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. It also referred to a passport marked with a notice about political unreliability. 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. The latter kind of wolf's 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. ==Poland==