The government is changing the rules for Ukrainians in Poland. They will cover 1.5 million people

From March 5, 2026, the law extinguishing the solutions provided for in the Law on Assistance to Citizens of Ukraine will come into force. Changes in regulations introduce new obligations both for Ukrainians themselves and for their employers.

Changes for Ukrainians in Poland from March 5

People who have a current PESEL UKR status do not have to take any additional steps to continue to benefit from protection. However, the situation is different in the case of those who were assigned a PESEL UKR number without presenting a valid identity document. These Ukrainians must confirm their data at the office by August 31, 2026 at the latest. If they do not do this, from September 1 their status will be changed to NUE, i.e. unregulated stay, which in practice will mean the loss of the right to legally stay in Poland.

An important change is the introduction of a 30-day deadline for submitting an application for PESEL UKR for persons who enter Poland after the new regulations enter into force. This regulation is intended to limit cases of informal extension of stay. At the same time, a stay outside Poland exceeding 30 days may result in the loss of UKR status, which will particularly affect seasonal workers and people delegated to work abroad.

Access to the labor market for PESEL UKR holders remains simplified – it is still enough to submit a notification to the district labor office, without the need to obtain a permit.

New regulations for Ukrainians in Poland. What will change?

The new regulations also enable Ukrainians to conduct business activities on the same terms as Polish citizens. A CUKR residence card was introduced, issued for three years to persons covered by temporary protection. This document provides full access to the labor market without additional formalities, the right to run a company and the ability to travel within the Schengen area for up to 90 days in each 180-day period.

However, some regulations raise interpretation doubts. Entrepreneurs ask, among other things, how to count the 30-day period of stay outside Poland and whether it will be possible to regain the lost UKR status. The rules for re-assigning PESEL UKR to persons whose status has been changed to NUE, as well as the situation of persons with a biometric passport and residence permits from other Schengen countries, also remain unclear.

The changes will also cover health care. From March 5, refugees from Ukraine will be able to use all health care services, provided they have insurance and pay health insurance contributions. The exceptions are, among others: people injured in war, pregnant women and victims of violence.