In the coming weeks, regulations enabling citizens of Ukraine, the Republic of Belarus, and the Russian Federation to obtain the Pole's Card in the Republic of Poland will come into effect. This regulation was introduced in the Regulation of the Council of Ministers of July 1, 2022 (Journal of Laws of 2022, item 1498). The introduction of these regulations is related to the disruption of Polish consulates' operations due to the war in Ukraine. According to the new regulations, the competent authorities for issuing the Pole's Card will be the voivodes with territorial jurisdiction over the foreigner's place of residence. This means that it will not be necessary to leave the territory of the Republic of Poland to obtain the Pole's Card. Both individuals who have previously held the Pole's Card and those applying for the Pole's Card for the first time will be able to submit applications.

Possessing the Polish Card offers a number of benefits. Holders are exempt from the requirement for a work permit and can engage in business activity under the same conditions as Polish citizens. Furthermore, it allows access to free healthcare and the education system under the same conditions as Polish citizens. Furthermore, having the Polish Card grants access to numerous discounts.

To obtain the Pole’s Card, several conditions must be met, such as:

• demonstrating basic knowledge of Polish and recognizing it as your native language,
• knowledge of Polish traditions and culture,
• submitting a written declaration of belonging to the Polish Nation,
• proving that you are of Polish nationality or that one of your parents or grandparents or two great-grandparents were of Polish nationality, or proving active involvement in activities promoting the Polish language and culture or a national minority for at least the last 3 years,
• the person applying for the Pole's Card or his or her ancestors have not been repatriated from Poland,
• not having Polish citizenship or a permanent residence permit.

This alert is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

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