Major General James G. Blunt

Wolf's ticket (Russian: Волчий билет, Polish: wilczy bilet) is a colloquial expression for a document (an ID, a certificate, etc.) with extra restrictive clauses.^[1][2][3]

The phrase remains in use in many of the countries of the former communist bloc, usually to denote any kind of document that negatively affects one's career.^{[citation needed]}

Russia

Originally it was a colloquial phrase in Russian Empire to denote a document issued instead of the internal passport to persons who were given a half-year postponement of katorga or exile for settling personal affairs. The phrase "wolf's certificate" or "wolf's passport" referred to a bad document with which it was impossible to be employed.^[4] It also referred to a passport marked with a notice about political unreliability.^[5]

Later, it denoted a limited certificate for completion of studies. Unlike a regular diploma, it merely stated that the studies were completed, but the student was not allowed to take exams for reasons of poor study or improper behavior.^{[citation needed]}

A wolf ticket was a serious impediment to one's career. Still later this phrase was applied to a document issued in place of an internal passport to persons released from imprisonment ("certificate of release"). Usually this kind of document restricted the rights of a citizen in terms of place of residence (the 101st kilometre rule), occupation, and so on.^{[citation needed]}

Poland

In Poland, "wolf's ticket" Polish: wilczy bilet) means an informal official negative opinion that prevented a person from traveling abroad, taking up studies or working due to offenses committed by him, usually of a political nature.^[6]

References

See also

• 101st kilometre
• Blacklisting
• Lishenets
• Residential segregation