Ukrainians in Poland can now obtain a CUKR residence card for 3 years
Ukrainians in Poland can now apply for a special CUKR residence card for a period of up to three years. The new mechanism allows a transition from temporary protection status to a more stable legal stay in the country and provides broader access to work and business. This was reported by inPoland.
Ukrainians with UKR status can apply online
Ukrainians who are legally staying in Poland based on temporary protection and have UKR status for at least 365 days without interruption will be able to obtain the new residence card.
The application process will only take place online through a special portal of the Affairs Management Module. The new rules also apply to the immediate family members of the applicants.
To obtain the document, the UKR status must remain valid at the time of application and on other legally specified dates.
The CUKR residence card grants the right to work without additional permits
After receiving the residence card, Ukrainians automatically lose their temporary protection status, but they receive a permit for temporary residence in Poland for three years instead.
The new status provides:
- Full access to the Polish labor market.
- The right to open and run a business in Poland.
- The ability to travel in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days within 180 days.
- The prospect of further obtaining long-term EU residency.
For travel within Schengen, it is also necessary to have a valid foreign passport.
If you are interested in working in Poland, we suggest checking out 350,000 job vacancies on the Layboard portal.
After transitioning to the residence card, some benefits will disappear
Along with the new status, Ukrainians will lose some social guarantees that were in place during temporary protection. In particular, free accommodation and food in collective accommodation centers will no longer be provided.
The cost of obtaining the card is 340 zlotys for the application processing and an additional 100 zlotys for document issuance.
The period of residence under the CUKR card will be counted towards the duration required for obtaining long-term EU residency or other types of residency permits in Poland.
Employment expert Vitaliy Serhiyovych Belenets believes that the new residence card could be an important step for Ukrainians planning to stay in Poland longer.
“For many Ukrainians, this is primarily about stability. People receive a clear status for three years, can legally work, change employers, or open their own business without additional bureaucracy,” said the expert.
We remind you that in April 2026, there were changes to the rules for the stay of Ukrainian refugees in EU countries, including in the Czech Republic, Poland, Germany, and France.
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