flash news
By decision of the President of the Republic of Belarus, since September this year, Belarusians are unable to apply for and obtain passport documents while staying abroad. The latest regulation governing this matter completely deprives Belarusian citizens of the right to apply for a new passport, irrespective of the factual basis (loss of the document, destruction, expiry date), as well as any civil status documents.
In upcoming parliamentary elections, the new content of art. 154 § 4 of the Electoral Code will apply for the first time. It defines the rights of members of a local or territorial election commission in relation to the performance of their tasks.
The first effects of the plan announced in mid-September by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to terminate contracts with visa agencies due to irregularities in visa processes are already visible.
On 28 September 2023, a political decision was taken in the Council of the EU to extend the temporary protection granted to Ukrainian citizens fleeing war who have found refuge in the territory of the European Union.
The new cut-off date for temporary protection for those fleeing war in Ukraine is to be 4 March 2025.
We are currently waiting for the Council to formally adopt a decision amending the existing regulations. This will take place once the final wording of the decision has been agreed and translated into all EU languages.
Ukrainian citizens who were residing in Poland based on, among others, a national visa, and their stay’s legal validity ended before 24 February 2022 and was then subsequently extended under the COVID-19 Special Act to 31 July 2023, may continue to reside legally in Poland until 4 March 2024. This follows from the interpretation issued by the Head of the Office for Foreigners.
Employers who fail to comply with the obligation to file a notification on the start of work by a Ukrainian citizen can avoid sanctions in certain situations.