Poland has extended the special law for Ukrainians for the last time: what will change after March 2026

Poland has announced the end of the period of special rules for Ukrainians. Find out what the new law provides for, which benefits have been restricted, and how the conditions for legal residence will change after 2026

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The President of Poland, Karol Nawrocki, has signed a law regulating the stay of Ukrainian citizens after September 30, 2025. At the same time, according to rmf24.pl, the Head of the President's Office, Zbigniew Bogucki, stated that this is the last document providing special conditions for Ukrainians and that the president will not sign any others. Furthermore, according to him, only the general rules that apply to all foreigners will remain in force.

What provisions does the new law contain?

The new law defines the conditions for the legal stay of Ukrainians in Poland for another six months — until March 4, 2026. However, along with the extension of the term, a number of changes have been introduced that restrict access to benefits and social guarantees for citizens who are not working. These include:

● Medical services. Adult Ukrainians will have limited access to some medical programs, including rehabilitation, dental services, and certain treatment programs.

● Social assistance. Receiving benefits, in particular under the Rodzina 800+ program, will now depend on certain conditions being met. Only families where both parents are employed and children attend Polish schools will be eligible for assistance. Exceptions are provided, in particular, for parents of children with disabilities.

● Residence status. Legal residence has been confirmed until spring 2026, after which Ukrainians will have to comply with the standard rules that apply to other foreigners.

The head of the president's office, Zbigniew Bogucki, explained that in this way Poland is “sending a very clear signal — no more preferences.” According to him, the government has been given six months to prepare for the transition to general rules.

The Presidential Office emphasizes that there will be no separate laws on assistance to Ukrainians in the future. "We must move to normal rules for Ukrainian citizens. Today, the president is sending a very clear signal – no more preferences, no more special conditions," Bogucki said.

This position reflects the political course of the current government, which seeks to show that privileges for Ukrainians are coming to an end and that all integration issues must be resolved on a general basis.

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What bills will be submitted to the Sejm in the near future

Karol Nawrocki announced the introduction of two more bills that directly concern Ukrainians in Poland:

● On “Banderaism.” The proposed amendments to the Criminal Code will allow for punishment for “spreading Banderaism or Volhynian lies.” This wording is already causing debate, as critics see it as a threat to freedom of speech and a political subtext.

● On citizenship. The document provides for a significant complication of the procedure for obtaining a Polish passport. In particular, the possibility of increasing the period of continuous residence from the current 3 to 10 years before applying for citizenship is being considered.

“The president will not allow himself to be blackmailed and will not allow Poles to be blackmailed,” said a representative of the chancellery, commenting on future initiatives.

What awaits Ukrainians in Poland after March 2026

The extension of legal residence until 2026 is the last stage of special support. After this date, Ukrainians in Poland will be able to stay, work, or receive assistance only under the general rules that apply to all foreigners. This means that employment, education, tax payments, and compliance with standard procedures will become key factors.

Thus, Poland is gradually ending the period of “special rules” and moving towards a policy of equal conditions for all. This decision will significantly change the living conditions for hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians who remain in the country.

We remind you! Poland is preparing for important changes in the social support system for Ukrainians. Soon, the application process will become fully digital, which will increase control and transparency of payments. Read more about the new electronic system, which will start operating in 2026, in our previous article.

Photo: Depositphotos

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