The Polish government has released a draft amendment to the special law on assistance for Ukrainian citizens, developed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration. The planned changes will relate to legal residence, social guarantees, and conditions for receiving assistance by Ukrainians who are in Poland due to the war in Ukraine.
This is reported by Finway
Planned Legislative Changes Regarding Ukrainians
The draft provides for an extension of the legal residence period for Ukrainian citizens in Poland until March 4, 2026. Ukrainians who left due to military actions will continue to have access to the labor market, education, health insurance, social and family benefits, as well as the right to reside in collective facilities for vulnerable groups.
However, there are plans for a gradual reduction of support and the cancellation of certain types of assistance. In particular, Ukrainians crossing the Polish border for a short time under the small border traffic may be denied special rights.
“These people cross the border only for a short time, and the nature of their stay in the territory of the Republic of Poland is not directly related to military actions in Ukraine,” reads the justification for the draft.
The changes also stipulate that a temporary residence permit can only be obtained once, and the grounds for revoking such a permit will be expanded. In particular, the permit may be revoked in cases of providing false information, document forgery, or entering into a fictitious marriage to circumvent migration rules.
Details of the Innovations: Social Assistance and Documentation
The government plans to introduce a mandatory requirement for third-country citizens to confirm family ties with Ukrainians through appropriate documents to prevent abuse and attempts to legalize the stay of individuals without real family relationships.
The possibility of applying for a PESEL UKR number and submitting fingerprints at the place of residence is expected to be discontinued. This is explained by the need to optimize the use of mobile ICT equipment and effectively manage civil affairs in the State Register.
The draft establishes a deadline for accepting refugees into collective accommodation centers — October 31, 2025. However, for vulnerable groups (children, pensioners, people with disabilities, pregnant women, large families, minors under guardianship, full-time students, caregivers of dependents, temporary guardians), the possibility of receiving assistance will remain. Representatives of the central government and heads of voivodeship administrations will be able to provide such individuals with accommodation and food at a cost of 15 zlotys per person per day.
Additionally, among the changes is the elimination of the “Work in Poland” portal, as other job search platforms have already been adapted for Ukrainians, and it is considered unnecessary to maintain a separate site.