{"id":520735,"date":"2026-02-25T16:11:50","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T13:11:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/reform.news\/?p=520735"},"modified":"2026-02-25T16:33:38","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T13:33:38","slug":"belarusian-in-poland-may-lose-international-protection-over-new-belarus-passport","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/reform.news\/en\/belarusian-in-poland-may-lose-international-protection-over-new-belarus-passport","title":{"rendered":"Belarusian in Poland May Lose International Protection Over New Belarus Passport"},"content":{"rendered":"
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In Poland, proceedings have been initiated to revoke international protection from a Belarusian citizen after he used a New Belarus passport when renewing his residence permit (karta pobytu), the Partyzanka initiative reports.<\/p>\n

The man\u2019s national Belarusian passport had expired, and he was objectively unable to obtain a new one. When applying to renew his residence permit, he indicated a New Belarus passport. The Polish authority interpreted this as interaction with Belarusian state bodies.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe procedure to revoke international protection was initiated because the person\u2019s national passport had expired and he could not objectively obtain a new one. When submitting the application, he indicated a New Belarus passport. This was perceived by the urz\u0105d as interaction with Belarusian state authorities. As a result, proceedings to revoke international protection were launched, checks of travel history were initiated, and his case was re-examined. At this stage, the person has provided written explanations to the urz\u0105d. Most likely, the procedure to revoke international protection will be discontinued,\u201d Partyzanka explained.<\/p>\n

Under Polish law, using a symbolic document (such as a passport, student ID, or driver\u2019s licence) as an official document may result in criminal liability under Article 270 \u00a71 of the Polish Criminal Code.<\/p>\n

A symbolic document must not be used for:
\n\u2013 presentation as an identity document (for example, to a notary, bank, or employer);
\n\u2013 residence legalisation procedures, dealings with state authorities, or visa applications;
\n\u2013 crossing borders, including air travel;
\n\u2013 obtaining a loan, credit, or instalment plan;
\n\u2013 concluding contracts if the other party perceives the document as genuine (for example, renting accommodation).<\/p>\n

In cases involving loans or credit, additional criminal risks may arise, including under Article 297 \u00a71 of the Polish Criminal Code.<\/p>\n

A symbolic document may be used only if it is kept at home as a souvenir or symbol, shown to friends, used exclusively in a symbolic or informational context, or photographed and published as a souvenir item without legal consequences.<\/p>\n

Partyzanka stresses that Belarusian citizens without a national passport may obtain a Polish travel document, and that when renewing a residence card based on international protection, neither a passport nor a travel document is required at all.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy it is not recommended to use symbolic documents (such as a New Belarus passport) for legalisation purposes: the issue is not limited to whether the migration service will accept the document. The very fact of using such a document may serve as grounds for:
\n\u25aa additional checks;
\n\u25aa being summoned for an interview;
\n\u25aa analysis of travel history and documents;
\n\u25aa initiation of proceedings to revoke status,\u201d the initiative warns.<\/p>\n

The existence of a criminal case related to the use of a symbolic document may also serve as grounds for launching a new procedure to revoke international protection on the basis of a criminal offence.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In Poland, proceedings have been initiated to revoke international protection from a Belarusian citizen after he used a New Belarus passport when renewing his residence permit (karta pobytu), the Partyzanka initiative reports. The man\u2019s national Belarusian passport had expired, and he was objectively unable to obtain a new one. When applying to renew his residence […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":119,"featured_media":520734,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sharing_image":{"poster":"https:\/\/reform.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/699efa399a979.jpg","width":1200,"height":630,"template":"691142dd","mode":"auto"},"_sharing_image_fieldset":{"dTVKfmI95PYT":"Belarusian in Poland May Lose International Protection Over New Belarus Passport"},"footnotes":""},"categories":[142339,142338],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-520735","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-main","category-news"],"wps_subtitle":"","permalink_manager":null,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/reform.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/520735","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/reform.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/reform.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/reform.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/119"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/reform.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=520735"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/reform.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/520735\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/reform.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/520734"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/reform.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=520735"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/reform.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=520735"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/reform.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=520735"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}