How to evacuate from Ukraine to Poland

Poland has already issued a memo for those who wish to escape the war in Ukraine or to host their Ukrainian friends and relatives in Polish cities free from hostilities.

If a Polish citizen is currently in Ukraine

• Need to register in the system Odysseus;
• Closely follow the information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland (social networks - profiles of Polish missions, official site).

For anyone who wants to leave the territory of Ukraine and head to Poland: preparation

1. Prepare and collect documents for yourself and your family (passports and / or identity cards, vaccination certificates and medical cards, birth and marriage certificates, property ownership certificates (movable and immovable), diplomas and educational certificates, driver's license ).
2. Stock up on cash.
3. Check that you have the necessary medicines (especially if someone in the family must take them regularly), certificates of current/chronic illnesses (if any).
4. Prepare food and water for the trip - and with a margin in case of possible delays on the road.
5. Choose comfortable clothes and shoes, guided by the weather. Some roads may be blocked, sometimes you can only get to the border on foot - consider this possibility.
6. Maximize your phone and all power banks/chargers.
7. Write down the most important contacts - personal (relatives, friends) and official (emergency services, Consulate of Ukraine in Poland, etc.). Make such a list both on your phone and on paper (so that you can use it offline or in case your phone runs out of power).
8. If you go by car, carefully monitor the fuel level, refuel "to the eyeballs" at every opportunity (before the road and along the way).

How to cross the border with Poland

If you and your loved ones have a threat to life and health, you can leave the territory of Ukraine at any border crossing point with Poland. The Border Guard Service (Straży Granicznej) will need to declare their desire to apply for international protection in Poland. To do this, do not forget to describe your situation in detail, provide relevant documents and / or other evidence, photos.

Office of Foreigners allows Ukrainian citizens to enter Poland on the basis of:

• visa-free regime based on the Biometric passport;
• National visa (D);
• Schengen visa (C);
• D or C visas, residence permits issued by any other Schengen country;
• A temporary or permanent EU residence permit, a long-term EU resident's residence permit, a valid residence card.

If you do not have any of these documents, entry is allowed:

• With an application for international protection (submitted at the border point where you arrived);
• With the consent of the commander of the Border Service (issued when crossing the border).

The Polish government will help Ukrainian refugees: contact one of the reception points where you can get food and water, the opportunity to relax, useful information and contacts. List of items (may be updated) here.

How long can you stay in Poland?

It depends on the document on the basis of which you crossed the border:

• Biometric passport (visa-free) - up to 90 days.
• National or Schengen visa issued in Poland - according to the period specified in the visa. If your visa has expired, you will have another 90 days based on your biometric passport.
• Visa D or C issued by any other state of the Schengen area - up to 90 days.
• Residence permit of any country of the Schengen zone - up to 90 days.
• The consent of the commander of the Border Guard Service - 15 days.

You can continue to stay in Poland if you apply for a temporary residence permit (before its expiration) - or for permanent residence (permanent residence permit), if you can comply with its conditions. These applications are submitted to the office (urzędzie wojewódzkim) at the place of residence.

Do not forget that you can legally stay in Poland only if you comply with the rules introduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For more information, please contact the Office for Foreigners +48 47 721 75 75.

If a decision is made to issue humanitarian visas to Ukrainian citizens (the authorities of Poland and the EU are currently negotiating this), we will inform you additionally.