CUKR residence card now available

As of May 4, 2026, applications for a residence card with the annotation "Previously a holder of temporary protection" (so-called CUKR residence card) can be submitted. This is a new, special type of temporary residence permit for Ukrainian citizens, intended to enable the transition from temporary protection (PESEL UKR status) to a more stable form of legalization of stay in Poland.

An application for a CUKR card can only be submitted electronically – via the dedicated portal of the Case Management Module (MOS). According to the Office for Foreigners, two groups of people benefiting from temporary protection in Poland can apply for the document:

  • citizens of Ukraine and certain members of their families (spouses, minor children, children of spouses, as well as immediate family members with a Pole's Card) who came to Poland after 23 February 2022 in connection with military operations and plan to continue their stay in the country;
  • children born in Poland after 23 February 2022, whose mothers came to Poland after that date and have a CUKR residence card.

To obtain a CUKR residence card, all of the following conditions must be met:

  • have a valid PESEL UKR number on the day of submitting the application;
  • have PESEL UKR status as of 4 June 2025;
  • have a valid PESEL UKR number on the day the voivode issues the decision;
  • maintain UKR status continuously for at least 365 days.

Holders of the CUKR residence card will gain full access to the Polish labor market – without the need to apply for an additional permit – and will be able to run a business on the same terms as Polish citizens.

Importantly, the period of stay based on the CUKR card will be included in the period of experience required when applying for a long-term EU resident's residence permit.

We invite you to watch the Polish-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce's webinar, "Business and Stay in Poland: Various Paths to Legalization," in which experts discuss practical aspects of procedures and potential challenges, including those related to obtaining a CUKR residence card. The recording in Ukrainian is available at YouTube channel Polish-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce.

Tetiana Gomon