News

22 May 2023

Poland

Epidemic and Ukraine Updates

Extension of Immigration Documents Based on COVID Regulations to End on July 31, 2023

The Polish Ministry of Health plans to end the epidemic state in Poland (connected to COVID) on July 31, 2023. This means that the automatic extension of immigration documents that was previously permitted will end on July 31, 2023.  At this time, documents (such as visas or work permits) have been automatically extended if their expiration dates fell within the epidemic state in Poland.

Stay of Ukrainian Citizens in Poland to be Extended until March 4, 2024/August 31, 2024

The Polish Senate has adopted another amendment to the Special Bill on help to citizens of Ukraine. These changes await signature by the President of Poland and will not be subject to further changes. It is anticipated that these changes will go into effect in early June 2023.

The amendment extends the right for Ukrainian citizens to stay in Poland in the following situations:

  • Temporary protection in Poland for Ukrainians fleeing the war extended automatically until March 4, 2024
  • School children and parents benefit from legal stay in Poland as Ukrainian refugees until August 31, 2024 (in some cases, until September 30, 2024)
  • National visas and temporary residence permits held by Ukrainians will be automatically extended until March 4, 2024. This applies to documents that would normally be valid until at least February 24, 2022. Note that this extension based on the Special Bill will extend the stay in Poland but does not allow for crossing the Polish border.

The stay of Ukrainian citizens residing in Poland based on Polish Schengen visas, visas or residence permits issued by other Schengen states or visa-free regimes, will be extended until March 4, 2024.

Extension of Modifications in Obtaining Residence Permits by Ukrainians

Several special provisions for obtaining Residence Permits by Ukrainian citizens will be extended because of an amendment to the Special Bill:

  • Until March 4, 2024, Ukrainian citizens will be issued a temporary residence permit for one year, providing protection against receipt of a negative decision. If individuals meet the criteria for a Blue Card, Ukrainian nationals will continue to receive a Residence Permit that corresponds to the submitted application.
  • Ukrainian solo entrepreneurs in Poland will benefit from a simplification of the process for obtaining a Residence Permit until March 4, 2024. This group of applicants will not have to prove that their company has enough income/employees or means to achieve those criteria in the future. This simplification will not apply to Ukrainians who run a business in Poland that is established as a limited liability company.
  • The suspension of deadlines for processing of cases concerning residence permits for foreigners will be extended until March 4, 2024.

For more information on this alert, please reach out to the T&S EMEA team at EMEA@tandslaw.com.

© 2021 Tafapolsky & Smith LLP. All rights reserved.
The content above is provided for informational purposes only. It should not be construed as legal advice on any subject matter. Use of this information does not create an attorney-client relationship.