In Poland, Ukrainian refugees will have to confirm their stay in the country: what is known about the new rules

Poland is changing the rules for Ukrainian refugees - now they will have to confirm their stay in the country. Find out how the status of temporary protection will change, what steps need to be taken to confirm your stay, and what consequences can be expected for those who do not comply with the new rules

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According to a report by the CenEA think tank, the number of Ukrainian refugees in Poland may be significantly lower than the official figures. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration of Poland (MIA) announces the introduction of new measures to clarify the actual number of Ukrainians in the country.

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Ukrainians in Poland: data on the number of refugees

According to official data, as of January 2025, 992 thousand Ukrainian refugees were registered in Poland. However, the CenEA report suggests that this figure may be overstated by 30-40%.

Analysis of several databases shows discrepancies between official registration lists and the actual number of Ukrainians living in the country. For example, 150,000 Ukrainian children were enrolled in Polish schools in 2024, while PESEL UKR has 270,000 children. Also, 759 thousand workers from Ukraine were registered in the labor market in December 2023, which is less than the total number of adult refugees.

New rules for residence confirmation

The Ministry of the Interior of Poland has officially recognized that the number of Ukrainians in the PESEL UKR database is not true. In this regard, it is planned to introduce a mechanism for confirming the stay of Ukrainian refugees in the country.

Main provisions of the new system:

• Change of status. Temporary protection status will be changed to temporary residence.

• Personal confirmation. Ukrainians will have to appear in person at the commune offices to confirm their stay in Poland.

• Exit control. An important aspect remains the registration of Ukrainians' departure at the border or their official stay in another EU country.

To avoid problems with legalization abroad, it is important to update your documents in a timely manner and comply with local laws. If you are not sure what steps you need to take, contact an immigration lawyer to help you understand the complex procedures and avoid possible difficulties.

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Reasons and consequences of the changes

One of the reasons for revising the rules is the need to clarify the actual number of Ukrainian refugees in Poland. This will allow the state to allocate social resources more efficiently, control benefit payments and adapt its policy towards Ukrainians.

The introduction of the new rules may affect some refugees, in particular those who have temporarily left Poland but have not canceled their status. Those who do not confirm their stay may lose the right to social assistance and other state benefits.

The Polish government emphasizes that the changes are not aimed at restricting the rights of Ukrainian refugees, but at ensuring transparency and fair distribution of resources. However, Ukrainians staying in the country should closely monitor the new rules to avoid possible problems with their legal status.

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We remind you! For Ukrainian students in Poland, the rules of eighth-grade exams have changed slightly. Now students will have more time to complete tasks in each subject.

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