From March 5, 2026, the Law of March 12, 2022 on Assistance to Citizens of Ukraine (the so-called Special Law) will cease to be in force. All key mechanisms of temporary protection have been transferred to systemic laws, primarily to the Law of June 13, 2003 on Providing Protection to Foreigners on the Territory of the Republic of Poland. What does this mean in practice?
- The stay of the beneficiary of temporary protection is recognized as legal until March 4, 2027 (in accordance with Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1460).
Criteria for granting temporary protection
For this period, stay is recognized as legal if the person:
- Entered Poland after February 24, 2022 as a result of the armed conflict;
- Received a PESEL number with UKR status;
- Does not have temporary protection granted by another EU Member State.
For persons who already had a PESEL number with UKR status at the time the law of January 23, 2026 came into force, the validity of this status was maintained.
Persons who cannot obtain UKR status (temporary protection)
Temporary protection is not granted and/or terminated if a person:
- Has a permanent residence permit, long-term EU resident, temporary residence, refugee status, etc. (applies to all EU countries);
- Has applied for international protection;
- Has received temporary protection in another EU country;
- Is a citizen of an EU Member State;
- Has provided false information or forged documents;
- Has entered as part of local border traffic.
Temporary protection also ceases in the event of departure from Poland for a period of more than 30 days, written refusal of protection, or acquisition of another legal status.
Status UKR
The UKR status is now regulated by the Population Registration Act (Ustawa o ewidencji ludnosći). An application for a PESEL number with UKR status must be submitted in person to any commune authority within 30 days of arrival. A photograph and fingerprints are attached to the application.
The commune authority verifies the applicant’s identity, automatically issues a trusted profile (Profil zaufany) and transfers the data to the relevant registers.
A citizen of Ukraine with UKR status is obliged to notify the commune authority of any changes to personal data, including data on identity documents.
Important: until August 31, 2026, persons who were granted UKR status on the basis of an application (did not provide a passport upon registration) are required to confirm their identity with a valid travel document. This is especially important for children whose photos were previously pasted into their parents’ passports. Failure to comply with this requirement will result in the status being changed to NUE (does not provide the right to legal residence or any social assistance from the state).
Medical care in Poland
Persons with temporary protection have access to healthcare on the same terms as Polish citizens.
Full access to healthcare is provided subject to health insurance and payment of ZUS contributions.
Persons without insurance are entitled to free healthcare only in cases of immediate threat to life and health, during pregnancy and the postpartum period, and until they reach the age of 18.
Free access to prevention and control of infectious diseases is maintained. Certain exceptions apply to those wounded in hostilities, victims of torture/violence and persons living in collective accommodation centres.
Persons who, before the date of entry into force of this Act, were inpatients (in hospital) have the right to free continuation of treatment until the end of their hospital stay. However, such treatment may not last longer than until 4 March 2027.
Accommodation in collective accommodation centers (new system and transition period)
From March 5, 2026, a new permanent housing assistance system will be in place:
The Minister of the Interior may provide accommodation and meals (in a collective accommodation center or cash assistance) according to the following rules:
- Maximum 60 days from the date of first entry into Poland (for new arrivals);
- In total, no more than 12 months during the entire period of temporary protection. This limit is cumulative – all time spent in the centers since 2022 is taken into account.
For vulnerable groups of the population, collective housing with meals is provided by the Minister of Social Security. Vulnerable groups include:
- Persons with disabilities (moderate/severe disability, as well as their caregivers);
- Persons 60+ (women)/65+ (men) without a Polish pension, who are not working and do not have adult children with alimony;
- Pregnant women or mothers with a child under 12 months old;
- Persons from foreign institutional/family care;
- Persons who have just been discharged from hospital after hospitalization lasting at least 7 days and paid for by the NFZ (the benefit is valid only until full recovery – i.e. until the reason for hospitalization disappears).
A single mother (father) with three or more children will no longer be able to live free of charge in collective housing centers.
Transition period for those already living in centers
There is a special transitional period until 30 June 2026: the voivode may allow anyone who is already living there to remain in the centre (even if the 12-month limit has long been exceeded). This period is introduced to give people time to finish the school year and find permanent accommodation.
After 30 June 2026, persons who do not belong to vulnerable groups lose their right to free accommodation in collective accommodation centres.
Social benefits
The 800+ allowance and other family benefits are provided under the general conditions applicable to foreigners – that is, provided that the guardian is professionally active and the child fulfills the obligation of schooling.
The authority to supervise and control the spending of benefits for children from the foreign guardianship system is fully vested in the county authorities.
In case of violation of the conditions, payments may be suspended.
Original document approving the transition from temporary protection to the national system of providing protection to foreigners: https://dziennikustaw.gov.pl/DU/2026/203
Additional information:
Information note from the Embassy of Ukraine in Poland
HELP – Poland (Information from UNHCR).