Office for Foreigners

It is completely free of charge to apply for international protection and to participate in all activities related to this procedure.

You can apply for protection on your own, without an attorney- even if you have no legal knowledge. You can count on our staff to assist you at every stage of the proceedings!

The appointment of an attorney in a case does not guarantee you international protection and does not affect the duration of the proceedings.

An attorney does not in any way influence the staff of the Office or the type of decision issued - the decision in the case depends solely on your situation in the country of origin!

HOW TO APPLY FOR INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION YOURSELF?

You can submit your application for international protection in person at the Border Guard Service, an employee of which will explain the procedure, your rights and obligations to you. If necessary, you will be assisted by an interpreter free of charge.

The Border Guard will forward your application to the Office for Foreigners, where it will be processed. You will be kept informed of all actions. You will be asked to make additional statements - you will have to do this in person.

The letters that will be sent on your case from the Office will go to you, to the address you have provided. You will always be kept up to date on your case and will be able to prepare for the planned activities.

You can consult your doubts with one of the organisations providing free legal information to foreigners or with an employee of the Office.

If you receive a positive decision (i.e. that you have been granted refugee status or subsidiary protection), in order to receive a residence card you will have to submit an appropriate application to our Office and attach 2 photographs to it.

If you are not satisfied with the decision you receive, you have the right to be assisted by a professional lawyer under the free legal aid scheme.

BENEFITS OF HANDLING THE CASE YOURSELF

You do not incur any costs associated with the procedure

You are informed directly about everything - letters from the Office are sent to your address

You do not bear the risk related to the actions (or lack of required actions) of the attorney

RISK RELATED TO HANDLING OF THE CASE BY AN ATTORNEY

If you choose an attorney wrong, you may lose influence over your case.

The consequences of the attorney's mishandling will be borne by you!

If you are not satisfied with your cooperation with the attorney or your attorney:

does not speak your language and is not able to explain your situation to you; does not keep you informed about the progress of the case and does not inform you in time about the actions planned by the Office, e.g. about the date of the hearing; misleads you about the applicable provisions of law; requires you to pay for actions which, according to the applicable regulations, are free of charge; collects, on your behalf, the social assistance you are entitled to in the proceedings; persuades you to make false statements or to use falsified documents and/or evidence; uses threats, blackmail or other form of violence against you

you can revoke the power of attorney (it is sufficient to report this in writing to the Office), report the abuse to an employee of the Office for Foreigners and/or to the Office for Competition and Consumer Protection.

Contact to the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection https://uokik.gov.pl/kontakt?m=0

If, due to the actions of an attorney, your data or image, without your consent, ends up in the public space, e.g. on social media, you can assert your rights in criminal or civil proceedings.

You can also initiate proceedings for infringement of your personal rights.

REMEMBER!

You do not have to pay for proxies, who can only assist you in the international protection procedure. You give all the statements for the case in person anyway. If you appoint an attorney in the case, we will send all letters to the attorney's address. The appointment of an attorney in the case does not guarantee that you will be granted international protection - the attorney does not in any way influence the staff of the Office or the type of decision issued and does not speed up the proceedings.

If you decide to appoint an attorney:

establish the rules and possible costs of cooperation at the very beginning

consider contacting a non-governmental organisation, which representatives provide free assistance to foreigners applying for international protection

Contact to the organisation https://www.gov.pl/web/udsc/organizacje-zajmujace-sie-udzielaniem-pomocy-cudzoziemcom

Contact us

The Office for Foreigners - contact https://www.gov.pl/web/udsc/dane-kontaktowe