Extension of temporary protection in Poland and the CUKR residence card: conditions and who will not be able to use it?
Starting from 2025, Ukrainians with PESEL UKR in Poland will be able to obtain a CUKR residence card, but not everyone will meet the requirements. Find out who will be able to use the new legalization mechanism and what conditions must be met to obtain the document
On May 15, the Polish Sejm approved amendments to the law on assistance to Ukrainian refugees. The new rules provide for the extension of temporary protection for refugees from Ukraine until September 30, 2025. However, in order to exercise this right, Ukrainians must meet a number of criteria. How to extend temporary protection in Poland under the new rules is described below.
Read more about other changes in the special law in this article.
The requirements for Ukrainian doctors in Poland will change here.
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Who will be able to extend temporary protection in Poland by obtaining a new status?
The new law, among other things, provides for the extension of the legal stay of Ukrainians who have been assigned a PESEL UKR number until September 30, 2025.
At the same time, according to the draft law, starting next year, Ukrainians will be able to change their residence status from the current temporary protection to a temporary residence permit for a period of 3 years. However, this change will be possible only if the following requirements are met:
– completing and updating all the necessary data in the PESEL UKR database at the commune office;
– submission of an electronic application to the voivode;
– having an active UKR status as of March 4, 2024 and at the time of submitting the application;
– no objections from the security services to the change of residence status;
– having at least 365 days of continuous UKR status in Poland.
In case of successful completion of the procedure, the Ukrainian citizen will receive a residence card marked "Poprzednio posiadał ochronę czasową" (previously had temporary protection).
At the same time, PESEL will receive a new status - instead of UKR, it will be marked in the relevant databases as PESEL CUKR. This rule will also apply to children of foreigners with UKR status who were born in Poland.
Who will not be able to obtain the CUKR card?
The new law provides for strict requirements for the continuity of the UKR status. Ukrainians who have lost and regained this status will not be able to apply for a CUKR card. This applies to thousands of citizens who enjoy temporary protection in Poland but cannot fulfill the requirement of 365-day continuity of status.
How to apply for a CUKR card?
The Office for Foreigners in Poland informs that the process of applying for a CUKR card in 2025 will be carried out exclusively online via an electronic form. Although the exact procedures have not yet been determined, it is known that the new service will be launched simultaneously with the start of application.
What else should Ukrainians consider with PESEL UKR?
Changing the legalization format from PESEL UKR to the CUKR card may result in the loss of certain benefits and privileges provided by temporary protection. This includes the possible loss of access to certain benefits and free medical services. To restore them, you will have to take out additional health insurance and confirm other legally significant aspects of your stay.
The new rules for Ukrainians in Poland have a number of nuances that can be quite difficult to understand. For detailed information on the adopted amendments to the special law, the terms of legal stay in Poland, the necessary steps to update data and obtain permits, please contact Visit Ukraine lawyers. You can order a consultation with a specialist in migration law by following this link.
We remind you! Citizens of Ukraine who arrived in Poland after the start of the full-scale invasion must apply for PESEL UKR status. However, more and more Ukrainians are facing the revocation of this status. Read more about who can lose the PESEL UKR status and for what reasons in our previous article.
Photo: chorzowianin.pl
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Ihor Usyk is the Head of Legal Department at Visit Ukraine
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