Poland: Information for stateless people and those at risk of statelessness fleeing Ukraine ENS Focal Point: Halina Niec Legal Aid Center (HNLAC) Last updated: 6 April 2022 This briefing provides country-specific information for stateless people and those at risk of statelessness fleeing Ukraine. It is intended as a source of information for refugee response actors and affected individuals. The focus is on stateless people and people at risk of statelessness, including those who are undocumented. Links to more general information for refugees from Ukraine are provided throughout. We will endeavour to keep this information updated. Please contact Ukraine.crisis@statelessness.eu if you have relevant updates. Unless otherwise shown, the source of information provided is the ENS Focal Point. 1. SITUATION AT THE BORDER & ENTRY REQUIREMENTS The Polish authorities state that all those fleeing the conflict from Ukraine may enter Poland. However, there have been reports of discrimination on both the Ukrainian and Polish sides of the border. People without valid documents or at risk of exclusion are advised to avoid the Szehyni/Medyka border crossing. The safest crossings currently are Budomierz-Hruszew (Budomezh-Hrusiv) and Dołhobyczów-Uhrynów (DołhobyczówUhryniv). Undocumented people are allowed to enter, but face delays as they must undergo identity checks and may be detained for this purpose. Border guards are the first points of contact. Reception points at the border are organised by the Ministry of Interior and UNHCR is present at the borders. For more information on the location of border crossings and entry requirements, see: Polish Government page for people fleeing Ukraine, UNHCR Operational Data Portal on Poland, UNHCR page on Poland for people fleeing Ukraine, Stowarzyszenie Interwencji Prawnej page on Ukraine, and Granica Group page on Ukraine. Documents required • • • Entry and registration • • • • • Documents issued • Stateless persons: any document; entry should be permitted to all those fleeing Ukraine even without documents Adults: Regular passport, ID documents; expired passports also accepted Children: Regular passport, ID documents, or birth certificates; proof of parental consent if travelling with another adult; undocumented/unaccompanied children: allowed to enter even without documents Stateless persons: entry permitted; if without documents, identity check required and may be detained (see below); Border Guard will issue 15-day entry permit; apply for asylum or temporary protection (if eligible) within 15-days Undocumented persons: must present to Border Guard at the border; permitted entry but may be detained for identity checks; Border Guard will issue 15-day entry permit; apply for asylum within 15-days Beneficiaries of international protection: entry permitted; register with Border Guard to receive 15-day entry permit; may apply for temporary protection Children: entry permitted Unaccompanied children: entry permitted; general rules apply; will be referred to family court to establish a legal guardian and foster care or a ‘temporary guardian’ (new measure applicable only to Ukrainian nationals); registration at the border is not systematic and there are protection gaps; special procedure and taskforce of lawyers established by Human Rights League for unaccompanied minors in Krakow Stamp in passport or separate certificate as proof of entry but reportedly no systematic pattern of registration at the border; persons not registered at border are required to apply for PESEL within 60 days