Resettlement and humanitarian admission - Poland

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The information on this page has been validated by the national administration.

Poland is bound by the Union Resettlement and Humanitarian Admission Framework Regulation (URF).

Amended Act of 13 June 2003 on granting protection to foreigners on the territory of the Republic of Poland | Dz.U.z 2025r., poz. 223 z poźń. zm., in particular in its Article 2 (legal definition under 9c) and Chapter 5a (articles 86a and forward) which includes the details rules for resettlement in Poland.

Authorities responsible for establishing resettlement and humanitarian admission policyCouncil of Ministers
Identification and referral of refugees for a) resettlement programmes b) humanitarian admission programmes c) community sponsorship programmesN/A
Selection of refugees for a) resettlement programmes b) humanitarian admission programmes c) community sponsorship programmesN/A
Pre-departure assistance a) resettlement programmes b) humanitarian admission programmes c) community sponsorship programmesN/A
Travel arrangements a) resettlement programmes b) humanitarian admission programmes c) community sponsorship programmesThe Border Guard organises transportation from the third country to Poland
Arrival and reception a) resettlement programmes b) humanitarian admission programmes c) community sponsorship programmesN/A

Poland is not implementing resettlement or humanitarian admission programmes at the moment.

2-year Union PlanNational commitment for resettlementNational commitment for humanitarian admissionsEmergency quota
Period 2024-20250N/aN/a
Period 2026-2027N/aN/aN/a
Period 2028-2029N/aN/aN/a

 

No information currently available

Resettled foreigners may be granted refugee status, subsidiary protection or issued other types of residence permits.

No information currently available

No information currently available

No information currently available

No information currently available

Currently, Poland has no national resettlement programmes in place

Humanitarian visas

In response to events taking place in Belarus in the aftermath of the presidential elections, the Polish government announced the introduction of a humanitarian visa scheme for Belarusians from mid-August 2020 onwards. Under the scheme, the issuance of humanitarian visas was significantly facilitated. 

On 17 September 2020, an amendment to the regulation on the temporary suspension or restriction of border traffic at certain border crossing points (issued in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak) entered into force, allowing Belarusian citizens holding tourists visas to enter Poland. From  22 September 2020 all Belarusian citizens are allowed to enter Poland through the external border, regardless of the basis on which they intend to cross the border.

The plan "Solidarity with Belarus" announced by the Polish government in August 2020 includes regulations with a special focus on students and academics. Humanitarian visas are issued to persons who can demonstrate to the consul that, due to their activity, they may be persecuted by the local authorities and therefore need to leave the territory of Belarus.

Currently, Poland has no community sponsorship schemes related to state-led resettlement programmes in place

Currently, Poland has no community sponsorship schemes linked to civil society-led humanitarian admission programmes in place

Currently, Poland has no community sponsorship schemes linked to other complementary pathways in place