UKR status in Poland in 2026: until what date is PESEL UKR valid and has it been extended until 2027?
Until what date is UKR status valid in Poland
As of April 2026, Ukrainians with PESEL UKR status can legally stay in Poland until March 4, 2027.
New regulations took effect on March 5, 2026 — temporary protection status will be retained, but will be regulated by the general law on the protection of foreigners.
Has UKR status in Poland been extended until 2027?
Yes, it has. On February 19, 2026, the President of Poland signed a law that does not abolish protection for Ukrainians, but transfers it from an “emergency special regime” to a permanent system of rules for foreigners.
That is:
- Ukrainians do not lose their UKR status
- all those who have PESEL UKR remain legally in Poland
- only the conditions for access to some assistance and procedures are changing
The main idea behind the changes: Poland is moving from temporary humanitarian aid to a model of longer residence and integration. At the same time, the legal stay of Ukrainians with PESEL UKR status has been confirmed until March 4, 2027.
The new regulations took effect on March 5, 2026—from that date forward, Ukrainians will automatically remain under temporary protection, but some of the conditions (such as access to assistance and the timeframe for obtaining a PESEL UKR) will change.
UKR status in Poland 2026–2027 — in brief
- Effective March 5, 2026, new system rules have come into effect
- until March 4, 2027 — legal residence under temporary protection is confirmed
- after the end of protection, another basis for residence is required (residence card, work, study, etc.)
Temporary protection (UKR status) in Poland: what it is and who it is suitable for
UKR status in Poland is a temporary protection regime for Ukrainian citizens who have left their country due to the war. It allows them to legally stay in Poland, work, and access basic services and some social programs.
The key identifier of this status is PESEL UKR, which is used as proof of legal residence under temporary protection.
New rules for PESEL UKR in 2026: what has changed since March 5
1) 30 days to apply for PESEL UKR after entry
If you do not apply for PESEL UKR within 30 days of entering Poland, temporary protection will be terminated — this is considered a tacit refusal of protection.
Who it is critical for: those who have recently entered or are planning to enter Poland and want to take advantage of temporary protection.
2. Identity confirmation by document
For some individuals who have already received PESEL/PESEL UKR without confirmation by a valid document, there is a requirement to additionally confirm their identity in the municipality before the established deadline (public explanations mention August 31, 2026). Failure to do so may result in the loss of the right to temporary protection.
3) Digital confirmation of status and documents
Poland is transitioning from paper certificates to digital solutions. The following is provided for:
- an electronic DIIA card as a replacement for paper confirmation,
- the ability to confirm data/residence through the mObywatel application.
4) Healthcare: who is guaranteed free assistance
After the transition to systemic rules, free medical care within the mechanisms administered by the state is guaranteed primarily to the following categories:
- minors,
- working persons,
- victims of torture or sexual violence,
- particularly vulnerable groups living in collective accommodation centers.
Other non-working persons will receive medical care on terms similar to other non-working foreigners in Poland.
4) Social assistance, accommodation, and food
Assistance with the purchase/organization of accommodation and food is limited to vulnerable groups for whom the transition to standard mechanisms would be too difficult or costly for the system.
5) Education: benefits — until the end of the current school year
Funding for certain additional educational solutions (in particular, additional classes, transportation, student support, preparatory departments, etc.) will continue until the end of the current school year, after which schools will have to operate according to the usual rules.
800+ payments for Ukrainians with UKR status in 2026: what you need to know
From February 2026, the rules for 800+ payments for some Ukrainian citizens with UKR status will change: to continue receiving payments, certain recipients will need to reapply and meet new conditions (in particular regarding activity).
Tip: if you receive 800+, check the status of your payments in your ZUS account and, if necessary, submit an updated application for the current period.
Will UKR status be canceled if you leave Poland?
A long-term departure from Poland may affect the validity of UKR status and access to some payments. To avoid risks, it is worth checking the current rules for your situation before traveling.
How to legalize your stay in Poland in 2026–2027: 3 main options for Ukrainians
According to the current rules, Ukrainians can legalize their stay in Poland in one of three ways:
1. PESEL UKR — special temporary protection status
This is the main way to legalize your stay in Poland for Ukrainians who entered after February 24, 2022. It is important to comply with the new 30-day requirement for obtaining PESEL UKR after entry.
2. Residence card (residence permit)
If you work, study, run a business, or have family ties, a residence card remains the most stable path to long-term legalization.
Advantages:
- longer legal stay;
- clear migration status (not tied to temporary protection);
- the ability to plan your life in Poland for years to come.
Grounds for application: official employment, study, family reunification, entrepreneurial activity. The document contains biometric data, photo, address of residence, and PESEL number.
Important: the processing time for applications in voivodeships can be long, so it is better to prepare documents in advance.
3. CUKR card — a new type of residence card valid for 3 years
From 2026, Ukrainians with UKR status will be able to obtain a special CUKR card — (Czasowe Uprawnienie Karty Rezydenta), which is issued for a period of 3 years.
It is issued only to Ukrainian citizens who:
- have an active PESEL UKR at the time of application;
- have lived in Poland under this status for at least 365 consecutive days;
- have a valid foreign passport.
The CUKR card provides the same rights as a regular residence card, including access to employment, medical care, and social guarantees. The card will be marked: “Poprzednio posiadał ochronę czasową” (previously had temporary protection).
Legal assistance from Visit Ukraine
In 2026, the biggest risks are missing the 30-day deadline for PESEL UKR, issues with confirming status, as well as changes in access to healthcare and certain benefits. Visit Ukraine lawyers offer professional legal assistance for Ukrainians in Poland. Legal consultation helps you:
- check until what date your UKR status is valid in your situation;
- prepare for confirmation of identity/data;
- choose the right basis for further legalization (residence card/transitional status);
- avoid losing your status due to missed deadlines or errors in documents.
You can choose one of the following options:
Contact the lawyers at Visit Ukraine to get qualified assistance at every stage of your stay in Poland and be confident in the correctness of your actions.
Social security for Ukrainians in Poland in 2026
Housing and accommodation
From March 5, 2026, Poland will switch to a system of assistance rules. Free accommodation in collective accommodation centers will be provided mainly to vulnerable categories of persons. Most able-bodied Ukrainians will have to provide their own housing or pay for their stay.
Who is entitled to free housing or preferential terms?
The new rules stipulate that accommodation in collective accommodation centers will only be available to certain categories of Ukrainians. Some of them are required to pay a symbolic 15 zlotys per day, while others are exempt from any costs. The specific list of categories is determined by the provincial administration and may vary depending on the place of residence.
Categories eligible for preferential housing:
- Children receiving 800+ benefits (pay 15 zlotys per day).
- Pensioners receiving a Polish pension (also 15 zlotys/day).
- People with disabilities.
- Women aged 60 and over and men aged 65 and over who do not receive a pension.
- Pregnant women and persons caring for children under 12 months of age.
- Single parents raising three or more children, if at least one child is under 7 years of age.
- Minors under guardianship, even without formal payments.
- Persons caring for people with disabilities (provided they do not receive assistance for this).
- Temporary guardians appointed by Ukrainian authorities.
- Adult full-time students, until the end of the academic year in which they turn 20.
- Persons who have recently been hospitalized in Poland for at least 7 days and are unable to return home.
💡 Our lawyers were approached by a Ukrainian woman who, together with her children, has UKR status in Poland but is planning to move to Germany. In this article, we explain how to officially renounce temporary protection in Poland, what you need to consider before leaving, and how this will affect your rights.
What about those who do not fall into the preferential categories?
Ukrainians who do not meet any of the above conditions will be able to stay in the centers, but only on a paid basis.
The cost of accommodation is set by the center's administration and is paid by the resident in full or in part, depending on local regulations.
This approach should encourage integrated Ukrainians who are already working in Poland to find their own housing and leave the temporary assistance system.
Payments to refugees in Poland in 2026
After the transition to the new system in 2026, having PESEL UKR status alone will not guarantee receipt of all social benefits — standard program criteria (child education, employment, contributions, etc.) will apply.
Who is eligible for assistance?
The following people can count on assistance:
- Ukrainians with PESEL UKR status;
- those who fall into vulnerable categories (children, pensioners, people with disabilities, etc.);
- young people who continue their education after the age of 18.
Child benefits in Poland in 2026: 800+, Good Start, and Aktywny Rodzic
🔹 800+ program
In 2026, some recipients will need to reapply to ZUS for the new period, otherwise their payments may be suspended.
From January 1, 2024, the basic monthly child benefit was increased from PLN 500 to PLN 800. In 2026, the program will continue to apply to Ukrainians under temporary protection.
However, from June 1, 2025, the rules for calculating payments will change:
- 800+ will only be paid for children who are studying in Poland: at school, kindergarten, or officially enrolled in home schooling.
- New: the benefit will also be available to teenagers who are under 18 but have already finished school and are continuing their education at a higher or vocational institution.
This allows young people to receive support during their transition to higher education or vocational training.
New conditions from September 30, 2025
The 800+ payments for Ukrainians and other foreigners will continue, but only if the following conditions are met:
- the applicant is officially employed in Poland and pays social security contributions;
- the applicant's child attends a Polish educational institution (school or kindergarten);
- the foreigner legally resides in Poland and has up-to-date data in the registers.
🔹 Good Start Program (300 PLN one-time payment)
The Good Start (Dobry Start) program is a one-time payment of 300 PLN for each child starting a new school year.
Who is eligible:
- Children aged 7 to 20 (or up to 24 in the case of disability)
- who attend school in Poland (the program does not apply to kindergartens and higher education institutions),
- including Ukrainian children who have a PESEL UKR and are legally residing in the country.
How to apply: online only, from July 1 to November 30, 2025, via: PUE ZUS, mZUS app, Emp@tia portal, or electronic banking.
The payment is transferred to the bank account specified in the application within two months of submission.
Important: For both programs (800+ and Good Start), you must have:
- legal residence of the child in Poland;
- PESEL (preferably with the UKR mark);
- confirmation of enrollment in school (for Good Start).
🔹 New program “Aktywny Rodzic”
Main areas of support:
- Aktywnie w pracy – PLN 1,500 per month per child (PLN 1,900 for children with disabilities) from 12 to 35 months of age, if the parents are working.
- Aktywnie w żłobku – compensation for the costs of nurseries, children's clubs, or nannies up to PLN 1,500 per month (PLN 1,900 for children with disabilities).
- Aktywnie w domu – PLN 500 per month per child from 12 to 35 months of age, regardless of the parents' employment status.
Who is eligible: the program is also open to Ukrainians. In particular, the Aktywnie w żłobku program allows you to receive compensation for your children's stay in a nursery or under the care of a nanny.
How to apply: only online via PUE ZUS, mZUS, the Emp@tia portal, or electronic banking.
When is it paid: Aktywnie w pracy and Aktywnie w domu — monthly, on the last working day of the month, starting on August 29, 2025. Aktywnie w żłobku — on the 20th of each month.
Medical care and education
From March 5, 2026, free medical care under state mechanisms is guaranteed primarily to:
- children,
- officially employed persons,
- victims of violence,
- vulnerable persons in accommodation centers.
Other unemployed Ukrainians receive medical care on terms similar to other foreigners without work.
Social support and employment
Strengthening control over the receipt of assistance
According to the previous law, payments and benefits may be canceled if the following is detected:
- false information is provided,
- fictitious marriages are entered into for the purpose of obtaining a residence permit,
- frequent entries and exits within the small border traffic regime are made for the purpose of maintaining UKR status or access to benefits,
- other attempts are made to circumvent migration rules.
The authorities may check the grounds for residence and receipt of payments in accordance with general migration rules.
Employment: what is changing?
Ukrainians who have UKR status or another legal type of residence can continue to:
- work legally without a separate permit (for UKR status);
- register with the employment service as unemployed and receive state assistance: retraining, compensation, etc.;
- use the electronic job database via oferty.praca.gov.pl or the ePraca app.
The changes will affect:
- longer processing times for residence applications for highly qualified workers and long-term EU residents;
- stricter document checks when applying for a work or residence permit.
The right to work without a permit for persons with UKR status remains unchanged.
What will happen after the temporary protection ends
After the end of temporary protection (after March 4, 2027), Ukrainians will only be able to stay in Poland on the basis of standard migration mechanisms or transitional decisions.
Main options for legalization
1. Residence card (temporary residence permit)
Ukrainians who work, study, do business, or have family reasons can apply for a residence card.
It gives the right to:
- legally live and work in Poland;
- cross the border without a visa;
- use medical and social services as a resident.
⚠️ For Ukrainian citizens with UKR status, there will be a limited number of attempts to apply for a residence card, so choosing the right reason (work, study, family) is super important.
2. Special CUKR card (transitional status)
Poland plans to introduce a special CUKR card, which will allow Ukrainians with UKR status to live in the country for up to 3 years.
Expected conditions:
- having an active PESEL UKR;
- living in Poland for at least 365 days under this status;
- having a valid foreign passport.
CUKR is considered a transitional solution for those who are not ready to immediately switch to standard migration instruments.
3. EU long-term resident status
The most stable but also the most difficult option for legalization.
Basic requirements:
- at least 5 years of legal residence in Poland;
- stable income for at least 3 years;
- knowledge of Polish at the B1 level.
Why it is important to prepare in advance
Although temporary protection is currently provided until March 2027, migration authorities recommend not to delay legalization.
Legal advice will help you:
- choose the right basis for your stay;
- avoid refusal or loss of legal status;
- prepare for the transition from UKR status to another type of permit.
👉 Visit Ukraine lawyers provide support and advice for Ukrainians in Poland — from initial assessment of the situation to full support in submitting documents.
