If you enrolled in the UNHCR cash assistance programme in Poland between 2022 and 2024, please be informed that your biometric data (i.e. fingerprints), which was collected for identity verification purposes has now been deleted.
You will find more information on this page.
Your biometric data may have been retained by UNHCR only in the rare situation when:
- You have subsequently moved to another country, and
- You enrolled/registered with UNHCR in that country where the Biometric Identity Management System (BIMS) is in use.
Your biographical data and assistance records related to past cash assistance or other UNHCR activities in Poland are retained only for audit, accountability, and archival purposes, in line with UNHCR retention standards and our Policy on Data Protection and Privacy (2022) and our Policy on the Protection of Personal Data of Persons of Concern to UNHCR (2015).
For more information on how UNHCR in Poland uses the personal data collected from you and your rights relating to the use of your personal data, please see our privacy notice.
Why did UNHCR delete biometric data of refugees from Ukraine?
UNHCR cares about data protection and your right to privacy.
We deleted your biometric data in line with our Policy on Data Protection and Privacy. This policy sets a high standard of personal data protection similar to international data protection frameworks, including those applied in the EU. According to this policy, UNHCR must delete your personal data when it no longer needs it for a specific purpose.
Since UNHCR’s financial assistance programmes for refugees from Ukraine in Poland ended, there is no longer any reason for UNHCR to keep your biometric data.
UNHCR Poland has therefore deleted this data in order to discharge its duty and to protect your privacy.
UNHCR’s cash programme ended in March 2024. Why is UNHCR only deleting this data now?
UNHCR manages the personal data of refugees in line with our Policy on Data Protection and Privacy, which is consistent with international and EU data protection standards. We may keep your biometric data for a limited time after a program has ended for auditing and accountability purposes. Protecting your privacy and safety remains our top priority.
Will the deletion of my data impact my legal status, rights or entitlements in Poland?
No, it will not affect your legal status, rights and entitlements.
The state authorities in Poland are responsible for registering and granting legal status to refugees from Ukraine present in their territory. Therefore, the deletion of your biometric data collected and held by UNHCR will not have any impact on your legal status and rights.
It will also not affect other services that UNHCR or partners provide to refugees in Poland, for which biometric data is not needed.
Is UNHCR deleting all personal data of refugees from Ukraine? If not, why is UNHCR keeping (retaining) some of the refugees’ data if it does not need it any longer?
Biometric records of refugees who were previously enrolled in Poland, and whose last recorded contact with UNHCR was in Poland were deleted.
UNHCR continues to retain biometric records of refugees who, despite their initial enrollment in Poland, have most recently enrolled with UNHCR in another country where UNHCR’s BIMS system is used. This is because their biometric records are still needed in order to provide them with protection and/or assistance in those other countries. UNHCR will continue to retain other personal data of refugees previously enrolled in Poland, including biographical data and personal data related to assistance provided to them. This is for the purposes of auditing and archiving.
Can I request confirmation of the deletion of my biometric data?
Confirmation of the deletion of your biometric data is issued only upon request. Such requests should be submitted by email and must include:
- Your full name,
- Date of birth,
- PESEL-UKR number or Ukrainian Tax ID number.
Your other rights are explained in detail on this page.
Should you have any concerns, questions or complaints regarding the processing of your personal data by UNHCR, you can contact UNHCR Poland via UNHCR’s helpline by clicking the button below.
