Polish Residence Cards of Ukrainian Nationals with UKR Status Postponed to 2025

New electronic applications for a residence card for Ukrainian nationals residing in Poland under temporary protection status (the so-called ‘UKR status’), introduced in the last amendment to the Act on Assistance to the Citizens of Ukraine in connection with the armed conflict in Ukraine, will not be available until the system dedicated for this procedure is launched, which is not expected until 2025. This has been announced by the officials responsible for introducing the new electronic system.

The electronic application will be available to Ukrainian nationals if they:

  • held the UKR status on March 4, 2024
  • hold the UKR status at the moment of submission of application
  • hold the UKR status uninterruptedly for at least 365 days

The aim of this new type of electronic residence permit application is to legalize right to stay and issue the documents faster than in regular residence permit processing.

Until the system is introduced, only certain groups of Ukrainian nationals holding UKR status are entitled to apply for a residence permit under the regular procedure. Submission of application is possible if Ukrainian national works or runs business activity in Poland, or is a non-working dependant of such person. Persons who are entitled to apply for a residence permit under regular procedure should not wait for the new system and instead follow currently available options to receive the permit and extend right to stay in Poland.

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