New regulations on residence and employment of Ukrainian citizens in Poland

At a glance

• On 5 March 2026, new regulations governing the immigration status and scope of rights of Ukrainian citizens residing in Poland came into force.
• The new Act introduces a formal definition of temporary protection beneficiaries and automatically grants this status to individuals holding a PESEL number with confirmed UKR designation.
• Those whose UKR status was based on a declaration must personally confirm their identity with a valid travel document by 31 August 2026, otherwise they will lose their temporary protection status.
• The regulations also introduce stricter residence rules - including loss of status after staying outside Poland for more than 30 days - while preserving access to simplified employment notifications and business activity for those who maintain their beneficiary status.
• Beneficiaries of temporary protection have the right to take up and conduct business activities on the same terms as Polish citizens.

On 5 March 2026, new, wide‑ranging regulations governing the residence and employment of Ukrainian citizens in Poland entered into force, going beyond amendments to the Ukrainian Special Act and introducing systemic changes to migration law. The rules establish a formal definition of a beneficiary of temporary protection and clarify who acquires or retains this status, including holders of a PESEL with UKR status, subject in some cases to mandatory identity confirmation by 31 August 2026. 

Temporary protection remains valid until 4 March 2027, with any EU‑level extensions applying automatically in Poland. Beneficiaries of temporary protection may continue to work under a simplified notification procedure and conduct business activities on the same terms as Polish citizens but leaving Poland for more than 30 days generally results in loss of status.

At the same time, the regulations significantly change the situation of Ukrainian citizens residing in Poland without temporary protection status, particularly those who entered before the war. Their stay is deemed lawful until 4 March 2027 if their residence documents expired after 24 February 2022, and they may continue business activities established before 5 March 2026. However, setting up new business activity is now subject to general rules for non‑EU nationals, which may exclude sole proprietorships for many individuals. 

The ability to legalise employment through notifications for this group has been limited to a transitional period until 5 March 2029, after which general work authorisation rules will apply. Existing notifications submitted by 5 March 2026 remain valid under their current terms.