International protection is a special form of support that Poland offers to individuals fleeing the risk of persecution, violence, or other serious threats in their country of origin. It may include the right to legal residence, access to medical care and social support, as well as integration services.
Członek Sądu Koleżeńskiego SPPON (Stowarzyszenie Pomorskie Pośredników w Obrocie Nieruchomościami) Licencja 29826
Author and teacher of a course for real estate agents
International protection of human rights is a legal instrument that allows a person who is persecuted on national or racial grounds, religious beliefs, or political convictions to live safely and legally in another country. In other words, it is a special form of legal support for foreigners and stateless persons who are fleeing persecution, violence, abuse, war, or other threats in their home country, and who cannot or do not wish to return there due to fear for their lives and the lives of their loved ones.
The protection of human rights takes place in accordance with international law. Specifically, the process is regulated by the UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, the European Convention on Human Rights, and other regulatory legal acts.
International protection grants the right to legal residence in a country, medical assistance, and social support.
To obtain international protection, an individual must meet certain criteria and requirements – it is not granted automatically. To do so, an application must be submitted to the relevant state authorities. To avoid errors and simplify this process, it is advisable to seek professional assistance. Specialists will review your documents, determine if you are eligible for international protection, and help you submit your application correctly.
International protection in Poland involves granting legal status to foreigners fleeing persecution or danger in their country of origin. This status differs from temporary protection, particularly PESEL UKR.
International protection is often referred to as asylum, but this is not entirely accurate. Asylum is a national form of protection for citizens, whereas foreigners in Poland can obtain temporary protection or international protection. The latter involves granting either refugee status or subsidiary protection.
Refugee status (status uchodźcy) can be obtained by individuals for whom it is dangerous to return to their home country due to a threat to their life from persecution based on racial or national origin, religious beliefs, or political convictions. This legal status protects against deportation, allows for legal residence in Poland, and provides access to support programs.
Subsidiary protection (ochrona uzupełniająca) is granted to civilians whose lives in their home country are threatened by torture, capital punishment, violence due to war, armed conflict, or terror.
In Poland, both citizens of other countries and stateless persons have the right to protection. The granting of legal status is regulated by the Geneva Convention and Polish laws concerning the protection of foreigners.
For consultation and qualified assistance in applying for international protection in Gdańsk, Kraków, Warsaw, or other Polish cities, please contact the specialists at Real Consult. We will review your documents, help you prepare and submit your application to the Border Guard, and assist in obtaining a temporary identity document and legal status. To schedule a consultation, please call the number listed on our website, send a message via messenger, or fill out the appropriate online form.
To obtain international protection, Poland sets clear rules. First and foremost, you need to submit an application to the Border Guard. All information and documents you provide must be current and valid. Concealing facts or providing false information may result in a refusal of protection and deportation.
Step-by-step algorithm for obtaining international protection:
If you are crossing the border into Poland, you must inform Polish border guards at the border crossing point of your intention to seek protection. If you are already in Poland, you must report to the nearest Border Guard station (Straż Graniczna). If you are in detention, ask for assistance in sending your application by mail.
The procedure is free of charge and confidential. In the application, written in Polish, you must clearly state the reason why you cannot return to your country. If you do not know Polish, you will need to obtain translation services.
The Border Guard forwards the international protection application to the Office for Foreigners (Urząd do Spraw Cudzoziemców). The case is then registered there.
An inspector conducts an interview (rozmowa statusowa) with the person seeking protection, during which they ask about the reasons for fearing return to their home country and request evidence of persecution, violence, or other threats.
Afterward, the person is photographed and fingerprints are taken. The procedure also includes a medical examination or a record of health status.
During the processing of the case, the foreigner’s passport is taken away, and they are issued a temporary identity document (Tymczasowe zaświadczenie tożsamości cudzoziemca) that confirms their identity.
The case review takes several months, and in some instances, half a year or even a year. During this period, the person has the legal right to live in Poland and receive medical assistance. They can reside in a refugee center or find their own accommodation.
Before a decision is made regarding your right to protection, you are prohibited from taking up employment for 6 months from the date of application.
In some cases, the court may decide to detain a foreigner seeking protection for the duration of the case review. This is possible if it’s necessary to confirm identity or gather additional information about the reasons for leaving their home country and the method of crossing the border. Such a decision can be appealed within seven days from the date of notification of detention. For this, it’s advisable to consult with a lawyer beforehand.
In case of a positive decision, the foreigner receives refugee status or subsidiary protection. They are issued a residence card (Karta pobytu), which allows them to reside, study, and work in Poland.
However, if international protection is denied, the person may be deported. But such a decision can be appealed. To do so, a complaint must be filed with the Council for Foreigners, and after its rejection, an appeal to the local administrative court.
Any foreigner in Poland has the right to an interpreter and a lawyer to understand their situation and protect their rights. Therefore, we advise you to contact Real Consult, which employs lawyers, translators, and migration law consultants.
You will be able to receive consultation on legalization issues in Poland and full legal support for the international protection application process. We will help you gather and translate documents, properly fill out and timely submit the application to the relevant authority, and, if necessary, appeal the state’s decision. We will analyze your situation and recommend the best legalization option for you, as international protection does not always meet the needs of foreigners, and not every foreigner is entitled to refugee status. For a consultation, please call us or send a message via messenger.
The application for international protection must be submitted to the Border Guard. However, the case is reviewed and the decision to grant refugee status is made by the Office for Foreigners, which is subordinated to the Ministry of Interior and Administration of Poland.
In Poland, any foreigner who meets the requirements of Polish legislation can apply for international protection of human rights. These include:
The foreigner must prove that they face persecution at home due to race, nationality, religion, political beliefs, or membership in a particular social group, and that if they return, they may face death, imprisonment, torture, or inhumane treatment. Another reason for obtaining international protection in Poland is a threat to life in the country of origin due to terror or armed conflict.
Information about a spouse and minor children can be included in the application if they agree to it or are with the person seeking protection.
The application can only be submitted in person at a border crossing point when crossing the Polish border or within Poland. This means that international protection cannot be requested from another country.
The application for international protection in Poland must be accompanied by documents that identify the person and confirm the threat to life in the country of origin. Information must be provided not only for the applicant but also for their family members if they are included in the application.
List of main documents:
The application must be submitted in Polish. Foreign documents must also be translated into Polish. Moreover, the translation of documents must be certified (by a sworn translator).
To get a consultation from migration law specialists and sworn translation services, please contact us by phone or via messenger.
Obtaining international protection in Poland offers a number of advantages for foreigners who cannot return home due to danger and high risks to themselves. First and foremost, it provides a safe life and protection from persecution or violence.
Other benefits of obtaining international protection:
A person with refugee status receives a residence card (Karta pobytu), which can be replaced after 2-3 years with a permanent residence card (Karta stałego pobytu), confirming the right to permanent residence in Poland. Subsequently, you can also apply for Polish citizenship.
Therefore, international protection is not just about safety. It’s a real opportunity to integrate, live legally, and work in an EU country.
If you need qualified assistance in submitting an application and preparing documents to obtain international protection and legal status in Poland, please schedule a consultation with Real Consult specialists. We can provide support from lawyers, translators, and migration law consultants for a quick and comprehensive solution to your problem. We will answer all your questions about legalization in Poland in detail, explain your rights and obligations, the rules for staying in the country during case processing, examine your documents, and determine whether you are eligible for protection or if another legal way to stay on Polish territory would be better for you.
We provide recommendations on specific issues and full legal support in obtaining a residence permit in Poland. We help Ukrainians and citizens of other countries in Gdańsk, Kraków, Warsaw, and smaller towns such as Gdynia, Reda, Rumia, Sopot, Borkowo, Żukowo, Pruszcz Gdański, etc. To schedule a consultation with our specialists, please call us, fill out the form on the website, or send an inquiry via Telegram, Viber, or WhatsApp.
The process of acquiring refugee status in Poland has many advantages, but it is quite lengthy and complex. It has its peculiarities and involves certain limitations.
What to be prepared for if you are seeking international protection:
Along with the loss of rights granted by temporary protection, the person also loses certain social benefits.
At the same time, the international protection granted by Poland can be cancelled at any time, for example, if the situation in the country of origin stabilizes and return becomes safe. Also, a violation of the law by the foreigner can lead to the annulment of refugee status or subsidiary protection. Specifically, this could include committing a serious crime (murder, rape, drug trafficking, threat to Poland’s security), voluntarily returning to the country of origin, or moving to another country.
To avoid the cancellation of international protection and deportation, you must comply with Polish laws, strictly adhere to the requirements and rules established by the country. To increase your chances of obtaining a permit for legal residence in Poland, you need to properly fill out and submit the application, gather, and translate into Polish the documents that confirm your right to protection.
Real Consult specialists can help you avoid errors in documents, understand the nuances of the complex procedure for obtaining international protection, and comprehend the rules for staying in the country. Schedule a consultation in Gdańsk, Kraków, Warsaw, or other cities such as Gdynia, Reda, Rumia, Sopot, Borkowo, Żukowo, Pruszcz Gdański, etc., and receive professional legal assistance to protect your rights. You can do this by phone, via messengers of your choice, or through the form on the website.
