Temporary protection for people displaced from Ukraine (UKR status) and the CUKR residence card
Official name: Ochrona czasowa (status UKR) / karta pobytu CUKR
People who fled the war in Ukraine can stay in Poland under EU temporary protection, recorded as PESEL UKR status. Poland now lets people who have held UKR status for at least a year switch to a 3-year temporary residence permit, issued as a CUKR residence card. Taking the card ends UKR status and the benefits tied to it.
Life in Poland
Finance
3
Currency
Polish Zloty
PLN
Polish Zloty
Cost of living
55
Price level · US = 100
World Bank price levels, 2025
Tax
12–32%
Income tax (national)
VAT 23%
Tax scale: 12% less a PLN 3,600 reducing amount (effectively PLN 30,000 tax-free) up to PLN 120,000, then 32%; optional 19% flat rate for business income.
Living
1
Happiness
#23 of 145 countries
World Happiness Report 2025
Who it’s for
Ukrainian citizens and their family members who came to Poland because of the war, hold PESEL with UKR status, and want to stay longer.
Eligibility
Temporary protection (UKR status)
People displaced from Ukraine by the war are covered by EU temporary protection. In Poland the status is recorded with a PESEL number marked UKR.
CUKR card: UKR status historyApplicant
Show you held UKR status on two set dates and without a break for at least 365 days.
- UKR status held on 4 June 2025
- Conditions are listed by the Office for Foreigners
Official wording
The Office for Foreigners lists three conditions: UKR status held on 4 June 2025, UKR status held on the day of application, and UKR status held without a break for at least 365 days.
CUKR card: who
You need to be a Ukrainian citizen or a family member whose legal stay in Poland rests on temporary protection.
- Family members include, for example, a spouse
- A parent or guardian applies for a minor child
- Child born in Poland: mother arrived legally from Ukraine after 24 February 2022 because of the war
- Child born in Poland: child has UKR status and mother holds a CUKR card
Official wording
Ukrainian citizens and family members of Ukrainian citizens (for example a spouse) whose stay in Poland is legal because of temporary protection. A parent or guardian applies for a minor child. A child born in Poland can also be covered if the mother arrived legally from Ukraine after 24 February 2022 because of the war, the child has UKR status, and the mother holds a CUKR card.
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- 1 more requirement
- 4 documents
- 3 fees
- 5 steps
- Processing times and conditions
Official sources
Other routes to Poland
- Visit & tourismSchengen tourist & business visa
- StudyTemporary residence permit for studies / national D visa for study
- Work permitsWork permit for a Polish entity entrusting work to a foreigner (formerly type A) and temporary residence and work permit
- 3 more routes with Premium
