Poland

Temporary visits to Ukraine (up to 30 days) should not lead to losing your temporary protection status (PESEL UKR). However, if you leave Poland for more than 30 days, you automatically lose your PESEL UKR status. Please note that if you lose the prefix ‘UKR’ in your PESEL number because you left Poland for more than 30 days, you can request its reinstatement.  

Always show your diia.pl at the entry and exit points when interacting with Border Guards to prevent de-registration and loss of benefits during short visits.  

It is possible (though not obligatory) to inform the municipal office of such a planned departure. To do this, you can fill in the official form and submit your statement to the municipal office.  Departure from Poland for over 30 days will result in losing all benefits associated with PESEL UKR in Poland (e.g., access to healthcare or social assistance), regardless of whether you inform the municipality in advance or not.  

Yes, you can travel back to Ukraine and later return to Poland if:

1. You hold a valid visa or a residence permit allowing you to cross the border (during the validity of those documents); or
2. You are entitled to a visa-free movement until the exhaustion of the maximum period of the visa-free movement; or
3. You hold a valid electronic Diia.pl document. Remember, if you leave Poland for more than 30 days, your PESEL UKR status will be withdrawn.

If none of the above applies to you, but you still need to travel to Ukraine and want to come back, you may attempt to access the Polish territory on your way back with a special entry permit from the Commander of the Border Guard Post, which you must request at the Polish border crossing point. Border Guards will then assess whether there are humanitarian grounds that justify your entry.

According to the current legal framework, if you leave Ukraine after 24 February 2022 you can apply for temporary protection in Poland or another EU country. If you had already obtained PESEL UKR status in Poland, but you lost it because of leaving the country for over 30 days, you have a right to apply for the status again.

Ukrainian citizens can enter Ukraine with one of the following documents:

1. Passport of a citizen of Ukraine for travel abroad (International passport)
2. Diplomatic passport of Ukraine
3. Service passport of Ukraine
4. Seaman’s identity card
5. Crew member’s certificate

The internal passport (ID card) is not included in this list. Therefore, it cannot be used to return to Ukraine. Instead, it is necessary to issue either an international passport or a certificate for returning to Ukraine. The conditions and deadlines for the production of these documents vary.

A certificate for returning to Ukraine grants the right to enter Ukraine. This document is issued by diplomatic missions or consular institutions of Ukraine abroad.

A certificate for returning to Ukraine is issued by a foreign diplomatic institution (embassy/consulate of Ukraine abroad) on the day of application. The production of this document is usually a paid service.

An international passport can currently be issued both at an embassy/consulate of Ukraine and at the mobile centre of the “DP Document” in Warsaw. However, when ordering this service, it should be noted that the process of producing and issuing an international passport lasts from 3 to 6 months. The production of this document is a paid service.

If you or your relatives plan to return to Ukraine, but do not have a valid passport (the passport has expired, lost your passport or arrived in Poland only with an internal passport or birth certificate), then you need to obtain a document from the consulate of Ukraine that will allow you to cross the border.

To do this, you need to contact the nearest consular office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and issue a certificate of return to Ukraine (the so-called “white passport”). Ukrainian consulates in Poland are in Warsaw, Krakow, Wroclaw, Lublin and Gdansk.  The list of documents that you need to apply in order to get the certificate of return to Ukraine can be found at the following link.

If you are not a citizen of Ukraine and you are staying in Poland under temporary protection, you can return to Ukraine using your residence permit in Ukraine. If your residence permanent permit in Ukraine has expired, you can extend this document at the representative office of SE “Document” in Warsaw, as well as in Berlin, Bratislava, Madrid or Istanbul. Otherwise, to enter Ukraine, you will need to obtain a visa at the Ukrainian consulate.

Be cautious of people who offer you help but cannot provide you with official documentation to identify themselves and their organization. Keep your personal information and documents safe and confidential. If you feel that you are in danger, call emergency number 112.

To report a suspected case of human trafficking in Poland, contact the Polish Police Department Against Human Trafficking at +48 664 974 934 or email [email protected]. You can also contact La Strada helpline at +48 22 628 99 99.

If you are already in Ukraine, call the National Hotline for Prevention of Human Trafficking at 0800505501/527.

If you have received documents certifying your disability in Poland, you will have to go through the process of confirming your disability in Ukraine to have them recognized in Ukraine. For more information you can click here.

You should inform the school principal that you would like to cancel your child’s enrolment. You will need to fill in the child’s discharge form. Ask for an official document acknowledging your child’s educational achievement that will facilitate recognition of the qualifications in Ukraine. More information on what information the document should include can be found on the Ukrainian Ministry of Education and Science’s webpage.

If your child was attending school in Poland, it is recommended to ask the school for an official document acknowledging your child’s studies and educational achievements, which will facilitate the recognition of your child’s education back in Ukraine. More information on what information the document should include can be found on the Ukrainian Ministry of Education and Science’s webpage.

Citizens of Ukraine cannot be denied entry to Ukraine under no circumstances. Children are subject to the same entry and exit control as adults. Please refer to State Border Guard Service of Ukraine for detailed information. Those crossing the border should have a passport or other document confirming their identity or at least a birth certificate. Children can cross the border with a birth certificate issued abroad.

In case there are no documents, in all countries apart from those where consular relations are ceased (i.e. Russian Federation), children would need to be assisted in obtaining a return certificate based on any documents that can confirm connection to Ukraine (and possessing its citizenship). Consulates may issue a return certificate based on copies of documents.

If a child is entering alone or with a non-parent adult, State Border Guard Service of Ukraine shall contact local child protection services, unless they have information about parents awaiting the child. It is advised to inform the Border Guard post that the parent is expecting the child on the Ukrainian side of the border in advance.

Please note that a child should also meet the exit requirements of the host country – please contact your local Ukrainian consulate to ask for information and get the required documents for return. In some cases, a birth certificate cannot be used as a travel document.

When planning your return to Ukraine, there are a few steps to consider regarding your bank accounts and social insurance in Poland:

• Informing ZUS (Social Insurance Institution). It is possible (though not obligatory) to inform ZUS about your departure. You can do this by contacting a ZUS branch and submitting a written form or by submitting an online form through the ZUS electronic services platform (PUE).
• Closing bank accounts. While closing a bank account is not mandatory, it’s worth considering if you don’t plan to use banking services in Poland. Depending on the specific bank and the type of account, there may be associated fees. These fees can vary based on the corresponding tariff for servicing an open account. Common reasons for account maintenance fees include keeping a balance below the specified minimum amount, ceasing to use the associated debit or credit card, or exceeding the grace period for account servicing. Polish banks typically offer several methods for closing an account: personal visits, online procedures, registered letters, or telephone requests.

Yes, banks in Ukraine and Poland may share credit history information, but this depends on various factors, including local regulations and agreements between banks. In general, if you have accounts or loans in both countries, your credit history may be accessible to financial institutions that have established partnerships or use shared credit reporting systems. However, always check with your specific bank for details on their policies regarding credit history sharing and the services they provide in each country.

Please visit UNHCR Ukraine Help website for information on services available in Ukraine.