Poland to partially phase out special residence rules for Ukrainians in March

By Jo Harper​​​​​​​

WARSAW (AA) - Poland’s government has approved plans to partially phase out the extraordinary residence and welfare regulations granted to Ukrainians fleeing the Moscow-Kyiv war, moving them onto the country’s standard legal framework for foreign nationals from March, officials said on Tuesday.

Government spokesman Adam Szlapka said the decision reflects the stabilization of the situation nearly four years after the introduction of emergency measures in 2022, when the Russia-Ukraine war started.

“After almost four years, the situation is more stable. Most people staying in Poland work. Their children attend school,” Szlapka said. “We can now move from temporary solutions to systemic ones.”

Under the new rules, Ukrainians will be granted a three-year right of residence under general foreigner legislation. Access to public healthcare will be limited to minors, those in employment, and people living in collective accommodation facilities. Non-working adults will receive healthcare on the same basis as other non-working foreign residents.

Eligibility for Poland’s flagship child benefit program will remain linked to parents’ participation in the labor market, the government said.

To avoid disrupting the ongoing support, the government has introduced transitional provisions, including the completion of family benefit payments already approved, the settlement of funds transferred to local governments, and the extension of the validity of visas and residence permits until March 4 next year.

Education-related measures — including additional Polish-language instruction, preparatory classes in schools, and simplified rules for employing teachers and intercultural assistants — will remain in force until the end of the 2025/2026 school year.

Employers initially warned that rolling back the special law could damage Poland’s labor market, which has absorbed more than a million Ukrainians since 2022. The business organization Lewiatan Confederation said earlier that proposals to restrict simplified hiring procedures could paralyze recruitment in sectors ranging from construction to services.

Szlapka said the government does not expect negative economic fallout.

“We all realize how important a role people who came to Poland from Ukraine play in our labor market,” he said. “These solutions take this into account. We certainly shouldn’t expect any turbulence.”

Poland hosts the largest number of Ukrainian refugees in the EU. The shift signals a move away from crisis governance toward long-term integration — but also reflects growing political pressure to normalize welfare access and public spending.​​​​​​​

The decision comes amid heightened security concerns, with Polish authorities warning that Russian intelligence services are attempting to recruit Ukrainians for acts of sabotage, underscoring the sensitive balance between integration, security, and social cohesion.