Ukrainians arriving in Poland lately have been increasingly facing refusals while applying for PESEL UKR status. According to employers and experts, certain government institutions have started to scrutinize the grounds for providing temporary protection more closely, causing concerns among businesses. InPoland reports on this.
Why Ukrainians are being denied PESEL UKR status in Poland
According to Polish employers, some Ukrainians are receiving a regular PESEL number with NUE status instead of PESEL UKR.
One such case was described by the publication Dziennik Gazeta Prawna. A Ukrainian who traveled directly from Ukraine to Poland for employment submitted an application for receiving UKR status, but was denied.
The institution explained the decision by stating that the applicant arrived from a region where active hostilities are not taking place, and thus does not meet the criteria for temporary protection.
How the approach to granting UKR status in Poland has changed
Business representatives claim that such cases are becoming less isolated.
According to them, officials are increasingly checking whether a person came to Poland specifically due to the war, rather than primarily for economic reasons.
PESEL UKR status grants the right to legal residence, access to public healthcare, and employment through a simplified procedure.
If you are interested in working in Poland, we suggest exploring 350,000 job vacancies on the Layboard portal.
What problems arise after losing UKR status in Poland
The difficulties concern not only newly arrived Ukrainians. Experts note that problems also arise for those who previously held UKR status but lost it due to prolonged absence from Poland.
Upon returning to the country, such citizens often face challenges when trying to restore their status.
At the same time, specialists emphasize that Ukrainian citizens who are legally in Poland under a visa-free regime or have another legal status of residence can be employed through a simplified procedure via the employer notification system regarding hiring.
It should be noted that Polish workers are among the most loaded in the European Union. In 2025, the average working week in the country was 38 hours, significantly exceeding the average across the EU.