Information on what to do during the first 30 days in Poland (PESEL no., benefits, employment offices)?

2 years ago
8 minutes

Update: 16.06.2023

Persons covered by the law on assistance to citizens of Ukraine in connection with an armed conflict in the territory of that state.

The Act of March 12, 2022 on assistance to Ukrainian citizens in connection with the armed conflict in the territory of that state covers mainly Ukrainian citizens who, in the period from February 24, 2022, came to the territory of Poland from Ukraine in connection with hostilities conducted on the territory of that state. the territory of this country, and Ukrainian citizens who have the Polish Card, who, together with their closest family, came to the territory of Poland due to these hostilities.

This protection also covers persons who do not have Ukrainian citizenship, who are spouses of Ukrainian citizens, provided that they came to Poland from Ukraine in connection with hostilities on the territory of that country.

The Act also applies to a child born on the territory of the Republic of Poland by a mother who is the person referred to above (is a Ukrainian citizen or a married citizen of Ukraine and came to the territory of Poland after February 24, 2022 in connection with hostilities conducted on that territory). countries)

The stay of these people on the territory of Poland is legal.

· If you need emergency assistance (accommodation, food, clothes) – go to the reception desk. They are most often located in city centers, at railway stations or close to the border.

Pursuant to the Act, if for some reason your entry into the territory of Poland has not been registered by the commanding officer of the Border Guard post during the border control, the Commandant in Chief of the Border Guard will register your stay in Poland.

Registration of stay in the territory of Poland takes place at your request, submitted no later than 30 days from the date of entry. Currently, registration is carried out by the offices of municipalities (cities).

If you do not have a stamp in your travel document, do not worry, in this case you will make a statement when you entered Poland.

To take advantage of various benefits, submit an application for a PESEL number.

The application is submitted in person at the seat of the commune authority in writing in a hard copy, with a legible handwritten signature, filled in by the applicant or by an employee of this authority on the basis of the data provided by the applicant.

What should you take with you?

a) a travel document (e.g. passport), internal passport, ID card or other photo document, in the case of children it may be a birth certificate. These documents do not need to be translated. If you do not have an identity document, the identity is confirmed on the basis of a declaration;

b) photo, taken earlier at the photographer’s (on the office’s website there are photographers’ addresses where you can take a photo free of charge. If there is no such information, contact the information point);

c) telephone – it will be needed to run a Trusted Profile (electronic signature). It is important that it is a Polish number. SIM cards are distributed free of charge at reception points. When assigning a PESEL number, a Trusted Profile is also assigned. The phone will be needed to confirm the receipt of e-mail messages and SMS with codes to run a Trusted Profile.

d) the reservation number that the person received earlier (if such a system is in place at a given office).

A person who has been assigned a PESEL-UKR number is also eligible to apply for a so-called trusted profile. The trusted profile is a digital tool that allows one to deal with official matters online, without leaving home. With the help of the trusted profile, in turn, one can get access to the Diia.pl application, which is an electronic document confirming residence and the fact of enjoying protection in Poland. An installed Diia.pl app together with a valid travel document allows one to cross the border.

If you received a PESEL number before the start of registration (i.e. before 16/03/2022), in order to be able to use financial benefits, it must be supplemented with fingerprints and a photo. Then you will obtain the UKR status in IT systems.

Persons covered by the Act may work on the same terms as Polish citizens. The entity entrusting the performance of work to a foreigner is, however, obliged to notify the labor office of this fact via the ICT system – https://www.praca.gov.pl/ , within 14 days from the date of commencement of work by the foreigner.

After assigning a PESEL number, you can also register and be recognized as unemployed or looking for a job. Poviat Labor Offices deal with the registration of the unemployed.

If the holder of a PESEL number, you can undertake and conduct business activity in the territory of the Republic of Poland on the same terms as Polish citizens.

As a person covered by this law, you have the right to:

1) family benefits

2) child benefit, if you live with children in the territory of Poland,

3) a good start if you live with your children in Poland,

4) family care capital, if you live with your children in Poland,

5) co-financing the reduction of the parent’s fee for the child’s stay in a nursery, children’s club or with a day carer, if you live with the children in Poland.

A citizen of Ukraine residing on the territory of Poland, whose stay is considered legal, who has been entered in the PESEL register, may be granted cash and in-kind benefits, and is also entitled to assistance in the form of a one-time cash benefit in the amount of PLN 300 per person, intended for maintenance, in in particular, to cover expenses for food, clothing, footwear, personal hygiene products and housing charges.

It is also important that if you have submitted an application for international protection (refugee status, subsidiary protection) or have declared your intention to submit an application for international protection in Poland, you can withdraw such application or declaration. Then you will be protected on the territory of Poland. Remember to apply for a PESEL number then.

Foreigners who do not have Ukrainian citizenship and do not belong to any of the categories of persons listed in the so-called “Special Act,” but have resided on Ukrainian territory and have come to Poland in connection with the war may also, in some cases, be granted temporary protection on the basis of a special certificate issued by the Office for Foreigners. This form of protection applies to:
  

  • Stateless persons or citizens of third countries other than Ukraine who are able to prove that, prior to February 24, 2022, they had legally resided in Ukraine on the basis of a valid permanent residence permit issued in accordance with Ukrainian law and are unable to return to their country or region of origin in safe conditions
  • Stateless persons or citizens of third countries other than Ukraine (and their family members) who, prior to February 24, 2022, enjoyed international protection or equivalent form of domestic protection in Ukraine.
  • The following persons are considered family members, provided that the family had been located and resided in Ukraine prior to February 24, 2022:
  • Spouse,
  • Minor and unmarried children or children of the spouse, regardless of whether they were born in wedlock, out of wedlock, or adopted,
  • Other close relatives who lived together as one family at the time when the circumstances leading to the mass influx of displaced persons occurred, who were wholly or partially dependent on the above-mentioned person at that time.

 Applications for certificates for the aforementioned categories of newcomers from Ukraine can be submitted:

  • by mail to the address: Office for Foreigners, 33 Taborowa St., 02-699 Warsaw,
  • by e-mail to: ochronaczasowa@udsc.gov.pl,
  • electronically via the ePUAP platform,
  • personally at the office at Taborowa Street 33 in Warsaw.

Along with the application, the foreigner should attach the following documents:

  1. a copy of a travel document that includes confirmation of entry into the territory of Poland as of February 24, 2022,
  2. a copy of the document from which the entitlement to enjoy protection or legal residence in Ukraine prior to February 24, 2022, on the basis of a valid permanent residence permit,
  3. a statement regarding the inability to return to the country or region of origin,
  4. copies of documents on kinship with persons entitled to temporary protection in the case of children or other close relatives who lived together as one family.

After positive verification of the application, an employee of the office will contact the foreigner and arrange a date for personal collection of the certificate. To collect the certificate, the foreigner must present the original documents, whose copies were attached to the application. The certificate will be issued only after confirming their conformity with the originals.

If the foreigner fails to meet the conditions for temporary protection, the foreigner will receive the decision in this case by mail or via the ePUAP platform.