Ukrainians living in Poland can count on assistance and equal rights with local residents. However, two statuses are available for Ukrainian citizens to live comfortably in this country at once. Find out how they differ and who should stay with temporary protection

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Since the beginning of the war, many Ukrainians have found a temporary home in Poland, taking advantage of the temporary protection status. Now they face an important choice: to stay with the status of Ukrainian refugee or to apply for a residence card for long-term legalisation. Each of these options has its advantages and disadvantages, so it is important to carefully consider which path will be the most appropriate in a particular situation.

It should be noted that many Ukrainians in Poland, who have been living there since the beginning of the war, are still hesitant to apply for a residence card.

What rights can Ukrainian refugees in Poland expect?

According to the In-Poland portal, for Ukrainian citizens and their families the rights in Poland are practically equalised:

- all can work without authorisation regardless of the duration of their stay;

- all can engage in any activity, even under JDG (self-employment) without annual income criteria.

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What is the difference between the UKR and the Polish Citizenship Card?

- UKR status is valid until 30 September 2025, after which it is cancelled upon receipt of a Visit Card. A UKR card is issued for a period of 3 months to 3 years.

- The UKR status does not entitle you to all types of social benefits, unlike a residence card with access to the labour market. In addition, the UKR status does not allow you to apply for a mortgage, whereas a residence card does.

- With the UKR status you can only travel to the Schengen area for 30 days per trip, while with a pobytu card you can travel for 90 days within a 180-day period.

In general, without UKR status there are more options for legalisation in Poland. For example, a student without temporary protection status can apply for a visit card to study. Also, retired parents without temporary protection status can be legalised based on other circumstances.

What status do Ukrainians use more often?

Citizens are still more likely to stay with the status of UKR, as the residence card more often opens up prospects for integration. For example, if you receive a residence card, the status of temporary protection is lost at the moment of receiving a decision on the card from the UUąd. And when you change the grounds for a residence card (dismissal, business closure) you need to look for new grounds for a residence card. 

In addition, more Ukrainians have not yet made a final decision whether they should stay in Poland for a long time. Therefore, such people are still using just temporary protection.

We remind you! A six-month assistance project for Ukrainians has been launched in Poland. The projects are supported by two organisations, which will pay funds in different voivodeships. Who among Ukrainians will be able to receive assistance and where to fill in the application form, read here.

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