Belarusian citizens whose passports have expired—or were confiscated by Minsk—have gained a vital reprieve. Poland has extended its special “travel document for a foreigner” programme until 30 June 2026. Introduced in 2023, the booklet functions as an emergency passport that is recognised for residence-permit renewals and Schengen travel; more than 28 000 have already been issued. (visahq.com)
Without the extension, thousands of Belarusian students, IT contractors and dissidents risked falling out of legal status because Polish residence-permit renewals require a valid travel document. Employers can now renew assignments and schedule business trips without forcing staff to re-enter Belarus, where they could face reprisals. (visahq.com)
![Poland Prolongs Emergency Travel Documents for Belarusians to 30 June 2026]()
For applicants who prefer professional assistance, VisaHQ offers end-to-end support with Poland’s mobility rules. Through its dedicated portal (https://www.visahq.com/poland/), the agency guides Belarusian nationals through MOS-portal filings, tracks voivodeship processing times and verifies whether onward destinations accept the Polish booklet—streamlining a process that can otherwise feel daunting.
Applications must now be submitted online through the new MOS portal, and voivodeship backlogs can stretch to three months. Mobility managers are urged to file early, keep digital receipts for border checks and confirm that onward destinations recognise the Polish booklet—some non-Schengen countries do not. (visahq.com)
The move illustrates Warsaw’s dual approach: a hard security stance on irregular entries from Belarus coupled with support for the pro-democracy talent pool that Polish tech firms prize. Companies hosting Belarusian staff should budget extra lead-time and ensure residence cards remain valid while new booklets are processed. (visahq.com)
Without the extension, thousands of Belarusian students, IT contractors and dissidents risked falling out of legal status because Polish residence-permit renewals require a valid travel document. Employers can now renew assignments and schedule business trips without forcing staff to re-enter Belarus, where they could face reprisals. (visahq.com)
For applicants who prefer professional assistance, VisaHQ offers end-to-end support with Poland’s mobility rules. Through its dedicated portal (https://www.visahq.com/poland/), the agency guides Belarusian nationals through MOS-portal filings, tracks voivodeship processing times and verifies whether onward destinations accept the Polish booklet—streamlining a process that can otherwise feel daunting.
Applications must now be submitted online through the new MOS portal, and voivodeship backlogs can stretch to three months. Mobility managers are urged to file early, keep digital receipts for border checks and confirm that onward destinations recognise the Polish booklet—some non-Schengen countries do not. (visahq.com)
The move illustrates Warsaw’s dual approach: a hard security stance on irregular entries from Belarus coupled with support for the pro-democracy talent pool that Polish tech firms prize. Companies hosting Belarusian staff should budget extra lead-time and ensure residence cards remain valid while new booklets are processed. (visahq.com)
