The Office for Foreigners has published information on the number of Ukrainian citizens residing permanently in Poland.
According to the office's data, as of the end of February 2025, that number stands at 1.55 million. This figure includes Ukrainians staying in Poland on the basis of a permanent residence permit, a temporary residence permit, an EU long-term resident card, and under the special law on assistance to Ukrainian citizens.
According to the Office for Foreigners, Ukrainians remain the largest group of foreigners – accounting for 78% of all foreign nationals in Poland.
The majority of Ukrainians in Poland hold a PESEL UKR, i.e. temporary protection status. This means they arrived in the country after the outbreak of the full-scale war. A total of 993 thousand Ukrainians have a PESEL UKR. Every second PESEL UKR holder is a minor. Of all Ukrainians with a PESEL UKR, 61% are female. Among adult Ukrainians with a PESEL UKR, 77% are women – often mothers who came to Poland with young children.
Valid temporary residence permits in Poland have so far been granted to 462 thousand Ukrainian citizens. The majority of permits were issued in connection with employment in Poland. A further 92 thousand Ukrainians hold a permanent residence permit or an EU long-term resident card.
When it comes to the geographical distribution of Ukrainians settling in Poland, they most frequently choose voivodeships with large urban agglomerations. 22% of all Ukrainian citizens in Poland reside in the Masovian Voivodeship (centred on Warsaw). 12% – in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship (centred on Wrocław). 11% – in the Greater Poland Voivodeship (centre – Poznań). 9% – in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship (main city – Kraków). 9% – in the Silesian Voivodeship (main city – Katowice).
These figures do not include Ukrainian citizens who are in Poland on the basis of a visa or under the visa-free regime.
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According to the Office for Foreigners, as of the end of February 2025 about 1.55 million Ukrainian citizens reside in Poland on a permanent basis. Ukrainians make up 78% of all foreign nationals in the country, making them the largest group of foreigners.
A total of 993 thousand Ukrainians hold a PESEL UKR, which reflects temporary protection status for those who arrived after the full-scale war began. Every second holder is a minor, and 61% of all holders are female, rising to 77% among adults.
Valid temporary residence permits have been granted to 462 thousand Ukrainian citizens, mostly in connection with employment in Poland. A further 92 thousand Ukrainians hold either a permanent residence permit or an EU long-term resident card.
Ukrainians most often settle in voivodeships with large urban agglomerations. The Masovian Voivodeship (Warsaw) has 22%, Lower Silesian (Wrocław) 12%, Greater Poland (Poznań) 11%, and Lesser Poland (Kraków) and Silesian (Katowice) 9% each.
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