Polish Travel Document – True Salvation for Belarusians

What is the Polish Travel Document?

The Polish Travel Document (dokument podróży) is a document intended for foreigners and stateless persons who do not have a valid passport and cannot obtain one. For example, in case of loss, theft, expiration of the passport, or inability to obtain a new passport.

It can be issued if there is no embassy of the foreigner's country in Poland, as well as for citizens who, for various reasons, cannot return to their country of origin for re-registration. This includes Belarusians.

The Polish Travel Document is issued for 1 year and allows multiple crossings of the border without the need for a visa during this period. In other words, you can leave Poland, travel, and return.

Who is eligible to apply for the Polish Travel Document?

There are three main conditions for a foreigner in Poland to be eligible to apply for the Polish Travel Document.

Condition 1: Lack of a valid passport (or other travel document). The Polish Travel Document can be obtained if the passport has been lost, destroyed, damaged, stolen, or has expired.

Condition 2: Permission for permanent residence in Poland. The travel document can be issued if the following permits are available:

• Permanent residence permit,
• Residence permit for long-term EU residents,
• Temporary residence permit due to other circumstances issued to citizens of the Republic of Belarus based on a humanitarian visa;
• Additional protection;
• Residence permit for humanitarian reasons.

It is not possible to obtain a Polish travel document based on a visa.

Condition 3: Inability of the foreigner to obtain a travel document. For example, if a citizen of the Czech Republic loses his passport in Poland, he goes to the embassy and reports it. Most likely, the embassy issues a temporary document with which the traveler can return home and obtain a new passport.

However, if a person is in Poland with refugee status or international protection and does not have a passport, he cannot return to his homeland and obtain a new one. It is for such cases that the Polish travel document is created. However, the foreigner will have to prove the impossibility of obtaining a document in the country of origin or in the consular office of the state.

We remind you that since July 1, 2023, Belarusians can obtain a travel document based on any residence permit without the need to prove that they cannot obtain a passport in Belarus. Also, children who previously did not have a Belarusian passport at all can obtain a travel document.

How to obtain a Polish travel document?

The process of obtaining it is not difficult, but it is advisable to prepare all necessary documents in advance.

Where? Documents for obtaining a Polish travel document can be submitted at the place of residence - in the urząd of your voivodeship.

What is needed? To apply, you will need:

• Completed application form (or fill it out on the spot),
• Current color photo 35*45 mm (take two just in case),
• Document confirming identity and citizenship,
• Copy of residence permit,
• Documents confirming the circumstances that entitle the foreigner to obtain a travel document (inability to obtain a document at the embassy or in the home country),
• Confirmation of payment of the stamp duty.

How much? The cost of obtaining a Polish travel document is 350 zlotys. However, citizens of Belarus can apply for free from July 1 to December 31, 2023. Discounts (up to 50% off the stamp duty) may also be available for foreigners in difficult financial situations and for children under 16 years old.

Reloaction.io will handle all the paperwork! Contact us for consultation or specific services, such as obtaining a travel document, and we'll take care of everything. You save time and nerves, while we assist you in legalizing your stay in Poland.

Personal Experience

To find out how difficult it is to obtain a travel document and how much time it takes, we asked those who have already experienced it.

Alena, a political activist:

"I applied for travel documents for my children. My daughter's passport expires in December 2023, and my son's expired a year ago. I went to the urząd and asked if I could apply for [travel documents] and what was needed for that. Since we have a residence card and international protection, we applied on these grounds. It didn't cost us anything, as Belarusians can apply for free until the end of 2023.

To apply, we had to fill out a form, attach copies of the registration, passports, and residence card on both sides, as well as a photo. It looks similar to filling out a visa application. We sent all this by mail with a return receipt.

It took me no more than a week for application, consultation, and information gathering. Then we just wait for a response. The waiting time depends on the city where you apply. In Wrocław, they say it takes 3 months, in Warsaw - one to two."

As of now, there are over 300,000 Belarusians living in Poland. In the first half of 2023 alone, citizens of Belarus filed 81,002 applications for temporary and permanent residence, as well as for long-term residency in the European Union. People who live and build families in Poland, thanks to the Polish travel document, have the right to legally cross borders and even travel.

Reloaction.io will assist in obtaining a Polish travel document. We will tell you about all the nuances and help you get an alternative to a passport in the shortest possible time!