Citizens of Ukraine, as well as Belarus and Russia residing in Poland will be able to apply for the Card of the Pole and collect it in 16 voivodeship offices in Poland. Applying for and receiving the Card will be possible in the coming weeks, reports the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).

The ministry explained that after the start of the Russian aggression against Ukraine, Polish consulates in Ukraine secured the Cards of the Pole and sent them to the MFA in Warsaw. Here, the documents are successively issued to the people who apply for them.

The MFA has prepared a regulation to ensure that Ukrainian citizens residing in Poland can apply for the Card of the Pole without having to travel to Ukraine.

“Citizens of Ukraine subject to the provisions of the Act of 7 September 2007 on the Card of the Pole will be able to submit an application in any voivodeship office according to their place of residence in Poland, and not, as in the previous regulations, only in Polish consulates outside our country”, says the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Applications will be able to be submitted both by persons who have already had the Card of the Pole before and those who will apply for the card for the first time. The documents can be collected where the applications were submitted, without the need to travel to Ukraine.

The Card of the Pole is a document confirming belonging to the Polish nation. Its holder is entitled to: exemption from the obligation to hold a work permit and to take up and pursue economic activity on the same principles as Polish citizens; to benefit from health care services in emergencies.

In order to obtain the Card of the Pole, it is necessary to demonstrate a connection with Polishness through at least a basic knowledge of the Polish language and knowledge and cultivation of Polish traditions and customs. The Card is valid for 10 years and can be renewed for another 10 years; for persons over 65 years of age, it is issued for an indefinite period.

Arkadiusz Słomczyński