Some Ukrainians in Poland risk losing temporary protection as of September 1, 2026. This concerns those who received PESEL UKR not based on a foreign passport or later changed their passport details. To maintain the status, information in the registry must be updated by August 31. InPoland writes about this.
Who needs to update PESEL UKR data in Poland by August 31
This requirement does not apply to all Ukrainians with UKR status. Updating is necessary for those who were initially assigned PESEL UKR based on another document rather than a valid foreign passport.
Ukrainians who have obtained a new foreign passport or changed their passport details after receiving PESEL also need to check and update their information.
To update, one must personally visit any municipal office in Poland. You must carry a valid foreign passport. The deadline for compliance is August 31, 2026.
What will happen to UKR status from September 1, 2026
If the necessary data is not updated on time, the UKR status in the registry will change to NUE from September 1. This will mean the cessation of temporary protection that the individual received in Poland as a citizen of Ukraine.
The consequences affect not only the status itself. Its loss will mean the termination of the right to legal residence in Poland based on temporary protection, as well as the associated right to employment.
Therefore, Ukrainians who obtained PESEL UKR without a foreign passport or who received a new passport afterward should check if the current data is included in the Polish registry.
What Ukrainians working in Poland need to consider
The changes are also important for Polish employers. Companies where Ukrainian citizens work based on UKR status need to ensure that employees retain their relevant status.
If a Ukrainian falls under the requirement for updating but does not do so before the end of August, their legal basis for work related to UKR status will change from September 1.
There is a little over a week left before the established deadline. Updates can be done in any municipality, so it is not necessary to visit the institution where PESEL was previously issued.
Let us remind you that the general consulate of Ukraine in Lublin will conduct outreach services for citizens in Bialystok on September 17 and 18, 2026.