poland is still closer for us, so we returned to Belarus again with the hope of getting Polish documents specifically. We regretted 300 times that we returned to Belarus," says Katsiaryna.

The woman explains that previously they lived in Belarus for several months on the money saved while working in Poland. Now there is no opportunity to periodically rest from work: salaries in Belarus are lower, and to earn as much as before, they have to work more.

"Tired of Bouncing Between Hostels and Rental Housing When You Own Your Own"

Belarusians also actively share their experience of returning from Poland on social media. Many write that they feel more comfortable in Belarus due to owning their own housing, rising prices in Poland, and increasing xenophobia.

"I returned to Belarus with my child: Poland is not what it used to be, and I have my own apartment here. Periodically it hits me: I miss it very much and want to return, but I'm learning to adapt to life here. And I won't go back there for my child's sake: I don't want to hear hate, like the last two years, 'Go f*** off to Ukraine,' just because my phone rang and I'm talking to my parents in Russian," shares Nastassia.

"I returned after five years of living in Poland, partly in the UK. Mainly for the same reason — I got tired of bouncing between hostels and rented accommodation when I own my own. Property prices have skyrocketed," writes Aliaksandr.

"I Can Only Buy a Garage or a Basement"

"We lived in Mokotów in Warsaw. But life there didn't suit us at all: high taxes, expensive rent. Healthcare is a difficult story, they almost killed me. Primary school education is weaker than in Belarus, and the cherry on top — non-working shops and centers on holidays and Sundays. We returned and are happy," says Alina.

"I lived there for a little over five years, sold my apartment in Minsk, spent half a year with an advisor in Krakow — I realized I could only buy a garage or a cellar (basement). Prices after 2022 skyrocketed: 600-650 thousand zlotys (168-182 thousand dollars) for an apartment, plus renovation and furniture. How to buy housing, even Tom Cruise doesn't know," writes Siarhei.

"No Desire to Go to Belarus at All"

There are also those who returned to Belarus but do not plan to stay here for long.

"We left Poland after four years of living there. We came to Belarus on business — as a result, we spent six or seven months there. Already in the second month, I wanted to leave sooner. We didn't return to Poland. First, we went to Georgia, then to Serbia. There's no desire to go to Belarus at all. From the first minutes in Serbia, it felt like we were home," shares jast_rundom_user.

"I returned to Belarus after four years of living in Europe. And it feels like a new emigration: as if everything is familiar, but you're learning household things anew — from utilities to school for a child," says another user.

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