President Karol Nawrocki has signed legislation that formally repeals the 2022 Special Act on Assistance to Citizens of Ukraine, bringing almost one million Ukrainian refugees under Poland’s general Law on Foreigners and the EU Temporary Protection Directive as of 5 March 2026. The Special Act was rushed through parliament in March 2022 after Russia’s full-scale invasion and granted Ukrainians broad, automatic rights to live, work, study and receive social benefits in Poland with minimal paperwork. Ministers now argue that most arrivals are employed and integrated, and that exceptional measures have created inequality with other foreigners. Key practical changes include the replacement of blanket extensions with individual residence-permit applications that must be filed by 4 March 2027, stricter rules on losing status after 30 days abroad or duplicate protection in another EU state, and the end of simplified business-registration procedures. Work rights remain, but employers must verify permits rather than rely on simple online notifications. HR departments are therefore urged to audit personnel files, collect PESEL-UKR numbers, and schedule appointments at voivodeship offices well in advance – backlogs are expected.
![Special Act Repealed: Poland Ends Wartime Privileges for One Million Ukrainians]()
Businesses and individuals who find the new rules daunting can turn to VisaHQ for help; the company’s Poland portal (https://www.visahq.com/poland/) offers end-to-end assistance with residence permits, document translations and appointment scheduling, making compliance faster and less stressful.
Ukrainians opening companies after 5 March now fall under the same capital-and-licensing thresholds that apply to other third-country nationals. Healthcare co-payment waivers have also narrowed to children, pregnant women and vulnerable groups. Although the change does not trigger mass expulsions, lawyers warn that missed filing deadlines or unregistered travel could leave individuals undocumented overnight. Companies with large Ukrainian workforces – particularly in construction, logistics and agri-food – may need to expand legal-immigration budgets to cover permit fees, translations and electronic-signature certificates required by Poland’s new MOS e-filing portal.
Businesses and individuals who find the new rules daunting can turn to VisaHQ for help; the company’s Poland portal (https://www.visahq.com/poland/) offers end-to-end assistance with residence permits, document translations and appointment scheduling, making compliance faster and less stressful.
Ukrainians opening companies after 5 March now fall under the same capital-and-licensing thresholds that apply to other third-country nationals. Healthcare co-payment waivers have also narrowed to children, pregnant women and vulnerable groups. Although the change does not trigger mass expulsions, lawyers warn that missed filing deadlines or unregistered travel could leave individuals undocumented overnight. Companies with large Ukrainian workforces – particularly in construction, logistics and agri-food – may need to expand legal-immigration budgets to cover permit fees, translations and electronic-signature certificates required by Poland’s new MOS e-filing portal.
