Poland Announces Full Border Closure with Belarus

Key Point 

• Poland Extends Restriction on International Protection Applications at Belarus Border 

22 September 2025 Update: Extension of Restrictions on Asylum Applications at the Belarus Border 

On 22 September 2025, Poland extended a temporary restriction on the right to submit applications for international protection at its border with Belarus, reinforcing its broader border security measures. The extension will remain in place for an additional 60 days from 22 September 2025. 

The measure is grounded in the amended Act on granting protection to foreigners, which permits such restrictions under specific conditions: when instrumentalization occurs, when there is a serious and real threat to national or societal security, and when no other measures are sufficient to eliminate the threat.  

Looking Ahead  

During the restriction period, Border Guard authorities at designated border areas will not accept applications for international protection. The regulation allows for early termination if the threat subsides, with any changes requiring further government action. 

Background on Poland’s Border Closure with Belarus 

On 11 September 2025, Poland announced a full border closure with Belarus, which took effect on the night of 12 September 2025. The government suspended all road, rail, and pedestrian traffic between the two countries. 

Before this action, Poland implemented partial restrictions—closing select crossings and limiting freight movement. This latest move marked the first complete shutdown of the border. Although officials described the closure as temporary, they linked it directly to ongoing Russian-Belarusian military exercises near Poland’s eastern frontier. The government has not provided a timeline for reopening. 

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