Starting March 5, 2026, new residence rules for Ukrainian citizens will come into effect in Poland. Part of the provisions of the special law that regulated the status of Ukrainians after the beginning of the full-scale war will lose their validity. Changes may affect about 1.5 million people. This is reported by InPoland.
The new norms define the order of residence for Ukrainians in Poland, as well as introduce additional requirements for employers who hire Ukrainian citizens.
PESEL UKR in Poland: who needs to confirm their data
Ukrainians with PESEL UKR status do not need to submit new applications to extend temporary protection. However, mandatory data verification is being introduced for some people.
Those who received the PESEL UKR number without presenting a valid identification document must confirm their information with the local office by August 31, 2026.
If this is not done, starting September 1, the status may be changed to NUE, which means illegal stay.
The main requirements for such individuals are:
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contact the local office
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confirm personal data
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provide a valid identification document.
If you are interested in working in Poland, we suggest checking 350,000 job vacancies on the Layboard portal.
Rules of residence for Ukrainians in Poland: what will change in March
The changes also apply to those Ukrainians who are only planning to obtain temporary protection.
Starting March 5, the new rules stipulate:
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applications for PESEL UKR must be submitted within 30 days of entering Poland
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staying outside the country for more than 30 days may result in losing UKR status.
At the same time, Ukrainians with PESEL UKR status will continue to have simplified access to the Polish labor market. To employ them, an employer only needs to notify the district labor office without obtaining a separate permit.
Ukrainians can also engage in entrepreneurial activities under the same conditions as Polish citizens. In 2026, a special CUKR residence card is planned to be introduced for three years. It will allow working without additional formalities, starting a business, and traveling to Schengen countries for up to 90 days within a 180-day period.
Employment expert Vitaliy Belenets noted that the new rules may affect some Ukrainians who work seasonally or frequently leave Poland.
«Special attention should be paid to the 30-day rule for staying outside Poland. If a person regularly travels home or works on a rotation basis, there is a risk of losing UKR status», the expert pointed out.
He also advises Ukrainians to check the validity of their documents and, if necessary, confirm their data with the local office in advance.
Earlier we wrote, how to obtain a new three-year CUKR residence card for Ukrainians in Poland.