Poland Denies Ukrainians UKR Status: Who Is Being Denied a PESEL UKR?

Polish authorities are increasingly denying Ukrainians UKR temporary protection status. Find out who is being denied a PESEL UKR, what NUE status is, and how this affects work and residence in Poland

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Ukrainian citizens arriving in Poland are increasingly facing difficulties when applying for temporary protection status. Some employers and business support organizations report that certain institutions have changed their approach to issuing PESEL UKR numbers. inpoland.net.pl reports on this, citing DGP.

Read also: Poland to Tighten Controls on Foreign Workers in 2026 — What Will Change for Ukrainians?

A Real-Life Case of a PESEL UKR Denial: What Happened and How Was It Explained?

DGP described one telling case based on the account of a company representative who was trying to hire a Ukrainian citizen who had arrived in Poland directly from Ukraine. The Ukrainian applied for a PESEL UKR at the local government office (urzęd). However, instead of UKR status, he received a PESEL with NUE status.

The local authority’s explanation was straightforward: the applicant did not come from a region where active hostilities are currently taking place, and therefore, in the authority’s view, was not eligible for UKR status. Business owners confirm that such cases are not isolated. Authorities are increasingly scrutinizing whether a person actually came to Poland because of the war or primarily for economic reasons.

At the same time, difficulties are not limited to new arrivals. Experts have identified another category of affected individuals: those who previously held UKR status but lost it due to a prolonged absence from Poland. Upon their return, they also face refusals to have their status reinstated.

This creates legal uncertainty for those who left Poland — for example, to visit relatives in Ukraine or other countries—and are now unable to regain their previous legal status.

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How does PESEL UKR differ from PESEL NUE, and why does it matter?

UKR status is a temporary protection status for Ukrainians, granting the right to: legal residence in Poland, access to the public healthcare system, and simplified employment without having to go through complex administrative procedures.

Receiving NUE status instead of UKR means losing these benefits and significantly complicates both employment and daily life in the country.

Tip: If your application for UKR status has been denied or you have questions about legalizing your stay in Poland, Visit Ukraine’s lawyers specializing in migration and the protection of Ukrainians’ rights abroad can provide personalized advice.

We remind you! Poland supports revising the conditions of temporary protection for Ukrainian men of draft age in the EU but opposes dividing Ukraine into “safe” regions. Read about the changes being discussed by EU interior ministers and how they might affect Ukrainian refugees.

Photo: fotodrobik / Freepik

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