Poland continues to help Ukrainians who were forced to leave Ukraine because of the war. Find out more about moving to Poland in 2024, entry rules, conditions of legal stay and other important nuances you need to know

Health insurance is a guarantee of your safety and peaceful stay outside Ukraine

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Poland remains one of the most popular destinations for Ukrainians, offering a developed infrastructure, proximity to home and favourable conditions for adaptation. If you are looking for a safe place for temporary or long-term stay, Poland may be the best choice.

Having the longest common border with Ukraine among the EU countries, Poland continues to actively support Ukrainian citizens. Thanks to a special law on assistance to Ukrainians and a temporary protection programme, you will have access to employment, medical care, education and social support. Let's take a closer look at the process of entering the country, customs regulations and legal residence options for those who plan to stay in Poland for a longer period of time.

Rules of entry to Poland 2024 for Ukrainians: documents required

Basic documents:

- passport (biometric or regular);

- visa (not required for short-term stays of up to 90 days);

- health insurance. It is recommended to purchase health insurance in advance before travelling. This will not only ensure that you receive timely medical care if necessary, but will also help you obtain temporary protection;

- сonfirmation of the purpose of the visit (hotel reservation, invitation, confirmation of accommodation).

For men:

- permission to travel outside Ukraine.Such permission can be granted if there are legal grounds, in particular: accompanying persons with disabilities, temporary business trip under the ‘Shlyakh’ system, medical indications and other circumstances provided for by law.

Find out which men have the right to travel abroad in 2024 here.

Important! All men between the ages of 18 and 60 must present a valid military ID with a deferred military service card at the border.

For travelling with children:

- child's birth certificate;

- child's international passport (required for children aged 12 and over).

Important! Read hereabout the current requirements for crossing the Polish border with minors and important nuances that will help you avoid problems when travelling with children.

How to travel to Poland from Ukraine now: convenient routes

Trains Ukraine-Poland

- Odesa-Przemyśl: runs daily, journey time - about 15 hours;

- Kyiv-Przemyśl: runs daily, journey time - about 11 hours;

- Intercity+ Kyiv-Przemyśl: runs daily, journey time - about 11 hours;

- Kyiv-Warsaw: runs daily, journey time - about 17 hours;

- Zaporizhzhia-Przemyśl: runs daily, journey time - about 22 hours.

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Buses Ukraine-Poland

Bus services between Poland and Ukraine are quite developed and represented by a variety of transport companies. The market includes both large carriers with many years of experience and an impressive fleet of vehicles, as well as new operators.

The routes cover a wide geography - buses depart from almost every Ukrainian city and go to different regions of Poland.

When choosing a carrier, it is important to pay attention to several key aspects. Firstly, the conditions of luggage transportation. Secondly, additional services: the availability of a toilet, the ability to charge electronic devices, WiFi access, free drinks, etc.

The most reliable way to make the right choice is to study independent passenger reviews on the Internet and ask friends who have already travelled on these routes.

Examples of direct bus routes from Ukraine to Poland:

- Kyiv - Warsaw;

- Lviv - Warsaw;

- Lviv - Krakow;

- Kyiv - Krakow;

- Kyiv - Wroclaw;

- Lviv - Wroclaw;

- Kyiv - Poznan;

- Lviv - Katowice;

- Lviv - Poznan;

- Kharkiv - Warsaw.

How to cross the Ukraine-Poland border in your own car

As of today, Ukrainians can cross the border with Poland in their own cars at the following border crossing points:

- Ustyluh - Zosyn. It is located in the Volyn region and operates around the clock. The distance to Warsaw is 308 km.

- Uhryniv - Dolhobychuv. Located in the Lviv region, Yavoriv district, works around the clock. The distance to Warsaw is 328 km.

- Rava-Ruska - Hrebenne. Located in the Lviv region, Zhovkva district, works around the clock. The distance to Warsaw is 326 km.

- Hrushev - Budomezh. Located in the Lviv region, Yavoriv district, works around the clock. The distance to Warsaw is 373 km.

- Krakivets - Korchova. Located in the Lviv region, Yavoriv district, works around the clock. The distance to Warsaw is 410 km.

- Shehyni - Medyka. Located in the Lviv region, Mostysk district, working around the clock. The distance to Warsaw is 414 km. 336

- Smilnytsia - Korostenko. Located in the Lviv region, Starosambirsky district, works around the clock. The distance to Warsaw is 430 km.

Documents for crossing the border in your own car:

- international passport;

- national driver's licence containing the expiry date;

- vehicle registration certificate;

- identification mark of Ukraine on the vehicle;

- nationally recognised number plate;

- compulsory insurance contract Green Card.

For more informationon how to cross the Ukraine-Poland border by car, convenient routes, necessary documents and traffic rules, please follow the link.

Keep in mind that a Green Card is a prerequisite for legal driving in Poland by car. On the Visit Ukraine portal, you can apply for a Green Card online from a licensed insurer. Packages are available for different periods from 15 days to 1 year for cars and trucks, trailers and semi-trailers for trucks, as well as motorcycles and scooters.

Customs control: what can be imported to Poland in 2024 from Ukraine?

Customs control is an important part of crossing the border with Poland. Here are the basic rules of what you can/can't bring to Poland:

Allowed: personal belongings, fresh fruits and vegetables, except for raw potatoes (up to 5 kg per person), fish and fish-based products (up to 5 kg per person), eggs and egg products (up to 2 kg per person), coffee (up to 500 g per person) and tea (up to 100 g per person), honey (up to 2 kg per person), sweets and confectionery with a content of milk and chocolate not exceeding 20%, baby food mixtures (up to 5 kg). Also, 40 cigarettes, 20 cigars weighing up to 3 g each, 0 cigars, 50 g of smoking tobacco, spirits (with an alcohol content of more than 22%) - 1 litre, drinks with an alcohol content of up to 22% - 2 litres, wine - 4 litres, beer - 16 litres.

Prohibited: meat and meat products, canned meat (homemade and store-bought), milk and dairy products, chocolate bars (except for one open bar per person), narcotic substances and weapons.

A detailed list of items allowed and prohibited for importation into Poland is available here.

How much currency can I bring to Poland?

Ukrainians entering EU countries with more than EUR 10,000 are required to declare these funds. Declaration of funds can be made when entering any EU country, directly through customs services, right at the border. This requirement applies to all types of cash, including banknotes, coins, traveller's cheques and even certain types of securities with a value exceeding EUR 10,000.

Read about the latest changes in child benefits in Poland here.

Poland for Ukrainians in 2024: rules of stay

Ukrainians arriving in Poland from 1 July 2024 will have three ways to legalise their stay in Poland.

PESEL UKR

PESEL UKR is issued at a city council with a foreign passport. It entitles the holder to social benefits, rental housing, opening a bank account and free travel within the EU. Holders receive a one-time payment of PLN 300. Important: you cannot leave Poland for more than 30 days, and people from the age of 12 must be fingerprinted.

Residence permit vs. temporary protection in Poland: what is the difference and what Ukrainians choose - read here.

Residence permit

A residence card is a temporary residence permit in Poland. It is issued on a general basis to foreigners for the following reasons: study, work or business. The card contains biometric data and allows you to cross the border without a visa. Starting from April 2023, employed Ukrainians can receive it.

Read more about obtaining a residence card for students in 2025 here.

CUKR card

The CUKR card is a special card for Ukrainians issued for three years. To obtain it, you need to have an active UKR status, spend at least 365 days in Poland continuously and have a valid foreign passport. It provides the same rights as a regular residence card, but is available exclusively to Ukrainians with PESEL UKR, including children.

For more information on whether Ukrainians should exchange Pesel UKR for a CUKR card and details on the electronic submission of documents for a CUKR residence card, please follow the links.

Please note! In 2024, the Polish authorities reduced one-time payments for newly arrived migrants from Ukraine (in 2023 - PLN 300). Also, Poland does not re-issue temporary residence permits for Ukrainians (except in some cases, which are considered on an individual basis).

Useful information for your stay in Poland

Where to look for accommodation in Poland?

The best ways to search for accommodation in Poland include online platforms such as Booking.com, Airbnb, OLX.pl and Allegro.pl. Specialised real estate websites such as Otodom.pl and Gratka.pl are also useful.

Facebook groups where owners rent apartments and rooms offer great opportunities. It is important to look for local groups in specific cities. In addition, you should pay attention to student groups of educational institutions and forums for foreigners.

When searching for accommodation, you should carefully check the relevance of the adverts, the terms of the lease, and additional costs. It is better to communicate in Polish or English and sign official contracts.

To save money, you can use local real estate agencies, which often offer better conditions than international services.

What are the prospects of registering at the labour exchange in Poland and how to do it - we will tell you here.

Average housing prices in Poland

In 2024, housing prices in Poland vary depending on the city and type of property. In Warsaw, a one-bedroom apartment costs about €600-950 per month, a two-bedroom apartment - €850-1,300. Krakow offers slightly lower prices: EUR 530-850 for a one-bedroom apartment and EUR 720-1,150 for a two-bedroom apartment.

In Wroclaw, you can find a one-bedroom apartment for €480-800, and a two-bedroom apartment for €670-1,080. Poznan is the most affordable option among the big cities: a one-bedroom apartment costs 450-770 euros, a two-bedroom apartment - 650-1 030 euros.

The final price depends on many factors: location, condition of the apartment, proximity to the centre and infrastructure. The most expensive apartments are located in the central districts of large cities.

You can find out more about rental assistance for Ukrainian refugees in Poland: where to apply and how to get it here.

Where to look for a job in Poland?

In 2024, Poland offers many interesting opportunities, especially for foreigners. The most effective channel is online resources, in particular specialised job websites: Pracuj.pl, OLX.pl, Indeed.pl and LinkedIn. These platforms offer a wide range of vacancies, from labourers to highly paid office positions.

Social media and Facebook groups also play an important role, where employers often post current offers. Especially useful are groups for foreigners and groups for specific cities or industries.

For those who want to find a job officially, it is worth paying attention to state employment centres, employment agencies and chambers of commerce and industry. They will help you not only find a job, but also properly prepare all the necessary documents.

We talked about the conditions for employment of doctors from Ukraine in Poland in our previous article.

Take care of your health when travelling to Europe with health insurance from Visit Ukraine, which guarantees reliable protection. Ensure your peace of mind while travelling.

How to enrol children in school or kindergarten in Poland

For Ukrainians, enrolment of children in a school or kindergarten in Poland takes place in several basic steps. Parents need to apply to the local education office and submit a package of documents: a child's birth certificate, documents of previous education, a medical certificate, a passport of the parents and the child.

Children under 6 years old can attend pre-schools (przedszkole), while older children attend schools. Most schools are free of charge, but there are also private schools. Additional Polish language classes are often organised for foreign children.

The following links provide detailed information about them:

- Educational prospects for Ukrainian schoolchildren in Poland;

- Evening schools for Ukrainian children in Poland;

- Penalties for violating the rules of compulsory schooling in Poland.

For a successful move and to avoid any troubles, it is worth contacting specialists. Thelawyers of Visit Ukraine provide full support and advice on visa and migration issues to successfully resolve any nuances.

Just to remind you! The Polish authorities are preparing revolutionary changes to the traffic rules aimed at reducing accidents and improving safety. For more information on changes to the traffic rules in Poland, please follow the link.

Photo: Freepik