The new European control system Eurodac has been launched in Poland: what will change for refugees?

The European Union is strengthening control over migration processes through the updated Eurodac system. Find out how the new biometric system works, what will change for refugees in Poland, and what is important for Ukrainians to know in 2026

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As part of the implementation of the Pact on Migration and Asylum, the European Union has updated the Eurodac migration flow control system. It has recently started operating in Poland. The main task of the large-scale digital biometric database is to strengthen control over asylum, illegal migration and border security.

Such innovations raise many questions among Ukrainians who are in EU countries under temporary protection. That is why we decided to find out what Eurodac is, how the new system works and what changes Ukrainians can expect in 2026.

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What do they say in Poland?

The Polish Ministry of the Interior and Administration reported that the new version of Eurodac will become an important tool for the border guard service, police and other law enforcement agencies of the country, as it will allow to significantly strengthen control over the level of migration and significantly increase the level of security in the country.

Read also, the Netherlands is introducing a single funding system for the reception of refugees from July 2026.

Eurodac - what is it?

According to the official press release, Eurodac is one of the largest information systems of the European Union in the field of migration and asylum. It is used by the national authorities of the member states and associated countries to process and compare data in accordance with the current legal framework.

To simplify these terms, Eurodac is a database with the help of which EU states determine who applied for asylum, in which country it happened for the first time, how a person crossed the border - officially or illegally, and whether they applied for international protection in several countries at the same time.

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How has Eurodac changed in 2026?

It is worth understanding that Eurodac is not a new resource, but an updated platform with more advanced functionality. If previously the system mainly worked with fingerprints, in 2026 there were significantly more tools. Now the system works with additional biometric and identification data and can process:

- fingerprints;

- facial photographs;

- passport data;

- information on travel documents;

- history of applications in different countries.

It is also important to lower the age threshold for collecting biometric data, because now data is recorded even in children aged 6 and over. All this significantly expands the possibilities of identifying individuals and reduces the risks of abuse of the migration system.

Why did the EU launch the new Eurodac migration control system?

The main task of the updated Eurodac system is to make the asylum system more transparent and manageable. For years, European countries have faced the problem of the same person applying for asylum in several states at the same time, which created a burden on the administrative system and complicated decision-making. From now on, this will be impossible, because the new Eurodac allows:

1. Faster verification of the applicant's history;

2. More effectively determine the country responsible for considering the application;

3. Identify repeated applications;

4. Strengthen control over illegal migration.

In fact, the EU is creating a single digital ecosystem where migration services, border guards and law enforcement can work faster and more accurately.

Why is the launch of Eurodac in Poland particularly important?

Poland is one of the key countries on the eastern border of the European Union. That is why the Polish border services, police and migration authorities have received expanded access to the new Eurodac. Thanks to this, the procedure for verifying the status of foreigners will be significantly simplified, and therefore the fight against illegal migration will become more effective, which will increase the level of security in the country.

Poland is tightening control over the employment of foreigners in 2026: we tell you what will change for Ukrainians here.

How will Eurodac change the lives of Ukrainian refugees?

For most Ukrainians who are in Europe on the basis of temporary protection status, there will be no immediate changes. As of 2026, temporary protection for Ukrainians in the EU continues to operate, and there are no official decisions on its complete abolition. The main thing is to apply for asylum exclusively in one country. However, Eurodac can play an important role in situations when a person:

- Changes the country of residence within the EU;

- Applies for another type of protection;

- Forms international protection or asylum.

In such cases, migration authorities will be able to check the history of a person’s stay in Europe more quickly.

In addition, the general trend of changing the EU migration policy in matters of asylum and asylum encourages us to actively follow the news, because Brussels is already actively discussing the future model after the end of the temporary protection mechanism and to consider alternative legal ways of living, working or studying in the EU countries in advance.

Germany is introducing Grundsicherung from July 1, 2026: who will receive assistance, what amounts of payments and when the funds will arrive, find out in the previous material.

How does the new Eurodac system work in the EU?

The updated Eurodac is not just a separate database. The system has become part of a large digital infrastructure of the European Union, which combines several key components for working with migration, security and border control:

- ESP (European Search Portal) - a single search portal for accessing EU databases;

- CIR (Common Identity Repository) - a common repository of identity data;

- sBMS (shared Biometric Matching Service) - a biometric matching system.

Border services and authorized authorities can check information about a person much faster, gaining access to the necessary data through a single digital space.

2026 could be a turning point for the entire migration policy of the European Union. The updated Eurodac is just one element of a major reform. The EU is about to adapt new rules on asylum, protection statuses and long-term stay of foreigners. One thing is already clear: the migration control system in Europe is becoming more digital, centralized and detailed.

Europe is actively working on its migration legislation, but when analyzing the new rules, one should not forget about the basic requirements. For example, if you are planning a trip to Europe in your own car, the issue of insurance should be resolved even before leaving Ukraine. The Green Card is a mandatory international motor third party liability policy, which is valid in 40+ countries in Europe, Asia and Africa. In the event of a road accident, the insurance covers damages caused to third parties, which helps to avoid significant financial costs abroad. It is especially important that the policy is recognized internationally, and the MTIBU acts as the guarantor of insurance payments for Ukrainian drivers. This is not just a formality for crossing the border, but an important element of financial security during the trip.

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Reminder! The number of Ukrainians under temporary protection in the European Union countries continues to grow. We have already told you how many Ukrainian citizens currently have temporary protection status in the EU and which countries have accepted the most new recipients of this status.

Photo – eulisa.europa.eu

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