Warsaw keeps emergency travel documents for Belarusians alive until 30 June 2026

Belarusian citizens stranded abroad after Minsk stopped renewing passports have received a reprieve. Poland has quietly extended its special ‘travel document for a foreigner’ programme until 30 June 2026. Introduced in 2023, the document acts as an emergency passport—crucial for dissidents, remote IT workers and students whose Belarusian passports have expired. More than 28 000 documents have been issued, according to parliamentary replies.

Without the extension thousands risked losing legal stay and work rights: Polish residence and work-permit renewals require a valid travel document. Employers can now renew assignments and schedule business trips without forcing staff to re-enter Belarus. Mobility managers should nevertheless confirm that employees’ Polish residence cards remain valid and that non-EU destinations recognise the Polish document.



Community groups warn that voivodeship backlogs can stretch to three months. Applicants are advised to file online via MOS with a Trusted Profile to avoid multiple office visits. Companies planning EU assignments should budget extra time for arrival checks at non-Schengen airports, where border guards may be unfamiliar with the document.

Strategically, the extension underscores Warsaw’s dual approach: a hard security stance on irregular entries from Belarus while nurturing pro-democracy talent and tech skills welcomed by Polish firms. HR teams can therefore continue recruiting Belarusian nationals but should monitor Minsk’s reaction, which could complicate cross-border family travel.