Polish travel document for a foreigner
We help obtain a Polish travel document for a foreigner: we verify the legal basis, residence status in Poland, documents, fees and application, and assist with filing at the voivodeship office.
Complete the form and receive a free consultation
- Consultation
- Document review and preparation
- Application form preparation
- Appointment booking
- Assistance during the in-person filing
Which documents are required for a Polish travel document?
required in Warsaw)
(Belarusian citizens are exempt until 31 December 2026)
Polish travel document for a foreigner (Dokument podróży)
Dokument podróży dla cudzoziemca is an identity document issued to a foreigner whose passport has been lost, destroyed or has expired and who cannot obtain a new passport from the country of citizenship.
The special procedure for Belarusian citizens has been extended until 31 December 2026. Citizens of the Republic of Belarus may apply under Article 252a of the Act on Foreigners. This procedure has broader eligibility rules than the standard procedure.
The Polish travel document does not grant Polish citizenship and does not replace a residence card. It is valid for one year and may be used for multiple border crossings during its validity.
Eligibility for a Polish travel document
Under the standard procedure, the foreigner must hold one of the following statuses:
— permanent residence;
— EU long-term resident status;
— the temporary residence permit referred to in Article 186(1)(9) of the Act on Foreigners;
— subsidiary protection;
— permission to stay for humanitarian reasons.
Belarusian citizens may use a separate procedure under Article 252a of the Act on Foreigners until 31 December 2026.
Has your passport and residence card expired while the new decision is still pending?
Filing may still be possible in this situation. The previous decision, pending residence case, current legal basis of stay and evidence showing that a passport from the country of citizenship cannot be obtained must be reviewed.
This is one of the most difficult situations. Because residence proceedings may take a long time, a person can be left without a valid passport and without a current residence card. A standard document set is not sufficient in such a case. It is necessary to verify the current legal basis of stay, the status previously granted, whether the special procedure for Belarusian citizens applies and which evidence confirms that a passport from the country of citizenship cannot be obtained.
No valid passport
The authority will require an explanation and evidence showing why a new passport from the country of citizenship cannot be obtained.
01No valid residence card
The previous decision, expired card, pending residence case and legal basis of stay on the filing date must be reviewed.
02A solution may be possible with the correct strategy
We analyse these cases and prepare the filing so that the legal basis, passport situation and supporting evidence are properly addressed.
03What are the fees for a Polish travel document?
The government fee for issuing a Polish travel document for a foreigner is 350 zł. The reduced fee is 175 zł.
The reduced fee applies, among others, to students, upper-secondary school pupils, minors under 16 and people in a difficult financial situation.
Belarusian citizens using the special procedure until 31 December 2026 are exempt from the government fee. When neither an exemption nor a reduction applies, the fee is 350 zł.
Where is the application filed?
The application is filed with the voivode competent for the foreigner's place of stay. In Warsaw, this is the Mazovian Voivodeship Office.
The filing procedure differs between voivodeships. Some authorities require an appointment, a local online system or filing by post followed by an in-person visit. Personal attendance is required so the authority can verify identity and the submitted documents.
How long does the Polish travel document procedure take?
In Warsaw, a practical estimate is approximately one to two months. The processing time depends on the authority's workload, completeness of the documents and whether additional evidence of the inability to obtain a national passport is required.
Before filing, we verify eligibility, the document set and the risk of receiving an official request for additional evidence.
Ukrainian citizens: what must be demonstrated?
Ukrainian citizens use the standard procedure and must demonstrate that obtaining a new passport from the country of citizenship is impossible.
Evidence may include a response from a consulate, embassy, passport service or another document showing that a new Ukrainian passport cannot be obtained. The exact evidence depends on the circumstances of the case.
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01
We verify eligibility
We review citizenship, the residence card, decision, passport validity and the legal basis for the Polish travel document.
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02
We determine the correct procedure
We separately assess the standard procedure, the special rules for Belarusian citizens and difficult cases without a valid passport.
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03
We prepare the evidence
We prepare documents confirming identity, legal stay in Poland and the inability to obtain a passport from the country of citizenship.
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04
We prepare the application
We complete the application, check the photographs, fee, attachments and filing procedure in the relevant voivodeship.
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05
We assist through to completion
We assist with filing, responding to any official request for additional documents and collecting the Polish travel document.
Why use our assistance?
A Polish travel document for a foreigner is not a standard passport replacement. The applicant must prove both the loss, destruction or expiry of the passport and the inability to obtain a new passport from the country of citizenship.
We review citizenship, status in Poland, the previous residence card, the pending residence case, decisions, passport validity, the possibility of obtaining a passport through the consulate and eligibility for an exemption.
It is particularly important to seek advice early when the passport has expired, the new residence card has not yet been issued, the residence case has been pending for many months, you are a Belarusian citizen wishing to use the special procedure or the authority has sent an official request.
Frequently asked questions
Contact Information and Office Addresses
Contact us in any convenient way or visit one of our offices. We are always ready to answer your questions.
If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact us via the website form, messengers, or email. We will respond promptly.
+48 570 804 478
contact@skilldocs.pl
Wincentego Rzymowskiego 30, Lokal 323 02-697 Warszawa
If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact us via the website form, messengers, or email. We will respond promptly.
+48 537 097 502
contact@skilldocs.pl
Marszałka Józefa Piłsudskiego 74, 50-020 Wrocław
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If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact us via the website form, messengers, or email. We will respond promptly.
+48 536 535 645
contact@skilldocs.pl
Ul. Szkolna 1/308, 61-832 Poznań
By submitting the form, you accept the Privacy Policy and consent to being contacted.
