Temporary protection
for foreigners

Foreigners who meet certain conditions 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.

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 foreigners (including family members of Ukrainian citizens) who do not hold Ukrainian citizenship and are not spouses of Ukrainian citizens or members of the immediate family of a Ukrainian citizen holding a Card of the Pole. These provisions apply to persons who have resided legally in Ukraine on the basis of a valid permanent residence permit and are unable to return to their country of origin in safe conditions or have enjoyed protection in Ukraine (including family members of the latter).