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FAQ POLAND*

ENTERING POLAND

Can I cross the Polish border with my children if they have no documents?

In principle, children are allowed to enter Poland, if they have birth certificate

BUT if you have own identity documents with you, your children can cross the border together with you, you just have to get consent of the Border Guard commander

Can I cross the Polish Border with my kids without their other parent?

YES, you can take your child across the border without having to provide a declaration of consent from the other parent

Can I enter Poland with children who are not members of my family?

YES, but a written declaration of consent (certified by a Ukrainian notary public or the relevant local government authority) is required

Can I cross the Polish Border with my pets if they have no documents and are not chipped?

The decision will be made when crossing the border at the National Revenue Office

If you travel with animals - dogs, cats, ferrets, you must have a microchip and vaccination, the rest (rodents, rabbits, amphibians, reptiles, ornamental aquatic animals, invertebrates) without restrictions.

I left Ukraine and I want to enter Poland, but what about Corona?

  • No mandatory PCR Test

  • No Covid-19 vaccination record

  • No quarantine or entry registration requirements

How long can I stay in Poland?

  • You can enter and legally stay in Poland for 90 days per 180 days if you cross the border with a biometric passport

  • If you cross the border with other identity cards, you can legally stay 15-days

  • If you have a visa or temporary residence permit you can legally stay during their term. If the last day of your stay in Poland based on national visa or residence permit falls after 24th February, 2022, the validity period of these documents is extended by operation of law until December 31, 2022.

To stay longer, you can get temporary or international protection (refugee status)

Who is protected by Law in Poland?

Poland has implemented national laws that allow a stay in Poland for 18 months for:

  • Ukrainians and their families who entered the Polish border after 24.02.22

  • Ukrainians who entered Poland before 24.02.22 and cannot return due to danger

The government plans to extend this right to all Ukrainian citizens regardless if they entered via the Polish-Ukrainian border. Non-Ukrainian citizen can ask for temporary protection (for more information please see below)

Please note that only Ukrainian citizens and their spouses who entered Poland due to the war directly from Ukraine have the corresponding right of residence in Poland for 18 months. Polish regulations apply to persons who entered Poland before 24th February 2022 only partly More details: https://www.gov.pl/web/ochrona-en

How and where can I apply for the corresponding protection?

To obtain a residence permit in Poland for 18 months, you should first obtain the PESEL number. To do this, you must, within 60 days of crossing the border:

  • contact the administration of any gmina (cities, villages)

  • fill in the application for PESEL in the gmina

  • provide proof of identity

  • provide colour photo 35 х 45 mm

You can also file in such application in the name of your child or a child under your care

Who can get temporary protection?

You can get temporary protection if you are:

  • (1) Ukrainian citizens residing in Ukraine before 24.02.2022,

  • (2) stateless persons or third-country nationals other than Ukraine who, before 24.02.2022, were enjoying international protection or equivalent national protection in Ukraine,

  • (3) family members of the persons referred to in points (1) and (2),

  • (4) stateless persons or third-country nationals other than Ukraine who can prove that they legally resided in Ukraine prior to 24.02.2022 on the basis of a valid permanent residence permit issued in accordance with Ukrainian law, and who are unable to return to the country or region of origin in safe and durable conditions

In order to benefit from protection in Poland, you must apply to the Head of the Office for Foreigner Affairs for issue of a certificate

Staying Longer - can I extent my stay?

YES, you can extend this term.

If a state of threat does not cease during such time, and if you are a foreigner under temporary protection, this period may be extended (by a further 6 months, but no more than twice)

If you would like to extend your legal stay in Poland after 18 month and special Polish act applies to you, you can fill in an application for a temporary residence permit for a period of three years. Such application can be filled in after at least 9 months from the date of entry into Poland

Should I apply for International protection (Refugee Status)?

Right now, we don't recommend that.
Why?

  • this will take quite some time to overview

  • your freedom of movement will be restricted

  • you have no right to choose your place of residence

The EU and Poland are currently implementing a temporary protection directive, which allows Ukrainians to stay and work in Poland

How and where to apply for the INTERNATIONAL protection (Refugee Status)?

You can submit an application for international protection to the the Head of the Office for Foreigners when crossing the border, or at any time thereafter

You can apply for refugee status while enjoying temporary protection

Please note that in the period before the decision is issued, you can't leave Poland and you can't work in Poland

* No guarantee can be given for the correctness and completeness of the information published in the FAQ. The published FAQs contain general information that cannot reflect every individual case.

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