How can a Belarusian obtain a humanitarian residence permit in Poland?

Step-by-step instructions, tips and recommendations

Starting July 9, 2022, Belarusians in Poland can obtain a humanitarian residence permit. The main requirement is a humanitarian visa. It can be valid or extended until the end of 2022 due to the pandemic threat status.

Humanitarian residence permit

With a humanitarian visa, Belarusians can apply not only for a humanitarian residence permit (a temporary residence permit card), but also for a temporary residence permit for any other suitable reason, such as work or study. The main difference with a humanitarian residence permit is that it most likely prohibits travel to Belarus. This issue is currently being regulated by Poland (though travel is ultimately permitted—see UPDATE at the end of the article). Therefore, if you have the opportunity to apply for any other reason, it's best to take advantage of it.

A temporary residence permit for humanitarian reasons will be issued for three years at once, unlike other cards, which are issued for periods ranging from three months to three years. The issuance period depends on many factors, such as the length of your employment.

As with humanitarian visas, Belarusians remain exempt from obtaining a work permit (oświadczenia).

There will also be no stamp duty charged for processing the case.

How to obtain a humanitarian residence permit for Belarusians

It is necessary to fill out an application for hours of stay due to other circumstances.

Submit it to the Department of Affairs foreigners at your place of residence. This can be done in person through the Biuro Podawcze office, by mail, or by scheduling an in-person appointment with fingerprinting (this is the fastest option). You can contact us for assistance with scheduling. Appointment requirements and deadlines vary by voivodeship.

Prepare a set of documents. The most important ones are: 4 photos and a copy of your passport. Insurance is recommended. The required documents and their number vary by voivodeship.

If you submitted all your documents to the inspector at once, you'll receive a stamp in your passport and a permit. If you submitted your documents in a different way, you'll have to wait for a letter from the office stating which documents you need to submit and the deadline for your appearance. Only then will your case be processed.

All that's left is to wait for humanitarian leave for Belarusians. You can track the status of your case on the government portal. Each voivodeship has its own system, or they may not exist at all. So, in any case, keep an eye on your correspondence and text messages. You may also receive a phone call to clarify details. Also, keep in mind that due to the influx of refugees until the end of 2022, processing deadlines are often missed and complaints are not processed.

Once you receive a positive decision, you can pick up your residence card. You will be informed of the time and place.

Obtaining a humanitarian visa in Poland

From August 30 The Polish government has made it possible for Belarusians to obtain this visa in Warsaw. In September, applications will be available in Białystok, Lublin, and Poznań.

Those who wish to extend their humanitarian visas and those who arrived from Ukraine after February 24 and were previously legally resident there are eligible.

For Belarusians arriving from Ukraine who didn't have a residence permit there, this is an excellent solution for further legalization in Poland. Currently, there are difficulties applying for a permanent residence card. This is due to the fact that their stay in Poland is not regulated by law. Previously, they were given 15 days to apply for a residence permit or leave the country. However, for those who didn't apply within this timeframe, this has become an additional problem.

The procedure for obtaining a humanitarian visa to Poland will be announced soon, and we will outline it. The application and documents are submitted to the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

It is also known that work is currently underway to expand the list of Belarusian citizens who could receive a humanitarian visa in Poland.

Currently, a humanitarian visa allows travel to Belarus, and a humanitarian residence permit allows travel to Belarus conditionally. However, we strongly recommend against misusing this visa option, as such widespread occurrences will eventually lead to its revocation or the imposition of additional restrictions.

Citizens of Ukraine can also obtain a humanitarian visa.

Travel document for Belarusians

Starting January 1, 2023, holders of humanitarian residence permits in Poland will be able to obtain a so-called travel document, which can replace a passport for international travel. This is an excellent solution for those whose passports have expired and are unable to renew them due to the inability to return to Belarus or to obtain a replacement through the consulate.

UPDATE: The Department of International Affairs and Migration of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Poland has clarified that departure to Belarus will not in itself be grounds for the cancellation of a "humanitarian residence permit" issued under Article 186, Part 1, Clause 9 of the Law on Foreigners.

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Tanya Zhovna

09/02/2026

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Ольга настоящий профессионал и при этом очень чуткий, внимательный человек. С самого начала она сопровождала меня шаг за шагом: помогала со сбором документов и подробно консультировала, а затем взяла на себя все организационные моменты и полностью сняла стресс, который обычно сопровождает такие процедуры.

С огромным удовольствием рекомендую её всем, кто ценит профессионализм, надёжность и человеческое отношение. И, без сомнений, обращусь к ней снова

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Max

27/01/2026

Получил карту Сталэго Побыта при помощи Latwy Start по корням. Сам в это полностью не вникал. Сказали какие документы нужны и куда нужно прийти. Все сделал теперь карта на руках.

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Denis Litvinov

15/01/2026

Łatwy Start – отличный выбор для IT специалиста, всё работает как часы. Плюсом есть полная прозрачность о том, как и что происходит со стороны выставления фактур и оплат.

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ALEXANDR

28/12/2025

Оформлял карту сталего побыта, меня сопровождала Кристина. Все было хорошо: отношение было доброжелательное, вся информация предоставлялась вовремя, а пояснения были понятными и подробными. Процесс прошёл спокойно и без лишних переживаний.

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Дарина Дробышевская

03/12/2025

Хочу оставить отзыв о работе Latwy Start, а именно о сотрудничестве с Ольгой. Она — профессионал с большой буквы и очень приятный человек.

Ольга помогала мне на каждом этапе: от сбора документов, где она постоянно консультировала меня и предоставляла примеры заполнения, чтобы всё было идеально, до самого посещения ужонда, где она сопровождала меня и полностью сняла стресс, связанный с процедурой.

После подачи Ольга регулярно информировала меня о статусе моего дела и делала всё возможное, чтобы его рассмотрели быстрее.

Я безмерно довольна её работой и обязательно обращусь к ней снова. Сегодня я забрала свою первую карту на 3 года, и точно знаю — без Ольги я бы не справилась!☺️

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Vladimir Drobyshevsky

28/11/2025

Хотел бы оставить положительный отзыв о услугах данного агенства. Мои куратором была Ольга. Получил карту побыта, все понравилось: о всех нюансах получал информацию, на все вопросы Ольга отвечала, даже на самые глупые) Ничего не забыли, результат в виде карты получен, рекомендую!

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Svitlana

21/11/2025

I’m really thankful to Olga for all her help. From answering the questions to receiving the residence permit. The process was smooth and there was no stress. That took only 5 months from application to obtainment.

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Damien Vice

02/11/2025

Ставлю 1 звезду. Планировал начать сотрудничество через икнубатор. Отправил 3 письма, через мейл и форму на сайте, написал в инсте, сделал 2 звонка (без ответа). Потратил неделю на ожидание. Меня просто проигнорировали. Как можно доверять этому сервису, если фонд не в состоянии ответить на письмо и прислать документы для ознакомления. Жду объяснения

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Andrii Melnychuk

26/08/2025

I highly recommend Łatwy Start! Thanks to them, my two kids and I received 3-year residence cards without any stress. Special thanks to manager Kristina — she was extremely helpful and even managed to speed up the process for my children. Excellent service, very satisfied!

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Anastasia
Anastasia
17.10.2022 15:02

Hello, We received a personal income tax card with a humanitarian visa, and it was issued for 3 months, 1.5 months of the card’s validity remains, can we apply for a humanitarian card? We applied in June, even before the humanitarian card law.

Ivan
Ivan
20.01.2023 05:33

Hello, can I apply for a humanitarian residence permit with a work visa? And what kind of residence permit should I apply for if my passport expires in a year? And there's no option to replace it.

Ivan
Ivan
20.01.2023 21:30

If my passport cannot be extended, can I still obtain a Polish travel document if I receive a temporary residence permit through work?

Aliaksei
Aliaksei
18.02.2023 17:05
Reply to  Ivan

Hello, I'm in Poland studying at university (I received a visa for this purpose in September 2021). My visa has expired. I'm currently waiting to be fingerprinted (I began the process of obtaining a temporary residence permit for this purpose in September 2022, and I was registered for fingerprinting in April 2023). Is it possible to change the purpose of my stay to humanitarian?

Timur
Timur
20.01.2023 22:49

Good afternoon, I have a question: I had a Polish humanitarian visa. When it was about to expire, I moved to Lithuania and received a visa for Belarusians who cannot return. I haven't traveled to Belarus and don't have the opportunity to do so. Can I now apply for a new humanitarian visa in Poland or get a residence permit, since my stay in Lithuania is ending soon?

Sasha
Sasha
01.02.2023 13:17

Hello! I'm getting my residence permit in a few days. Do I have to pay for the card? Is this the full fee?

Egor
Egor
20.06.2023 22:26

Can a holder of a humanitarian residence permit visit third countries or transit through them, for example, Lithuania?

Martha
Martha
21.06.2023 14:28

Please tell me, is it possible to open a sole proprietorship with a temporary residence permit on humanitarian grounds?

Catherine
Catherine
21.03.2024 13:26

Could you please tell me if it is possible to be a member of Spółka z ograniczoną odpowiedzialnością with a humanitarian visa?