What lies ahead for Ukrainians in Poland after 4 March 2026

The Polish government has published a draft bill providing for the gradual phasing out of certain special provisions of the law on assistance to Ukrainian citizens, which have been in force since 2022 following the full-scale invasion. The essence of the changes is a transition from emergency measures to general rules applicable to all foreigners in Poland. These changes are being prepared in light of the stabilisation of the situation: many Ukrainians are already integrated, in work, their children are attending Polish schools, and the authorities have learned to handle the status of foreigners in the standard manner.

What exactly does the new law propose

A transition from special provisions to general rules

The draft provides for the repeal of certain special provisions of the law on assistance to Ukrainian citizens, which created a separate system of rights and obligations for this group. Instead, it is proposed that many of these provisions be transferred to the general law on the protection of foreigners, with unified rules for all persons legally residing in Poland.

What exactly is changing

1. Registration and status verification procedures The draft bill provides for the transfer of procedures for registering persons under temporary protection and verifying their identity (for example, based on PESEL UKR) into the new provisions of the general law, which will help prevent administrative processes from grinding to a halt.

2. Access to the labour market and business In future, mechanisms for accessing the labour market, in particular through employment notifications, and opportunities to start one’s own business, are planned to remain within the updated legal framework, which will be aligned with the rules for all foreign nationals.

3. Uniform right to assistance The changes also concern access to basic social services, including healthcare, housing and other forms of social support.

4. Visas and residence documents The draft includes the extension of visas and certain documents until 4 March 2027, as well as changes to the procedure for obtaining certain types of residence permits.

5. Procedural matters It is also proposed to retain certain mechanisms, in particular the suspension of time limits for the examination of cases concerning the residence of foreign nationals until 4 March 2027.

Why these changes are important

• The new provisions remove some of the temporary special rules that were necessary during the unprecedented influx of refugees in 2022–2023.
• The transition to the general rules of Polish law should ensure equal treatment for all foreigners legally residing in Poland and reduce administrative difficulties.

What will change for Ukrainians

1. Individuals who have temporary protection will, in the future, fall under the general regulations on the protection of foreigners.
2. Registration of PESEL, confirmation of status, and identification may be carried out in electronic form (instead of paper documents).
3. Access to employment and business activity will take place within the general legal framework, but with certain transitional provisions.
4. Visa permits and residence permits may have their validity extended until 2027.

What to pay attention to today

• The current draft law is still undergoing interdepartmental consultations, and its final version may change before adoption by the Sejm.
• Some provisions may enter into force gradually, with transitional measures, in order to avoid creating a sudden legal vacuum.

Considering the content of the draft, it can be stated that it is not about abolishing support for Ukrainians in Poland, but about a gradual transition from temporary, crisis-related solutions to general rules of migration law. If the changes are adopted, procedures related to stay, access to work, and administrative services will be gradually integrated into the standard system for foreigners. For people who work and plan to stay in Poland long-term, this means more predictable rules and fewer exceptions within the legal framework.