Legalizacja pobytu cudzoziemców na przykładzie Małopolski

Throughout the centuries the legal situation of aliens was regulated in diverse ways. In the beginning, at the time when a state as a sovereign decided who may enter its territory, it was controlled by internal law. Circumstances in which the possibility to legalize residence in foreign territory was allowed evolved very slowly in time. The first human rights treaties provided for creation of a new paradigm in which states are no longer allowed to unencumbered decision making with respect to aliens. Poland’s EU accession in May 2004 was a cause for the increase of economic migration. Most of the economic migrants come to Poland from the territory of the former Soviet Union seeking seasonal work. However, there are also economic migrants for other non-EU member states. After Poland’s accession to Schengen in 2007, it became the border of the European Union as well as from UE member states. Aliens, who want to enter Republic of Poland’s territory, have to hold a valid visa or other document allowing for their entry and stay in Poland. In the Aliens Act, legislator envisaged several types of residence permits: temporary permit, permanent permit and a resident permit for EU citizens. The provincial governor (voivod) issues all types of permits. The proceedings are lengthy. In the last years it takes approximately even 6–7 months. After thorough analysis of all available data it might be concluded with high probability, that the Ukrainians are the largest group of aliens within Malopolska territory