A big change for Ukrainians in Poland. They have to get ready now

• The special regulations for Ukrainians in Poland are to end on March 4, 2026.
• The special act will probably be extended only until that point.
• This may have a negative impact on the labor market, especially in sectors dependent on workers from Ukraine.

As reported by "Dziennik Gazeta Prawna", the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration is working on a law on assistance to Ukrainian citizens . The new regulations are to enter into force by September 30.

It is not yet known what privileges Ukrainians will retain after March 4. Currently, they include:

• automatic legalization of stay,
• access to the labor market,
• the right to family benefits,
• social assistance,
• health care,
• the possibility of conducting business activity.

According to experts, instead of further extension of current facilities and privileges for foreigners, we should rather expect their gradual limitation. Myroslava Keryk, president of the board of the "Nasz Wybiera" Foundation, in an interview with the daily warns that due to the changes there is a risk of an outflow of Ukrainian workers from Poland.

Karolina Schiffter, a partner at the PCS law firm, says that the ease of access to the labor market will probably be maintained. Restrictions should be expected on the side of social support.

We see that Ukrainian citizens have recently become very confused and uncertain about the future. They do not know how to plan their lives, some are returning to their home country or starting refugee procedures - notes Katarzyna Słubik, president of the Association for Legal Intervention.

There are already over 1.17 million foreigners working in Poland. According to ZUS data, in September 2024 the largest group of working foreigners were citizens of Ukraine (779 thousand).