Poland’s Ministry of the Interior and Administration has prolonged the simplified procedure that lets Belarusian citizens living in Poland obtain a Polish travel document when they cannot secure or renew a Belarusian passport. The scheme—first introduced after the disputed 2020 Belarusian election—will now run until 30 June 2026.
The document functions like a limited-validity passport, enabling international travel for tourism, business or family reasons and smoothing re-entry to Poland. Warsaw says more than 35,000 such documents have been issued since 2021, providing a “mobility lifeline” for political refugees, IT professionals and students who would otherwise be grounded by Minsk’s refusal to issue travel papers.
The extension underscores Poland’s wider humanitarian stance: Belarusians enjoy facilitated access to work permits, social benefits and, increasingly, permanent residence. For employers, the move secures continuity for a growing Belarusian talent pool in sectors such as fintech and gaming.
![Poland extends simplified travel-document scheme for Belarusian residents until June 2026]()
For anyone encountering uncertainty around travel documents or visa options, VisaHQ can simplify the process. Through its Poland portal (https://www.visahq.com/poland/), the service offers clear application guidance, document checks and courier support, helping Belarusian nationals—and the HR teams that support them—avoid delays and ensure their paperwork meets airline and border-control standards.
Practical implications: HR teams should verify the validity dates on employees’ Polish travel documents and schedule renewals early; travel managers must confirm that airlines recognise the document on specific routes—some non-EU carriers still require manual clearance.
The policy may also influence EU discussions on creating a bloc-wide surrogate travel document for stateless or document-less residents.
The document functions like a limited-validity passport, enabling international travel for tourism, business or family reasons and smoothing re-entry to Poland. Warsaw says more than 35,000 such documents have been issued since 2021, providing a “mobility lifeline” for political refugees, IT professionals and students who would otherwise be grounded by Minsk’s refusal to issue travel papers.
The extension underscores Poland’s wider humanitarian stance: Belarusians enjoy facilitated access to work permits, social benefits and, increasingly, permanent residence. For employers, the move secures continuity for a growing Belarusian talent pool in sectors such as fintech and gaming.
For anyone encountering uncertainty around travel documents or visa options, VisaHQ can simplify the process. Through its Poland portal (https://www.visahq.com/poland/), the service offers clear application guidance, document checks and courier support, helping Belarusian nationals—and the HR teams that support them—avoid delays and ensure their paperwork meets airline and border-control standards.
Practical implications: HR teams should verify the validity dates on employees’ Polish travel documents and schedule renewals early; travel managers must confirm that airlines recognise the document on specific routes—some non-EU carriers still require manual clearance.
The policy may also influence EU discussions on creating a bloc-wide surrogate travel document for stateless or document-less residents.
