Temporary protection
for foreigners

Foreigners who are not covered by the law on assistance to Ukrainian citizens in connection with the armed conflict on the territory of the country, but who belong to the category of displaced persons mentioned in Article 2(1) and (2) of the Council Implementing Decision stating the existence of a mass influx of displaced persons from Ukraine, may benefit from temporary protection under the Act on granting protection to foreigners within the territory of the Republic of Poland. This applies to:

– stateless persons or citizens of third countries other than Ukraine who can prove that before 24 February 2022, they were legally residing in Ukraine on the basis of a valid permanent residence permit issued in accordance with Ukrainian law and are unable to return to their country or region of origin in safe conditions

– stateless persons or citizens of third countries other than Ukraine (and their family members) who, before 24 February 2022, enjoyed international protection or equivalent national protection in Ukraine.

The following persons are considered as family members if the family was already located and residing in Ukraine before 24 February 2022:

– spouse

– minor and unmarried children or children of the spouse, regardless of whether they were born in or out of wedlock or adopted

– other close relatives who lived together as a single family at the time when the circumstances leading to the mass influx of displaced persons occurred and who were wholly or partly dependent on the above-mentioned person at the time.

Certificate

Foreigners who meet the above requirements may obtain a certificate of temporary protection free of charge. The certificate is issued by the Office for Foreigners at the foreigner’s request. This can be settled in person at the seat of the Office in Warsaw at ul. Taborowa 33 and in the office’s delegation in Biała Podlaska at ul. Dokudowska 19.

Submitting a written request is not necessary: it is enough to contact the representative of the office in person. However, it is required to provide documents proving that before February 24 this year, the foreigner enjoyed protection in Ukraine, was legally residing in Ukraine on the basis of a valid permanent residence permit and is unable to return to their country or region of origin in safe conditions.

The certificate is an exclusive proof of entitlement to temporary protection in Poland and during the period of its validity (until 4 March 2023), it certifies the holder’s right to stay on the territory of Poland.

Work

A foreigner entitled to temporary protection may work without a work permit and take up or pursue economic activity on the territory of Poland on the same principles as Polish citizens.

Medical care and social assistance

A person benefiting from temporary protection to whom a certificate has been issued shall, at their request, be provided by the Office for Foreigners with medical care and assistance in the form of accommodation and meals or assistance in the form of a financial allowance. The aforementioned assistance is granted in the mode and according to the principles set out in the Act on granting protection to foreigners within the territory of the Republic of Poland.

Medical care includes benefits in the same scope as for persons covered by compulsory or voluntary health insurance (excluding health resort treatment or rehabilitation). Registration and coordination of medical appointments is carried out via the hotline of the medical operator Petra Medica at telephone number 22 112 02 06. In the case of life and health emergencies requiring urgent action, the National Medical Rescue Service should be called by dialling the emergency number 112.

In order to benefit from assistance in the form of a financial allowance to cover the stay in Poland on one’s own, the beneficiary has to:

1. Send the application by post, indicating their current address to which allowances are to be sent and a copy of their certificate of temporary protection.

Documents should be sent to the following address: Departament Pomocy Socjalnej, Urząd do Spraw Cudzoziemców, ul. Taborowa 33, 02-699 Warszawa.

The application can be downloaded at the bottom of the page.

or

2. Apply in person to the Foreigners Service Team at the Office for Foreigners, at ul. Taborowa 33 in Warsaw.

If you have any doubts or additional questions, please contact us by email: ochronaczasowa@udsc.gov.pl.

The financial allowance is not granted to foreigners who have received a certificate of temporary protection and benefit from accommodation in a place organised by the state or local government administration.

In order to receive assistance in accommodation, please report to the Centre for Foreigners in Podkowa Leśna – Dębak (tel. 22 729 80 71 or 22 729 80 19).