In his annual foreign-policy address to the Sejm, Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski hailed the "entrepreneurial energy" of the 1.4 million Ukrainians currently living in Poland, noting that they have registered more than 120,000 companies since Russia’s full-scale invasion. Adult Ukrainians now show a higher labour-force participation rate than Polish citizens, he said.(english.nv.ua)
The remarks come a week after President Karol Nawrocki signed legislation that sunsets most provisions of the 2022 Special Act on Assistance to Ukrainian Citizens on 5 March 2026. Key protections—such as open labour-market access and eligibility for national ID numbers (PESEL-UKR)—remain, but benefits are being aligned with those available to other non-EU foreigners. Notably, temporary-protection holders will lose status if they spend more than 30 days outside Poland, a clause with ramifications for cross-border commuters and staff rotated to other EU sites.
![Warsaw signals new chapter for Ukrainian nationals as wartime ‘Special Act’ winds down]()
Ukrainians now have until 4 March 2027 to convert temporary protection into a longer-term residence title. Employers planning to keep Ukrainian employees beyond that date should begin the standard work-permit or EU Blue Card process well in advance, given current backlogs of four-to-six months in Mazowieckie and Małopolskie voivodeships.
For companies and individuals navigating these new rules, VisaHQ can streamline the transition. Its Poland hub (https://www.visahq.com/poland/) offers up-to-date guidance on residence permits, work visas, and PESEL registration, letting HR teams and Ukrainian nationals handle paperwork online and stay compliant as the Special Act winds down.
From a mobility perspective the phase-out simplifies compliance—one immigration regime instead of two—but removes some flexibilities corporate assignees have enjoyed, such as longer overseas business trips without jeopardising status. HR teams should audit travel patterns and brief Ukrainian staff on the new 30-day rule to avoid inadvertent lapses.
The remarks come a week after President Karol Nawrocki signed legislation that sunsets most provisions of the 2022 Special Act on Assistance to Ukrainian Citizens on 5 March 2026. Key protections—such as open labour-market access and eligibility for national ID numbers (PESEL-UKR)—remain, but benefits are being aligned with those available to other non-EU foreigners. Notably, temporary-protection holders will lose status if they spend more than 30 days outside Poland, a clause with ramifications for cross-border commuters and staff rotated to other EU sites.
Ukrainians now have until 4 March 2027 to convert temporary protection into a longer-term residence title. Employers planning to keep Ukrainian employees beyond that date should begin the standard work-permit or EU Blue Card process well in advance, given current backlogs of four-to-six months in Mazowieckie and Małopolskie voivodeships.
For companies and individuals navigating these new rules, VisaHQ can streamline the transition. Its Poland hub (https://www.visahq.com/poland/) offers up-to-date guidance on residence permits, work visas, and PESEL registration, letting HR teams and Ukrainian nationals handle paperwork online and stay compliant as the Special Act winds down.
From a mobility perspective the phase-out simplifies compliance—one immigration regime instead of two—but removes some flexibilities corporate assignees have enjoyed, such as longer overseas business trips without jeopardising status. HR teams should audit travel patterns and brief Ukrainian staff on the new 30-day rule to avoid inadvertent lapses.
