Poland | Planned changes to temporary protection for Ukrainians

The Polish government introduced a bill to end temporary protection for Ukrainian citizens living and working in Poland.

Key Points:

• According to the government announcement, the proposed law will implement changes to:
  •  Legal stay: Temporary protection will remain valid until March 4, 2027.
  • PESEL UKR: New Ukrainian arrivals must apply for PESEL UKR within 30 days of entry.
    • Ukrainian nationals must confirm their identity with Polish authorities by Aug. 31, 2026, if they were issued a PESEL UKR without presenting a passport.
  • CUKR residence permit: The draft law introduces a temporary residence permit, CUKR, for Ukrainian nationals holding PESEL UKR.
    • Polish authorities have not announced a start date or application procedures for the CUKR residence permit.
  • Right to work: Ukrainian nationals under temporary protection may continue to work in Poland without a work permit.
    • Employers are required to notify Polish authorities of Ukrainian citizens they employ.
    • Failure to notify authorities does not constitute illegal employment.
  • Business activity: Special simplified rules for Ukrainian nationals starting a sole proprietorship will be discontinued.
    • Existing businesses may continue to operate.
    • New business activity may require meeting standard Polish immigration requirements.

Additional Information: Per the announcement, all information reflects planned and proposed changes only. The bill was approved by the Polish Council of Ministers and submitted to Parliament for further legislative proceedings. The final scope, timeline and procedures may differ from the current draft.

BAL will continue to monitor related developments and provide updates.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group.

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