The Polish Senate has adopted important changes to the law on foreigners: what it means for Ukrainians

The Polish Senate has adopted significant changes to the law on foreigners. They foresee electronic submission of documents through the MOS system, the creation of a special CUKR card for Ukrainians with PESEL UKR status, and a new family reunification procedure. This is reported by VisitUkraine.

New application rules: electronic format and exceptions

Poland is transitioning to a digital application review system for three main categories of permits - temporary residence, permanent residence, and long-term EU resident status. All documents will be accepted exclusively online through the MOS service. A separate list of permits for which digital applications become mandatory has been defined, including for work, study, research, and business.

Applications will be submitted using an electronic signature - a qualified, personal e-ID or a trusted Profile Zaufany. Electronic documents and digital copies of paper certificates can be attached to the application.

Nevertheless, personal presence remains mandatory for key procedures: showing the passport, fingerprinting, signature sample, and confirming the right to reside for EU residents.

Requirements for electronic submission of documents in Poland:

• signing the application with one of the allowed electronic signatures
• submitting digital copies of necessary documents
• personal presence for biometrics and passport verification.

CUKR card for Ukrainians with PESEL UKR: a new type of permit for 3 years

A separate block of reforms is the introduction of the CUKR card - a new residence permit solely for citizens of Ukraine with PESEL UKR status. The permit will be valid for 3 years and will be submitted exclusively online through MOS 2.0.

The card can be obtained by those Ukrainians who:

• had PESEL UKR as of June 4, 2025
• maintain this status on the day of application
• have resided in Poland continuously for at least 365 days.

For this category, personal appearance, fingerprinting, and physical presentation of the passport are waived. However, the applicant must provide a photo and an electronic signature sample for card production. If necessary, the governor may summon the applicant for additional document verification.

The acceptance of applications will begin only after a separate announcement by the Polish Ministry of Interior. The application will be free of charge, but Ukrainians will have to pay a stamp duty of 340 zlotys and 100 zlotys for the production of the plastic card.

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Family reunification: a new separate procedure

Poland is also introducing a new mechanism for foreigners who wish to reunite with family members residing abroad. A term 'separated family member' is introduced - a person legally residing in Poland who applies for a relative currently abroad.

For such cases, a separate form is created, which is submitted not online but only in paper form. It must include a photo, a copy of the passport, and documents confirming the basis for obtaining the permit. The procedure is separated from the main system and becomes more detailed.

Earlier, we reported that starting from October 1, 2025, Ukrainians in Poland will be required to exchange driver's licenses.