Last updated: 6 June 2024.
What is the Polish Travel Document for Foreigners?
Polish Travel Documentauy for the Foreigner (in short, PDP) is a special document issued to foreigners residing in Poland who do not have a valid passport of their country of origin or cannot obtain a new one. This document allows foreigners to legally cross borders, travel and serves as proof of identity.
Information on the Polish Travel Document defines Articles 252 – 254 of the Foreigners Act1.
Who can receive the Polish Travel Document?
To receive the Polish Travel Document, three conditions must be met:
- The stay in Poland must be in one of the categories defined below;
- The original travel document (passport) was destroyed, lost (lost/stealing) or when the foreigner never owned a passport.
- Foreigner cannot obtain a new passport in the country of origin or embassy.
Types of stay entitled to receive PDP
In accordance with Article 252 of the Foreigners Act, the possibility of obtaining a PDP is reserved only for foreigners granted:
- Permanent residence permits.
- Long-term residence permits for EU residents.
- Temporary residence permits for humanitarian reasons (which can only be obtained in Belarus).
- Complementary protection.
- Humanitarian consent.
Exception – Belarusian citizens
In addition, Article 252a allows the PDP to be obtained for the holder of a temporary residence permit (no matter the basis for granting it), which holds the nationality of the country in accordance with the Regulation of the Minister of the Interior. Only one regulation has been issued today2 and extension3 , which allows citizens of the Republic of Belarus to receive the PDP and the request will be submitted by 30 June 2024. For RB citizens, we can expect another extension of the regulation.
Can a Ukrainian citizen receive the Polish Travel Document?
Currently in Poland, a Ukrainian citizen is subject to general regulations, and the possibility of receiving PDP depends on the title of a resident foreigner. The most common requirement is to have supplementary protection.Citizens of Ukraine, residing in the territory of the Republic of Poland on the basis of the war speciality4with a residence card issued for work, studies, family connection or other circumstances; are not possible to apply for the Polish Travel Document.
Is he recognized abroad?
The Polish Travel Document for Foreigners is not equivalent to a passport and may not be accepted in some countries. We always recommend verifying whether a country honors this document as an important travel document.
In the Schengen territory, the acceptance of the document is determined by the Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement. Despite legal recognition of the document, problems may arise, e.g. at airports where workers may not know such a document.
How do I apply?
The application must be submitted to the Provincial Office, according to the address of the foreigner’s residence. The application should describe in detail the personal situation of the foreigner, which prevents him from obtaining a passport in his country of origin or embassy.
Steps to apply:
- Fill application form PDP.
- Make a tax fee to the Provincial Office.
- Join the proposal:
- 2 current photographs,
- a copy of the previous travel document or other identity document,
- documents proving that no travel document can be obtained in the country of origin,
- confirmation of the payment of the tax,
- a copy of the decision to grant a residence permit in Poland.
- Submit your application personally to the Provincial Office or send it by post.
Travel Document — Geneva Convention
Geneva Convention5 also provides for the issue of a Travel Document for foreigners granted refugee status6. The refugee status is issued only in exceptional cases by the Head of the Office for Foreigners. The duration of such a document is 2 years.
Refugee status is not temporary protection. Ob. Ukraine with the status of UKR has no international protection, has temporary protection, which is a completely different legal solution.
Temporary Certificate of Identity of Foreigner
In order to clarify and complement the incorrect information that appears on the Internet, social media and other sources, we provide detailed information on the Temporary Certificate of Identity of Foreigner.
The Temporary Certificate of Identity of the Foreigner is a document issued to foreigners who have applied for international protection (refugee status or subsidiary protection), which confirms the identity of the foreigner during the examination of the application. It is issued by the Border Guard or by the Foreigner’s Chief.
The document is valid only for the period of examination of the application for international protection, during which the foreigner is obliged to deposit his original passport.
It is important to understand that the Cu-doze identity certificate does not replace a passport or other travel document. It is only a temporary document confirming the identity of the foreigner while examining his application for international protection.
Clarifying this information is essential to avoid misunderstandings and to ensure a correct understanding of the role and importance of the Temporary Certificate of Identity of the Foreigner.
References:
Foreigners Act 12 December 2013 (Journal of Laws 2024 item 769)
Regulation of the Minister for the Interior and Administration of 28 December 2023 (Journal of Laws 2023 item 1247)
Regulation of the Minister for the Interior and Administration of 28 December 2023 (Journal of Laws 2023 item 2814)
Act on granting protection to foreigners in the territory of the Republic of Poland of 13 June 2003 (Journal of Laws 2023 item 1504)
- Act of 12 December 2013 on foreigners, Dz. U. 2024 item 769 ↩︎
- Regulation of the Minister of the Interior and Administration of 28 June 2023 (Journal of Laws 2023 item 1247) ↩︎
- Regulation of the Minister of the Interior and Administration of 28 December 2023 (Journal of Laws 2023 item 2814) ↩︎
- The Act on assistance to Ukrainian citizens in connection with the armed conflict in its territory of 12 March 2022, OJ 2022 item 583 ↩︎
- Convention on refugee status. Geneva, 28 July 1951. ↩︎
- Act on granting protection to foreigners in the territory of the Republic of Poland of 13 June 2003 (Journal of Laws 2023 item 1504) ↩︎