Poland tightens control over refugees from Ukraine: what to expect in 2026
2 July 22:27
The Polish government is preparing large-scale changes to the special legislation governing the temporary legal status of Ukrainians in the country. The main goal is to adapt and improve the established rules, ensure greater control over legal stay, and continue to support refugees from Ukraine until early 2026, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports citing the inPoland.net media portal.
The proposed changes cover a number of key aspects: extending the right to stay, expanding the grounds for revoking a residence permit, updating border crossing rules, and defining clear conditions for placing refugees in collective centers.
Extension of temporary protection until March 2026
The Polish government intends to extend the law on the protection of Ukrainian refugees until March 4, 2026. This means that Ukrainians staying in Poland under this program will have the right to legally stay in the country, work, and use medical, educational, and social services. At the same time, officials extended tax benefits for Ukrainian citizens.
One of the key recommendations includes the payment of the “00” allowance to children under the age of 18 who have graduated from school but continue their studies in Poland. This is a significant support for families with children and will facilitate the integration of young people into the foreign education system.
Restrictions for new applications
If the amendments are adopted by law, a temporary residence permit in Poland will be issued only once. Thus, the automatic extension of the status will be limited to new applications, and to re-apply for it, you will need to meet the current requirements again.
In addition, Poland is preparing to close the program for accepting refugees into collective centers. The service will be available until October 31, 2025, with possible extensions for vulnerable groups such as people with disabilities, women with children, and lonely minors.
Restrictions for short-term visitors
The new rules of stay in Poland for Ukrainians contain a provision that does not allow issuing a residence permit to those who cross the border for a short time immediately after obtaining a local border traffic permit. This applies to citizens using the simplified form of border crossing. From now on, this practice will be considered a violation, which will automatically lead to a refusal to issue or revoke the residence permit.
Grounds for revocation of a residence permit
One of the most important innovations is the expansion of the grounds on which Polish authorities will be able to revoke a residence permit:
1. Submission of false information in the application. If such inconsistencies are found in personal data (e.g., incorrect date of birth, place of residence, employment, etc.), the residence permit will be revoked or not issued at all.
2. Submission of forged documents (including falsified certificates, copies of certificates, etc.).
3. Marriage with the purpose of evading the requirements of the law. This applies to persons who entered into a marriage with Polish citizens or other foreigners only to circumvent immigration restrictions. Formal or artificial marriage agreements with the aim of legalizing the stay fall under this clause.
Read also: Poland’s attitude towards refugees from Ukraine has changed. What is the reason?
Why Poland is changing the rules for Ukrainian refugees
The reform of the special law is due to the difficult demographic situation, the long-term stay of Ukrainians in Poland and the growing administrative burden. It also takes into account the growing concern about possible abuse of the state support system. The state authorities are trying to balance maintaining a humanitarian approach with effective migration control and security.
What does the official Warsaw expect from the changes in the special law
Increased transparency due to clear rules for extending residence permits.
Improved control through strict measures to revoke rights in case of fraud or simulation of marital relations.
Strengthening assistance to the most vulnerable categories by limiting the length of stay in the centers.
Stability for business and education by continuing access to the labor market, education and healthcare for Ukrainians.
Key challenges
Polish officials face the following challenges due to changes in the special law regulating the stay of Ukrainians in the country:
- Administrative burden. Additional resources are required to verify documents and data.
- Risk of repressive interpretation. The new rules may be applied too strictly, which may lead to unjustified refusals to extend the permit.
- Trust of refugees. It is important that the changes do not undermine confidence in Poland as a state that openly accepts Ukrainians in times of crisis.
The currently announced amendments to the special law are a logical next step for official Warsaw. By combining the extension of the legal presence of Ukrainians until March 2026 with tighter control procedures, Poland seeks to build a support model with a clear framework. On the one hand, it promotes humanitarian policy, and on the other hand, it provides the state with a reliable tool to prevent abuse. In the long run, this balance will strengthen the trust of both Polish citizens and businesses in the country’s immigration policy.
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