Residence card CUKR

From 4 May 2026, if you are a citizen of Ukraine under temporary protection in Poland, have a PESEL UKR number, and meet the conditions below, you may apply for a CUKR residence card.

On this page you will find information on how to apply, what to do after receiving the CUKR residence card but also some important things to consider before you apply. You will lose some rights associated with your current PESEL UKR status if you apply. If you are unsure which rights you will lose related to your individual situation you can always reach out to a lawyer to discuss your individual situation, information on our legal partners can also be found at the bottom of this page.

To apply for a CUKR residence card, you must meet all of the following conditions:

have held PESEL-UKR status on 4 June 2025; and
have PESEL-UKR status on the date of submitting the application; and
have had continuous PESEL-UKR status for at least 365 days.

Please note that your data in the PESEL register must be complete. This means that you must have previously confirmed your identity at the municipal office (urząd gminy) using a valid travel document and, among other things, provided your fingerprints.

Documents required for the CUKR residence card application:

a recent digital photograph, taken no earlier than 6 months before submitting the application; and
proof of payment (scan of the payment confirmation or electronic transfer confirmation) for:
- PLN 100 for issuing the residence card, and
- PLN 340 administrative fee for granting the temporary residence permit.

Important: these are separate fees and must be paid to separate bank accounts.

You can apply only electronically, independently, via the dedicated MOS (Moduł Obsługi Spraw) portal. The application must be signed with either a qualified electronic signature, or a trusted profile signature (Profil Zaufany). You can submit your application for PESEL CUKR until 04.03.2027.

The CUKR residence card is valid for 3 years from the date of issuance. The CUKR card can only be issued once.

After it expires, you may apply for another residence permit under the general immigration rules.

A CUKR residence card gives you, among other things:

3 years residence status in Poland;
full access to the labour market without needing any additional work permits;
the possibility to run a business under the same rules as Polish citizens;
the right to travel within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days within any 180-day period, together with a valid travel document.

If in the future you wish to apply for EU long-term resident status, the time you spent in Poland on the basis of a CUKR residence card will count toward the required residency period.

Please remember that once you receive a CUKR residence card, your UKR status will automatically change to CUKR status.

This means you will lose some rights associated with UKR status, including:

access to free accommodation and meals in collective sites (OZZ) (if you currently qualify);
access to certain healthcare benefits (if you belong to a group that is eligible for them);
access to social assistance.

For this reason, the CUKR residence card may not be the best solution for everyone.

If you are unsure whether applying for a CUKR residence card is the right option for you, you can contact the non-governmental organizations listed below to discuss your individual legal situation. Legal assistance is free of charge.

After obtaining the CUKR residence permit, you must notify the Voivode (Wojewoda) who issued your card of any change of address within 15 working days.

If you leave Poland for a period longer than 6 months, you will lose your temporary residence permit (CUKR residence card).

If you do not collect your CUKR residence card within 60 days from the date the Voivodeship Office informs you that it is ready for collection, you will not be granted the temporary residence permit, and the CUKR residence card will be invalidated. However, your PESEL UKR status will remain valid.

More information about the procedure for applying for a CUKR residence card can be found on government websites and the websites of our legal partners:

https://www.gov.pl/web/udsc/CUKR-procedura – information prepared by the Polish authorities
https://ukraina.interwencjaprawna.pl/co-to-jest-zezwolenie-na-pobyt-czasowy-w-trybie-tzw-cukr/ and https://www.pomocprawna.org/ukraina – dedicated websites for people arriving from Ukraine

Moreover, the organisations listed below provide legal assistance free of charge and are experienced in supporting refugees from Ukraine in Poland:

Association for Legal Intervention

(+48) 880 145 372 (Mon-Fri, between 15:00-16:00 to make an in-person appointment in Warsaw
[email protected]
interwencjaprawna.pl
Dedicated website for people arriving from Ukraine: ukraina.interwencjaprawna.pl

Halina Niec Legal Aid Center

Helsińska Fundacja Praw Człowieka