Diiapl in Poland: how to install and use

Why do you need the Diia.pl electronic document? How to install Diia.pl?

Ukrainians in Poland enjoy a level of care and attention to their needs unlike anywhere else abroad. Social assistance, the right to legally work and run a business, free medical care, educational services — these are just some of the opportunities available to Ukrainians who arrived in the country after 24 February 2022.

We have already written about how to obtain Ukrainian documents in Poland. Additionally, the Polish government allows Ukrainian citizens to generate an electronic document called Diia.pl — the equivalent of the Ukrainian Diia app. This document is treated as equivalent to a residence card (karta pobytu).

So what is Diia.pl for, who can obtain it, and — most importantly — how do you do it? Read on for the details.

Why do you need the Diia.pl electronic document?

The Diia.pl electronic document contains the key personal identification data:

• surname and first name
• PESEL number
• date and place of birth
• citizenship
• photograph

So what can you use Diia.pl for?

• The most important feature for users is that the Diia.pl electronic document is equivalent to a residence permit. It is your electronic residence card, which allows you to cross the external borders of European Union countries and travel within the Schengen Area under the 90/180 rule (editor's note: travel without a long-term residence permit, allowing short-term stays in Schengen countries — no more than 90 days in any 180-day period).
• The electronic document must be activated when leaving Poland for Ukraine and returning. Without Diia.pl, you may be denied entry at the border — on the grounds that your visa-free days have been exhausted.
• Diia.pl is a convenient way to confirm your personal data — specifically the data listed in the electronic document. For example, you may need your PESEL number when visiting a government office, or your year of birth when travelling on a discounted transport ticket.

You can obtain this electronic document if you fall into one of the following categories:

• you are a Ukrainian citizen who arrived in Poland after 24 February 2022
• you have a PESEL number with the UKR designation
• you have activated a trusted profile (profil zaufany).

How to install Diia.pl?

Whereas in Ukraine you need to download the dedicated "Diia" app to access your electronic documents, in Poland you need the mObywatel app for Diia.pl.

Here is a step-by-step guide to getting set up.

1. Download the mObywatel app on your smartphone. For iPhone — from the AppStore, for Android devices — from Google Play.
2. In the app, select the option "Add Diia.pl". Here you can review the basic information and accept the privacy policy.
3. Enter a name for your phone (any word will do).
4. Create a strong password for the electronic document. The app requires a password meeting the highest security standards — at least 8 characters, including uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and special characters. You will enter this password every time you need to present your Diia.pl document.
5. To log into the electronic document for the first time — enter your trusted profile (profil zaufany) login and password.
6. You will receive an SMS with a one-time access code. Enter it — and you're done.

Detailed information about Diia.pl in the mObywatel app is available on the gov.pl website via this link.

Gremi Personal prepares articles and videos about life and work in Poland. Read, watch, and discover more useful information.

Looking for work in Poland? Browse our job listings catalogue. If you haven't found what you're looking for — call us at: [+38 (050) 334-93-51 or +48 525 275 003](tel:+38 (050) 334-93-51 or +48 525 275 003), [+38 (050) 334-93-51 or +48 525 275 003](tel:+38 (050) 334-93-51 or +48 525 275 003), [+38 (050) 334-93-51 or +48 525 275 003](tel:+38 (050) 334-93-51 or +48 525 275 003)