{"id":4297,"date":"2024-06-10T13:56:52","date_gmt":"2024-06-10T11:56:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pcr-legal.pl\/polish-travel-document-for-a-foreigner-what-is-it\/"},"modified":"2025-10-28T14:04:47","modified_gmt":"2025-10-28T13:04:47","slug":"polish-travel-document-for-a-foreigner-what-is-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pcr-legal.pl\/en\/polish-travel-document-for-a-foreigner-what-is-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Polish Travel Document for a Foreigner. What is it?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Last updated: 6 June 2024<\/p>\n\n

What is the Polish Travel Document for a Foreigner?<\/h2>\n
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Polish Travel Docu<\/strong>m<\/strong>ent for a Foreigner<\/strong> (abbreviated PDP) is a special document issued to foreigners residing in Poland who do not possess a valid passport from their country of origin or cannot obtain a new one. This document allows foreigners to legally cross borders, travel, and serves as an identity document.<\/p>\n\n

Information regarding the Polish Travel Document are defined in Articles 252\u2013254 of the Act on Foreigners1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n

Who can receive the Polish Travel Document?<\/h2>\n\n

To receive the Polish Travel Document, three conditions must be met:<\/p>\n\n

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  1. The stay in Poland must fall into one of the categories listed below;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. The original travel document (passport) has been destroyed, lost (misplaced\/stolen), or the foreigner never possessed a passport.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. The foreigner is unable to obtain a new passport in their country of origin or at their embassy.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Types of residence entitling holders to receive a PDP<\/h2>\n\n

    According to Article 252 of the Act on Foreigners, the possibility of obtaining a PDP is reserved only for foreigners who have been granted:<\/p>\n\n

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    1. A permanent residence permit.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. A residence permit for an EU long-term resident.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. A temporary residence permit for humanitarian reasons (which may be granted only to citizens of Belarus).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. Subsidiary protection.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    5. Permission to stay on humanitarian grounds.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

      Exception \u2014 citizens of Belarus<\/h2>\n\n

      Additionally, Article 252a allows a person holding a temporary residence permit (regardless of the basis on which it was granted) who holds the citizenship of a country specified by a regulation of the Minister of Interior to obtain a PDP. To date, only one such regulation2<\/a><\/sup> and an extension3<\/a><\/sup> have been issued, which allow citizens of the Republic of Belarus to obtain a PDP provided the application is submitted by 30 June 2024. For Belarusian citizens, another extension of the regulation’s validity can be expected.<\/p>\n\n

      Can a citizen of Ukraine obtain a Polish Travel Document?<\/h2>\n\n

      Currently in Poland, a Ukrainian citizen is subject to the general regulations, so the possibility of obtaining a PDP depends on the foreigner’s residence status. In most cases, holding subsidiary protection<\/strong> is required. Ukrainian citizens staying in the territory of the Republic of Poland under the special war law4<\/a><\/sup> and holding a residence card issued for work, studies, family reunification or other circumstances \u2014 do not have the possibility to apply for a Polish Travel Document<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n

      Do you have questions or is something unclear? Contact us! We offer professional consultations and support in the process of applying for a Polish Travel Document. Schedule a consultation!<\/a><\/p>\n\n

      Is it recognized abroad?<\/h2>\n\n

      The Polish Travel Document for a Foreigner is not equivalent to a passport and may not be accepted in some countries. We recommend always verifying whether a given country recognizes this document as a valid travel document.<\/p>\n\n

      Within the Schengen area, acceptance of the document is governed by the implementing Convention of the Schengen Agreement. Despite the document’s legal recognition, problems may arise, for example at airports where staff may be unfamiliar with this type of document.<\/p>\n\n

      How to submit an application?<\/h2>\n\n

      The application should be submitted to the Voivodeship Office corresponding to the foreigner’s place of residence. The application must clearly describe the foreigner’s personal circumstances that prevent them from obtaining a passport in their country of origin or at their country’s embassy.<\/p>\n\n

      Steps to submit the application:<\/h4>\n\n
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      1. Fill in the PDP application form<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      2. Pay the stamp duty to the Voivodeship Office’s account.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      3. Attach to the application:\n