Association for Legal Intervention – Ukraine – Legal portal for people fleeing Ukraine

Knowledge base – FAQ

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Amendments to the law

FAQ

Crossing the border

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Non-Ukrainian citizens Ukrainian citizens

I am from Ukraine, I do not have a valid travel document, can I enter Poland now, in 2023?How and where should I apply to waive UKR status ?I have a PESEL UKR, I went home for less than 30 days, but I found that my UKR status no longer applies. Can I enter Poland and what to do if there are problems at the border?Is a Ukrainian citizen who has been to Poland from 2021 with a visa valid until April 22 (now it is being extended) can go to Ukraine and after 2 weeks come back to Poland?Information on documents necessary for Ukrainian students to cross the border

How do I cross the border with a child?Information on documents necessary for crossing the border by Ukrainian men.How do I cross the border with an animal?What if the mother is in Poland and her minor children, are in Ukraine and a neighbour may bring them to the border. Will these children, with valid passports but no visas, and without their parents, be allowed to cross the border?What do I do after entering Poland? Where can I find reception points?

Legalisation of residence

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Non-Ukrainian citizens Ukrainian citizens

Should I apply for international protection to legalise my stay after 24.08.23?How to legalise the stay of children under temporary protection after 24.08.23?I am from Ukraine, I was in Poland before 24.02.22. Can I apply for a temporary residence card?What should I do if I do not have a job or a business and I want to stay in Poland longer than until 24.08.23 (e.g. I am studying, I am here with my family)?Who can apply for temporary residence (under the Special-purpose Act) in Poland from 1.04.23 and under what conditions?

I have permanent residence in Ukraine, I am not a citizen of this country, I fled the war. How can I legalise my stay?Do people with PESEL UKR status have to register in Poland? And what if they fail to check in if there is an obligation to do so?Is it possible to return to Ukraine without a valid travel document (e.g. only with an internal passport or birth certificate in the case of a child)?I am from Uzbekistan, I have permanent residence in Ukraine. The husband is a citizen of Ukraine and lives in Germany. Can I come to Poland and go further to Germany to my husband?Temporary protection - who will benefit from it and what will the beneficiaries be entitled to?

Unaccompanied minors

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Who and under what conditions can become the legal guardian of a child whose parents went back to Ukraine?We provide the brochure "Unaccompanied child in Poland and Ukraine. Law and institutions: basic issues".I am planning to migrate from Ukraine to Poland. I am 17 years old and I will travel alone. What documents do I need in this case?How is it possible to legally leave a child in Poland when his parent leaves, so that the guardian can legally care for the child?How to submit an application for temporary residence on behalf of an unaccompanied minor?

How to become a temporary guardian of a child from Ukraine without parents?How to legalize the stay of an unaccompanied child who came from Ukraine?How to get a PESEL number for a child from Ukraine?How do I apply for international protection for a child (minor) without a legal guardian?How to submit an application for temporary residence on behalf of an unaccompanied minor?

Social matters

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I am a citizen of Ukraine, I received a PESEL UKR and social benefits. I left for the UA but after 2 months I returned to Poland and renewed my UKR status. Do I have the right to apply for 500+ again?What is the maximum period for claiming the 40 PLN per diem benefit for pensioner accommodation?Is it possible to apply for PLN 40 for accommodation if the refugee left the place of stay in July and returned to it in September?Additional information for people with disabilities Are people without the PESEL UKR status entitled to benefits (provided that their children have been granted the PESEL UKR status)?

Parents do not have Ukrainian citizenship and children do. Are they entitled to 300 +, 500+ benefits?Is it possible to apply for PLN 40 for accommodation if the refugee left the place of stay in July and returned to it in September?Health clinic refuses to admit a person who came from Ukraine due to the lack of a stamp from the reception point.Is it possible to rewrite the Ukrainian disability pension or old-age pension so that you continue to receive the benefit in Poland?What is the maximum period for claiming the 40 PLN per diem benefit for pensioner accommodation?

International protection

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I am not a Ukrainian citizen - can I apply for international protection (refugee status)?Options for third-country nationals (other than Ukrainian citizens) residing in Poland on a 15-day permit Am I entitled to financial assistance during the asylum procedure?I am a citizen of Russia. Currently I am in Poland. I am obliged to the army and remains in reserve in my homeland. Can I ask for political asylum?If the security situation changes, can I return to Ukraine?

After submitting an application for international protection, will I have a place of residence?Am I entitled to work after submitting my application for refugee status?If the security situation changes, can I return to Ukraine?I am a citizen of Russia. Currently I am in Poland. I am obliged to the army and remains in reserve in my homeland. Can I ask for political asylum?Am I entitled to financial assistance during the asylum procedure?

Education

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My 16-year-old daughter's passport has expired. Can an expired passport be used as a grounds to deny her high school admission documents?Diploma recognition for a citizen of Ukraine - general information, tips - steps, documents, deadlines.What is a person who graduated from nursing studies in Ukraine and worked in the profession, and would like to continue working as a nurse after coming to Poland to do?How can I enroll my child in school / kindergarten if there is no birth certificate?What to do if the school does not want to accept the child to attend to school?

How are the diplomas of Ukrainian graduates recognized in Poland?How does a student from Ukraine have the opportunity to continue their studies in Poland, and how about students from other countries who have studied in Ukraine?How does a student from Ukraine have the opportunity to continue their studies in Poland, and how about students from other countries who have studied in Ukraine?What to do if the school does not want to accept the child to attend to school?How can I enroll my child in school / kindergarten if there is no birth certificate?

Other

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Does an international driving licence itself entitle me to drive in PL?Can I exchange my ukrainian driving license for a Polish or international one? How to do it?May persons who have submitted applications for international protection during the procedure take their driving licence examinations in Poland?Do I need a power of attorney for a car if I leave Poland for Ukraine with a car registered to another family member?How to employ a refugee from Ukraine who entered after February 24 and wants to work but has no confirmation of crossing the border?

What are the facilities for doctors and dentists from Ukraine?Can a refugee from Ukraine receive psychiatric help in Poland free of charge?Types of contracts, what to look for, what is important when hiring migrants?What is the possibility to work/establish a business (respectively on the basis of the commandant’s consent, visa-free regime, residence permit, refugee procedure)?I am a Ukrainian citizen and I have decided to start working in Poland. Do I need to obtain a PESEL for this? Do I need to obtain a NIP? If yes, which one and how to do it?

The latest amendments to the law

Changing the rules for issuing temporary protection certificates

2 months ago

Update: 30.01.2023 Foreigners who are not citizens of Ukraine, who came to Poland from the territory of Ukraine from February 24, 2022 and meet the conditions set out in the implementing decision of the EU Council, i.e. who are not covered by the Act on assistance to Ukrainian citizens in connection with the armed conflict […]

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The president has signed an amendment to the Special-purpose Act

2 months ago

On January 13, 2023, Sejm passed the final text of the law on amending the Law on Assistance to Citizens of Ukraine in Connection with the Armed Conflict on the Territory of Ukraine and Certain Other Laws (hereinafter: Special-purpose Act). The Special-purpose Act Amendment Act (hereinafter: the Amendment) was signed by the President January 25, […]

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Polish Parliament is working on the draft law amending the Special-purpose Act

4 months ago

Due to the ongoing work in Parliament on the draft law amending the Law on Assistance to Citizens of Ukraine in Connection with the Armed Conflict on the Territory of Ukraine and Certain Other Laws (hereinafter: Special-purpose Act), here are the provisions that are most likely to change. Deadline of 30 days to apply for […]

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The Legal Intervention Association is a public benefit organization, since 2005 we have been working to respect human rights and prevent unequal treatment. We mainly support refugees as well as migrants in Poland. We provide free legal assistance to people with migration experience. When their rights are at risk, we represent them in courts and national authorities and the European Court of Human Rights, and we actively participate in the creation of migration law by intervening and issuing opinions on legal regulations.