The Temporary Identity Document for Foreigners Will Be Recognised as Valid ID for Opening Bank Accounts in Poland

Illustrated photo

On 9 April 2026, a working meeting took place between Pavel Latushka — Deputy Head of the United Transitional Cabinet and delegate of the Coordination Council — and Mikhail Kirylyuk, Head of the Coordination Council's Legal Commission, and the leadership of the Polish Financial Supervision Authority (KNF). A representative of the General Inspector of Financial Information of the Polish Ministry of Finance also participated.

The central topic of the meeting was the problem of banking access for Belarusian citizens residing in Poland, specifically concerning:

• former political prisoners and others awaiting international protection;

• persons undergoing legalisation of their stay (awaiting a residence permit, including its renewal);

• citizens with expired passports — whose renewal is objectively impossible — and those with no passport at all;

• other categories of Belarusian citizens.

Pavel Latushka informed the Polish financial supervisory authorities that Belarusians frequently face:

• refusals to open accounts in Polish banks;

• restrictions on the use of mobile banking;

• freezing of funds in accounts;

• and other related difficulties.

Concrete cases of Belarusians who encountered difficulties with banking services were presented to the Polish side. These cases were collected in part through the NAU chatbot, and also submitted by the Belarusian Association of Political Prisoners "Da Voli" — totalling more than 40 cases.

Representatives of the KNF and the General Inspector of Financial Information stated that they would initiate internal procedures to coordinate possible solutions — which could lead to the removal of some of the obstacles to opening and operating bank accounts — with the Office for Foreigners, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the National Tax Administration of Poland.

The KNF reported that, following prior communication between NAU and KNF, Polish banks have already been informed of the requirement to recognise the Temporary Identity Document for Foreigners (TZTC) as a valid identity document. Banks are currently completing the adaptation of their internal procedures, including software, for practical application when serving Belarusian citizens. According to available information, some banks have already begun opening accounts on the basis of the TZTC.

"In connection with the problem of interpreting EU restrictions that affect the use of mobile banking by Belarusian citizens on EU territory, we will submit relevant requests to the National Tax Administration — which, like the KNF, has the authority to interpret legal norms in the financial sphere — as well as a further request to the European Commission. Work to protect the rights of Belarusians abroad will continue. We remain open to your appeals and problems, and are ready to work toward their resolution. We will keep you informed of decisions taken by the Polish side," said Pavel Latushka.

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