US EditionPoland ends special status of Ukrainian refugees
- Polish President Karol Nawrocki signed on February 19 legislation integrating support for Ukrainian refugees into Poland's Law on the Protection of Foreigners, ending the separate 2022 framework, Nawrocki said `unconditional privileges` are ending.
- Nawrocki had signalled in November 2025 that special assistance for Ukrainians would end, and the government said last month it wanted a single, coherent support system replacing the 2022 temporary framework.
- The law preserves residency rights for Ukrainian refugees and requires PESEL personal identification number registration within 30 days, allowing legal residence applications until March 4, 2027.
- About one million Ukrainian refugees lived in Poland by summer 2025, and the law ends special business establishment rights and school support measures after the current academic year.
- The government says the move aligns with EU efforts for a single support system, while Nawrocki said `I sign this law with the conviction that it protects our state finances, streamlines the system, and restores a sense of basic justice.
19 Articles
19 Articles
Poland passed a law in 2022 for those fleeing the war, and there are almost a million Ukrainian refugees living in the country.
After four years, the special status of refugees from Ukraine will end in March, and from March onwards, they will be subject to roughly the same rules as anyone else arriving in Poland from abroad, Notes From Poland wrote. Karol Nawrocki, who is associated with the government and the right-wing opposition, justified the move by saying that after four years, they were forced to normalize the status of Ukrainian refugees. The exception previously…
Poland ends special status of Ukrainian refugees
Keep our news free from ads and paywalls by making a donation to support our work! Notes from Poland is run by a small editorial team and is published by an independent, non-profit foundation that is funded through donations from our readers. We cannot do what we do without your support. President Karol Nawrocki has signed into law a government bill ending the special status granted in 2022 to Ukrainian refugees, who will now instead be treated …
Its aim is to protect public finances and simplify the system.
Polish president ends special refugee support system for Ukrainians, shifts assistance to general foreigner protections
Polish President Karol Nawrocki signed legislation on Feb. 19 transferring support measures for Ukrainian refugees into Poland’s general Law on the Protection of Foreigners, ending a separate legal framework created after Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
Polish President Karol Navrotsky has signed a law that ends special benefits for Ukrainian refugees introduced after the start of a full-scale war. Instead, the country is moving to systemic rules for the protection of foreigners.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 72% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
