Temporary certificate of identity

Issuance of the temporary certificate of identity is connected with proceedings for granting the refugee status, led under the procedure specified in the Act of 13 June 2003 r. on granting  protection to foreigners within the territory of the Republic of Poland (Journal of Laws of 13 ^th June 2003, No. 128, item 1176).

The certificate of identity, within the period of its validity, confirms the identity of a person, to the name of whom it has been issued, and entitles this person and her/his minor children, whose personal data were entered into certificate, to stay on the territory of the Republic of Poland.

1. The manner of issuing the temporary certificate of identity:

According to above mentioned act, the authority that has received the application for the refugee status issues the applicant and his/her spouse, on behalf of whom the applicant submitted the application, temporary certificate of identity, which is valid for 30 days. The first certificate is issued ex officio.

Subsequent certificate of identity or its replacement are issued upon the request of the alien who submitted an application (application form in the folder). An applicant and persons, on behalf of whom an alien submitted the application, should enclose one update photograph, undamaged, distinct, colour, about dimensions 35 of x of 45 mm, taken on uniform bright background, introducing a person without headgear and dark glasses, with opened eyes not covered by hair, looking ahead, with natural face expression and closed mouth, with keeping regular lighting of face. If the application concerns the person with congenital or acquired vision defects, photograph enclosed to the application, may introduce this person in dark glasses. In case of person wearing headgear according to principles of her/his faith, the photograph may introduce this person with headgear. A headgear cannot cover or deform the oval of the face.

Subsequent certificate of identity may be issued by the Head of the Office for Foreigners.  It is valid for the period not exceeding 6 months, till the end of the proceedings for granting refugee status.

2. Return of temporary certificate of identity:

An alien who has received a final decision on granting the refugee status, is obliged to return certificate of identity to the authority that has issued it.  If alien, who received a final decision on granting the refugee status, leaves the territory of the Republic of Poland, he/she shall return the certificate of identity to the commanding officer of the Border Guard checkpoint at the moment of crossing the border.

3. Minor children, and the temporary certificate of identity:

The personal data of a child, on behalf of whom the applicant submitted the application, are entered into the certificate of identity of child's parents. After the expiry of first certificate of identity, upon the request of one of the parents, the Head of the Office may issue a separate identity certificate for a minor child, in age above 7 years, on behalf of whom the applicant submitted the application.

If the applicant is an unaccompanied minor, the certificate is issued to the minor's name.

4. Exchange of temporary certificate of identity:

An alien who received an identity certificate is obliged to exchange it in case of:

1) change of the data contained in;

2) birth of a child;

3) expiration of its validity;

4) damage of the identity document, which makes its use difficult;

5) occurrence of other circumstances, making confirming his/her identity difficult.

The exchange of certificate of identity and issuance a new one is given on request of the alien by the Head of the Office.

5. Loss of temporary certificate of identity:

An alien who lost the certificate of identity, is obliged to notify the Head of the Office of that fact within 3 days. In case of finding own certificate of identity, in place which was already given new certificate, found certificate should be immediately return to the Head of the Office.

Legal basis:

Ordinance of the Minister of Interior and Administration of 30 ^th January 2009 on temporary certificate of identity (Journal of Laws of 19 ^th February 2009)

Act of 13 June 2003 r. on granting protection to foreigners within the territory of the Republic of Poland (Journal of Laws of 13 ^th June 2003, No. 128, item 1176).