Entry and stay on the territory of Poland of Ukrainian nationals

Date of update: April 1, 2022

We present information on the entry and stay of Ukrainian citizens on the territory of Poland.

Additional information can be also obtained by calling PwC free infoline at +48 519 062 999.

Functioning Polish borders crossing points

At the moment, border crossing points in Poland remain open. At all crossing points, except for passenger and goods traffic, there is pedestrian traffic.

The current situation at individual border crossing points can be found under the following links:

https://www.gov.pl/web/ukraina/sytuacja-na-przejsciach-granicznych-z-ukraina

https://www.strazgraniczna.pl/pl/mapa-przejsc-i-obiektow/1,dok.html

and

https://www.bieszczadzki.strazgraniczna.pl/bie/aktualnosci/37826,Aktualna-sytuacja-na-podkarpackim-odcinku-granicy-panstwowej.html

Detailed information on crossing the border is also provided by the Border Guard - helpline number: +48 82 568 51 19..

Grounds for entry of Ukrainian citizens to the territory of Poland:

visa-free travel in connection with the possession of a biometric passport,
national visa (type D) or Schengen visa (type C),
visa type D or type C issued by another Schengen state,
residence permit (residence card) issued by another Schengen state,
having a temporary residence permit, permanent stay or long-term resident's EU residence permit with a valid residence card,
application for international protection, submitted at the Polish border crossing point,
consent of the commander of the Border Guard, granted when crossing the border, entitling to stay within the territory of the Republic of Poland up to 15 days (Article 32 (1) of the Act on foreigners).

The list of reception points providing support is available at the link:

https://www.gov.pl/web/udsc/ukraina2

Pursuant to the changes in the Regulation of the Council of Ministers on the establishment of certain restrictions, orders and bans in connection with the occurrence of an epidemic, persons crossing the Polish border with Ukraine are not required to:

undergo mandatory quarantine after crossing the state border,
present a negative COVID test result.

Provisions of the Special Act

I. Legal stay of Ukrainian citizens in Poland

The stay of Ukrainian citizens who came from Ukraine to the territory of Poland from February 24 in connection with hostilities conducted on the territory of Ukraine is considered legal for a period of 18 months if these persons entered legally and declared their intention to stay in Poland.
The special act also covers Ukrainian citizens who have a Pole's Card and spouses who do not have Ukrainian citizenship (if they came from Ukraine).
The regulations do not cover people who have: permanent residence permit, long-term EU resident permit, temporary residence permit, refugee status, subsidiary protection, permit for tolerated stay.
The provisions also do not apply to persons who have submitted applications for international protection (refugee status) or have declared their intention to submit applications for international protection on the basis of the articles listed in the Act. NOTE: such applications and declarations can be withdrawn.
Persons covered by the Special Act are also subject to temporary protection.
The additional regulation will define the last day on which the arrival to Poland will be subject to the above regulations (e.g. due to the number of foreigners arriving, the situation of the civilian population, etc.).
It is important to register entry to the territory of Poland. If the entry has not been registered by the Border Guard, the entry may be registered upon an application for a PESEL number, but not later than 60 days from the date of entry.
Leaving the territory of Poland for more than 1 month deprives you of the right to stay for 18 months, which is provided for in the Special Act.
A Ukrainian citizen covered by the Special Act will be able to obtain a temporary residence permit for 3 years. The application may be submitted not earlier than 9 months, and not later than 18 months.

II. Extension of validity of other documents

If the last day of stay of a Ukrainian citizen falls on February 24, the following documents will be extended until December 31, 2022:

National visa (does not entitle to cross the border)
Temporary stay (does not issue / does not replace the residence card)

The following documents are extended by 18 months:

Residence cards, Polish identity documents, consent for a tolerated stay (no new documents are issued, the card does not entitle to cross borders)

The following are extended by 18 months:

The date of leaving Poland, the period of voluntary return

The period of stay is legal for a period of 18 months (if the stay began before February 24 and the last day of admissible stay falls after February 24) for people staying in Poland based on:

Schengen visa (Polish and foreign)
Residence document of another country
The visa-free movement
Commander's consent for entry for 15 days

III. Right to work for Ukrainian citizens

Ukrainian citizens legally residing in Poland are entitled to work in Poland.
The employer should make an appropriate notification to the poviat labor office about the foreigner’s starting work within 14 days from the date of commencement of work. Applications are made via portal praca.gov.pl.
The Minister of Labor may determine, by regulation, the number of Ukrainian citizens that may be hired by the employer. This number is to be determined "in relation to the number of all persons to whom this entity entrusts work, guided by the reasons of state security and public order, protection of local labor markets and the principle of complementarity of employment of foreigners in relation to Polish citizens".
Ukrainians whose stay in Poland will be legalized on the basis of a Special Act or the Act on foreigners, may undertake and conduct business activity in Poland on the same terms as Polish citizens - provided that such a person obtains a PESEL number.

IV. Medical care

Adequate assistance will be provided to Ukrainian citizens who need medical assistance from a family doctor, specialist clinic or hospital. The Special Act also provides access to healthcare.

More information can be found on the website of the National Health Fund:

https://www.nfz.gov.pl/aktualnosci/aktualnosci-centrali/pomoc-medyczna-dla-obywateli-ukrainy-zasady-udzielania-i-rozliczania-swiaden,8149.html