A Reader wrote to us via Facebook:

The point is that a terrible number of people cannot return to the country, including my mother, who is stuck […].

DUW:

Due to the epidemic threat and the spread of the coronavirus, border controls at the internal border will be temporarily restored from 15 March this year until 24 March this year. Poland’s borders with Germany, Lithuania, the Czech Republic and Slovakia may be crossed only at designated locations. Controls will also be conducted at seaports and airports. Restrictions on foreigners entering Poland will be introduced both at the internal border and at the external border (border crossings with Belarus, Russia and Ukraine).

Changes to border crossing procedures are being introduced to counter the spread of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. The aim is to prevent people who may pose a serious threat to public health from entering Poland.

Helpline

The situation is serious, so the Ministry of the Interior has launched a helpline “in connection with the development of the epidemiological situation” concerning the possibility of crossing the borders. Information is available by telephone at +48 22 523 8880.

Nr infolinii dla osób chcących wrócić do PolskiNr infolinii dla osób chcących wrócić do Polski • MSZ

KD suspends cross-border services

The regional carrier has suspended cross-border services with the Czech Republic and Germany.

How to return by plane?

A special website, lotdodomu.pl, has been launched. It says:

As part of the #LOTdoDomu operation, the Polish government and Polskie Linie Lotnicze LOT will organize special charter flights to various regions of the world to enable our citizens and foreigners entitled to do so to return home.

Who can cross the border now?

  • citizens of the Republic of Poland;
  • foreigners who are spouses or children of citizens of the Republic of Poland, or who remain under the permanent care of citizens of the Republic of Poland;
  • foreigners holding a Pole’s Card;
  • heads of diplomatic missions and members of the diplomatic and consular staff of missions, namely persons holding diplomatic rank, and their family members;
  • foreigners holding the right of permanent or temporary residence in the territory of the Republic of Poland;
  • foreigners holding the right to work in the territory of the Republic of Poland, i.e. foreigners entitled to work under the same conditions as Polish citizens, holding a work permit, a seasonal work permit or a declaration on entrusting work to a foreigner in the territory of the Republic of Poland;
  • in particularly justified cases not listed above, the commander of a Border Guard post, after obtaining the consent of the Commander-in-Chief of the Border Guard, may permit a foreigner to enter the territory of the Republic of Poland, under the procedure specified in the Act of 12 December 2013 on foreigners;
  • foreigners who operate a means of transport used to carry goods.