Poland is tightening its visa regulations as investigations into an alleged cash-for-visa scandal confirmed irregularities under the previous right-wing government that cost the public finances millions of dollars, the business minister said on Thursday foreigners from this European Union country.

Radek Sikorski said it would now be much more difficult to obtain a visa for Poland, a document that gives access to unrestricted travel within the Schengen zone without European borders, and that screening of applicants would be intensified. For example, student visa applications will be scrutinized to avoid situations where they are only used as a means of entering Europe.

On Thursday, the Higher State Audit Office published the report of its investigation into the Foreign Ministry’s visa department and confirmed media allegations from last year that Polish consulates in Asia and Africa took thousands of dollars for each work visa, in violation of regulations. She said she found 46 types of irregularities in five different areas, including a lack of transparency, an environment conducive to corruption and poor supervision by then minister Zbigniew Rau.

One of the most egregious examples involved visas granted to dozens of Indian farmers, described in their documents as Bollywood filmmakers.

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The ministry lost control of the visa system, especially between 2018 and 2023, Sikorski said at a news conference.

“We can confirm that, unfortunately, in a scandalous manner, illegal pressure has been placed on Polish consuls with the aim of increasing the number of visas issued to people… who should not necessarily be granted them, including citizens of the Russian Federation,” Sikorski said. He said the ministry was contributing to the process of developing Poland’s new policy to combat illegal immigration, which Prime Minister Donald Tusk is due to present on Saturday. Earlier this year, Sikorski’s first response to the scandal was to increase visa fees. , which was once one of the cheapest in Europe and attracted migrants from Asia and Africa looking to access Europe via Poland. The cash-for-visa system was developed under the previous Law and Justice government, in stark contrast to its anti-migrant policies and statements.

The report released Thursday said that between 2018 and early 2024, thousands of visas were issued to people who paid large sums to agencies cooperating with Polish consulates.

A single agency issued more than 4,200 visas between January 1, 2018 and March 29, 2024. Some applicants paid up to 30,000 zlotys ($7,600; 7,000 euros), according to auditors.

The audit chamber is considering whether to take the case to prosecutors.

Based on a separate investigation by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau, prosecutors have so far indicted former Deputy Foreign Minister Piotr Wawrzyk and nine others, and are continuing their investigation.

A special parliamentary commission, established after last fall’s elections, is also investigating visa irregularities, and its findings have so far confirmed numerous flaws in the system.

The Accounts Chamber reported that in total, between 2018 and 2023, Poland issued 6.1 million visas, including 1.2 million Schengen visas, out of 6.5 million applications. Some 3.4 million visas have been granted to Ukrainian citizens, 1.6 million to Belarusians and more than 357,000 to Russian citizens, some after Russian aggression against Ukraine in February 2022.