Some Ukrainian children may not be able to enter Poland: reasons.

Ukrainian children under 13 years old, who have temporary protection, may not be able to enter Poland if they do not have the electronic document Diia.pl. This was reported by the Polish Border Guard, according to the resource uapl.info.

It is noted that the PESEL number does not automatically grant the right to re-enter Poland. At the request of the Right To Protection Poland foundation, the rules for crossing the border for children under 13, who lost access to the Diia.pl application due to changes in their parents' legal residence status, were clarified.

The head of the border department of the Main Headquarters of the Polish Border Guard, Arkadiusz Tywoniuk, confirmed that minors under 13 years old who do not have the electronic document Diia.pl cannot cross the Polish border or travel to other Schengen zone countries:

For this category of individuals crossing the border, it is necessary to present a valid foreign passport and an electronic document in the Diia.pl mobile application. Just having a certificate of PESEL number assignment does not grant Ukrainian citizens the right to re-enter Poland or travel to other Schengen agreement countries”, said the border service response.

This issue concerns children of Ukrainian refugees who were linked to their parents' or legal guardians' electronic document Diia.pl with the PESEL UKR status. If one of the parents or guardians receives a residence card, children lose access to this application.

Children under 13 cannot independently use Diia.pl, as a trusted profile (profil zaufany) in Poland can only be created from the age of 13.

The Polish Border Guard explained that changes in the legal status of Ukrainian refugees can lead to the loss of certain electronic accesses. The PESEL UKR status in Poland is canceled upon obtaining another status:

• permission for temporary or permanent residence (residence card);
• permission for long-term EU resident status;
• consent for additional protection;
• consent for tolerant stay or stay for humanitarian reasons.

At the same Time, the use of the electronic document Diia.pl is allowed only for Ukrainians with temporary protection (PESEL UKR status). If adults change their legal status in Poland, access to Diia.pl is canceled for their children under 13 linked to this application.

Let us remind you that a special module in the mObywatel Diia.pl application was created in March 2022 to involve Ukrainian refugees in the Polish electronic document base and provide them with access to digital services in the country. From July 23, 2022, the electronic document Diia.pl has been recognized as a digital proof of legal residence for Ukrainians in Poland. It acts as a residence permit and, along with a passport, allows crossing the external EU border and moving within the Schengen zone for up to 90 days. Since June 2023, Ukrainians in Poland can add their children's data to the electronic document Diia.pl. For this, the child must have UKR status in the PESEL register and be associated with a PESEL UKR number of one of the parents. With this document, children can travel freely.

The Polish authorities obliged all Ukrainian children to attend schools

Incidentally, the Polish authorities have obliged all Ukrainian children to attend schools from September. Failure to comply will result in a fine of 100 zlotys for parents, and from 2025, they may be deprived of the 800+ benefit.