After three Polish nationals were temporarily held at Kraków-Balice airport on 4 November for presenting expired or void passports, the Border Guard launched a nationwide reminder on 5 November: verify document validity before any trip. One adult arrived from Dublin using a passport voided due to a name change, while two children from East Midlands landed with documents that had lapsed. All travellers were ultimately admitted, but only after identity confirmation and lengthy paperwork.
![Polish Border Guard urges travellers to check passport validity after airport incidents]()
The agency says such cases have risen 12 % year-on-year as more Poles resume post-pandemic travel. Invalid documents slow border queues and can lead to denied boarding by airlines. Under Polish law, knowingly presenting an invalid passport can trigger an administrative fine of up to PLN 500 and, for repeat offenders, criminal charges.
The advisory is particularly relevant for assignees commuting weekly between Poland and Ireland or the UK, and for companies booking group charters for seasonal staff. HR teams should add passport-expiry checks to their travel approval workflows and remind parents that children’s passports are valid for only five years.
The agency says such cases have risen 12 % year-on-year as more Poles resume post-pandemic travel. Invalid documents slow border queues and can lead to denied boarding by airlines. Under Polish law, knowingly presenting an invalid passport can trigger an administrative fine of up to PLN 500 and, for repeat offenders, criminal charges.
The advisory is particularly relevant for assignees commuting weekly between Poland and Ireland or the UK, and for companies booking group charters for seasonal staff. HR teams should add passport-expiry checks to their travel approval workflows and remind parents that children’s passports are valid for only five years.
