Polish president blocks extension of social assistance for Ukrainians: what is known

The law on extending assistance to Ukrainians in Poland has been rejected. President Navrotsky insists on changes: assistance only for those who work, stricter migration rules, and new citizenship requirements. Find out more about what will happen to support and temporary protection

Legal assistance on migration issues for Ukrainians in Ukraine and abroad

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Polish President Karol Nawrocki refused to sign a law extending aid to Ukrainian citizens. According to the head of state, the reason was that the document did not take into account key changes that, in his opinion, Polish social policy needs.

Why did the president reject the law?

“Over the past 3.5 years, the situation in the financial, social, and political spheres has changed dramatically. The law that was proposed must now be amended,” Niewodnicki explained.

The president stressed that the 800+ assistance program should only apply to Ukrainians who work in Poland or are officially trying to get into the job market. He said similar rules should apply to the healthcare system.

“I believe that Poles in their own country should be at least on an equal footing with our guests from Ukraine. That is why I did not sign the law in its current form,” he said.

Alternative bill

Along with rejecting the document, Navrotsky presented his own draft law. He called on parliamentary parties to consider it within two weeks. Among the proposed changes are:

tighter requirements for obtaining citizenship: increasing the minimum period of residence in Poland from 3 to 10 years;

new provisions for foreigners — not only for Ukrainians, but also for other migrants;

stricter penalties for illegal border crossing — up to 5 years in prison;

the inclusion of a clause “Stop Bandery” equating it with Nazism in the Criminal Code;

the fight against Russian propaganda and the strengthening of Polish-Ukrainian relations.

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What was in the rejected amendment?

The previous draft law provided for:

the extension of temporary protection for Ukrainians until March 4, 2026;

clarification of the conditions for 800+ assistance, including for children over 18 who are studying at universities or vocational courses.

It was these changes that the president refused to approve.

What next?

According to Deputy Minister Paweł Szefernaker, the current support measures for Ukrainians will remain in force until the end of September. He called on parliament to pass the updated law as soon as possible:

“If the law is passed in its proposed form, the president will be able to sign it immediately. We want to cooperate and engage in dialogue,” he stressed.

In turn, Zbigniew Boguski assured that Ukrainians who work legally, do business in Poland, and pay taxes “have nothing to worry about.”

Reminder! The closed sky and lack of air service reduce the options for getting to Ukraine. However, the country's land borders are open, so it is worth researching routes for entering Ukraine for Polish citizens in advance. How to get from Poland to Ukraine in 2025 — read here.

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