Temporary residence permits

In Poland, a temporary residence permit for victims of human trafficking can be granted to a presumed foreign victim who meets the following conditions: 

• The victim resides in Poland
• The victim has cooperated with the authority competent to prosecute the offence of human trafficking and, in the case of a foreign minor, has been granted the status of a victim in proceedings concerning that offence
• They have cut the contacts with the person(s) suspected of committing the crime 

To receive a temporary residence permit, the presumed victim needs to apply for it to the provisional governor (voivode) in the foreigner’s place of residence. If the victim is a child, the legal guardian should apply the permit in the child’s stead.

The temporary residence permit can be granted for a time between six months and a maximum of three years. 

The temporary residence permit allows victims of trafficking to work, benefit from education in public post-secondary schools, public art schools, public teacher training centres and public institutions, as well as receive benefits in the form of crisis intervention, shelter, meals, necessary clothing, and special purpose benefits. In general, the assistance provided while holding a temporary residence permit differs from the first-stage assistance. It includes a broader range of services, such as long-term accommodation, support in finding a job, language classes, and more comprehensive medical and psychological care. 

The temporary residence permit is not automatically renewed. A foreigner interested in continuing their stay in Poland should apply for another temporary residence permit for victims of trafficking in human beings or a permanent residence permit.

Instead of a temporary residence permit, victims who are citizens of the EU, the EEA, and Switzerland, as well as their family members, can receive a certificate based on the Polish Act on the Entry Into, Residence in, and Exit from the territory of the Republic of Poland of citizens of the European Union Member States and their family members (Article 41a(1)). The certificate gives the victim the same rights to residence and assistance as the temporary residence permit.