Poland changes rules for Ukrainians: CUKR status introduced instead of PESEL UKR

A new stage of legalization: from temporary protection to a residence permit

From April 1, 2026, updated rules for Ukrainians under temporary protection came into force in Poland. The key innovation was the gradual replacement of the PESEL UKR status with a special CUKR residence permit, which allows for legal residence in the country for up to three years.

The Polish authorities define this mechanism as the main way to transition from temporary protection to long-term residence.

Who can obtain CUKR status

Citizens of Ukraine and their family members can obtain a CUKR residence card provided that:

the presence of UKR status as of June 4, 2025;
maintaining this status at the time of application;
continuous stay with UKR status for at least 365 days;
legal stay in Poland on the basis of temporary protection.

Minor children (upon application of parents or guardians) and children born in Poland are also entitled to receive a card, provided that certain requirements are met.

Electronic submission via the MOS system

Applications for CUKR are submitted exclusively electronically via the state MOS system. Paper documents are no longer accepted.

To submit, you must:

register an account;
log in via login.gov.pl;
fill out the electronic form;
sign the application with an electronic signature or a trusted profile;
add a photo and proof of payment.

After submission, the applicant receives an electronic confirmation, and in case of positive consideration, an invitation to the voivodeship office to receive a ready-made card.

Processing costs and data requirements

The permit application involves the payment of:

PLN 340 – administrative fee;

PLN 100 – card production.

It is important that the application will not be accepted if the data in the PESEL UKR register is incomplete. In particular, personal data, details of a foreign document, biometric data and signature (for persons aged 12 and over) must be provided.

What rights does the CUKR card provide

Obtaining a CUKR actually transforms the temporary protection status into a temporary residence permit for a period of up to three years.

Card holders receive:

free access to the labor market without additional permits;
the right to conduct business;
the opportunity to travel to the Schengen area countries (up to 90 days within 180 days);
counting the period of residence towards the length of service for obtaining long-term EU residency.

Thus, the new system creates more stable legal conditions for Ukrainians who have been in Poland for a long time and opens the way to further integration into the European space.