The current President of Poland, Karol Nawrocki, has refused to sign the amendment to the Act on Assistance to Citizens of Ukraine. This may be a huge problem for Ukrainian citizens who do not currently have a visa, a residence permit, or who fail to submit an application for such a permit in time.
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What was the rejected amendment about?
Currently, Ukrainian citizens, as the only foreigners in Poland, have the possibility to stay legally in Poland for a prolonged time without a visa or a residence permit. The only requirement is that they obtain a PESEL UKR number. This right is valid until 30 September 2025.
The parliamentary draft of the amendment (changes to the regulations) included, among other things, an extension of the legal stay of Ukrainian citizens without the need to obtain a temporary residence permit until 4 March 2026. Unfortunately, the President of Poland refused to sign the amendment. Considering the conflict between the president and the government, there is a high probability that the amendment will not come into force.
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What does the refusal to sign the amendment mean?
The President of Poland has the right to refuse to sign a law (i.e., to apply a veto). In such a case the bill returns to the Sejm (Polish parliamant), which can override the president’s veto by a qualified majority of 3/5 of votes in the presence of at least half of the statutory number of deputies. Only then can the law enter into force.
Given the current political situation in Poland, most experts comment that the parties supporting the amendment are unlikely to obtain the necessary number of votes to override the president’s veto.
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What are the practical consequences for legal residence?
If the government does not reach an agreement with the president and does not obtain his support for the amendment, then Ukrainian citizens who do not have a visa or a residence permit will lose their legal stay in Poland as of 30 September 2025. In that case many people will have to leave, since their continued stay in Poland would be illegal – unless they take preemptive steps to ensure their legal stay.
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What should you do to protect yourself from having to leave Poland?
Practically the only safe way to ensure the possibility of continued stay in Poland is to obtain a visa (if you are outside Poland) or a temporary residence permit (if you are on the territory of Poland).
Importantly, an application for a temporary residence permit must be submitted while you are still legally staying here – that is by 30 September 2025. An application submitted after that date will be rejected.
It should be noted that after submitting the application, the stay in Poland remains legal until a decision is issued (provided the application was submitted during legal stay). This way a continued legal residence will be secured.
The current situation creates great uncertainty about the legal status of many people who so far have benefited from the preferential treatment in regards to their legal stay. Losing it may mean they must take necessary steps to ensure their continued stay in Poland without interruption.
Would you like to know more? Do you need assistance with applying for your next residence permit?
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