Ukrainians arriving in Poland are increasingly being registered as tourists rather than as individuals seeking temporary protection. This can lead to problems with obtaining the appropriate status after crossing the border. InPoland reports on this.
According to the publication, the problem arises if a Ukrainian citizen does not inform the border control that the purpose of their entry is to obtain temporary protection. In this case, they may be registered as a tourist.
Temporary protection in Poland in 2026: what to inform at the border
Ukrainians who plan to use temporary protection must clearly inform the Polish border guards about the corresponding purpose of entry.
This applies to those who are already using temporary protection in Poland and temporarily left the country. Even if a person was absent for less than 30 days, they must inform the border guards about their temporary protection upon return.
The Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights has noted a sharp change in statistics in the spring of 2026. At certain border crossings, the number of Ukrainians registered as having arrived for temporary protection has significantly decreased.
For example, in Medyka, there were about 9,000 such entries in January and February. In March, the figure dropped to 1,814, in April to 82, in May to 94, and in June to 359.
A similar trend was observed in Korczowa, Hrubieszów, and Dorohusk. The only exception was the crossing point in Hrebenne. Meanwhile, the material emphasizes that there is no official data from the Polish Border Guard explaining this trend.
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Incorrect entry purpose to Poland in 2026: how Ukrainians can appeal a decision
If a Ukrainian citizen believes that the purpose of their entry was incorrectly registered during border crossing, they can appeal this decision.
To do this, they must contact the division of the Polish Border Guard that registered their entry. The review of the appeal may take up to 30 days.
Gazeta Wyborcza, citing an anonymous source, links the change in trend to political and legislative events in Poland. However, the source does not provide confirmed direct causal links between them and the change in the registration statistics of Ukrainians.
Let us remind you that Ukrainian men have been eased in obtaining services at consulates.