The procedure for obtaining a CUKR residence card is the simplest way to convert temporary protection into temporary residence, requiring the least effort on the part of the foreign national.
When applying for the card, follow the checklist and the information provided regarding this procedure.
Introduction
The special act provides possibility transformation of residence recognised as legal in connection with the use of temporary protection w Poland w permit na pobyt czasowy.
Within the procedure provided, the foreigner receives a residence card valid for 3 years, which contains the annotation "Previously holder of temporary protection".
Upon receipt of this card, commonly referred to as the "CUKR" residence card, the foreigner loses the right to benefit from temporary protection and is covered by operation of law with a temporary residence permit. This permit is udzielone na okres to końca ważności tej karty i jest niezbutżne od celu pobytu, how / asi a foreigner będzie realizował in Poland.
| Why "CUKR"? | |
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| Aftertoczna nazwa pochodzi od nazwy one / a single ze statusów, how / asi przypisuje się cudzoziemcom w rejestrze PESEL, obok "UE"- tot. obywateli UE", "CUE" - tot. członków ich rodzin korzystających ze swobody przepływu osób, "NUE" tot. obywateli państw trzecich, w tym osób, które utraciły uprawnienia wynikające z temporary protection, czy "UKR" tot. beneficjentów temporary protection. Status ten totyczy byłych posiadaczy temporary protection w Poland, którzy przekształcili swój pobyt w pobyt czasowy. "C"+"UKR" - "C" as in Card, indicating a residence card, and "UKR" - indicating that this is a card issued to a former holder of temporary protection in Poland. |
Authorised persons
- citizens of Ukraine and authorised members of their families holding UKR status, including as of 4 June
- minor children born in Poland from 24 February 2022 by a mother who was issued a CUKR residence card, having UKR status.
An application for the CUKR residence card may be submitted by:
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⇒ who arrived in Poland from Ukraine in connection with the armed hostilities and toes not hold Polish citizenship or citizenship of another EU member state; |
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| ⇒ provided that they arrived in Poland from Ukraine in connection with the military operations conducted in the territory of that state and are not Polish citizens nor citizens of EU Member States other than Poland; |
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| ⇒ by a mother whose stay in Poland is considered legal, provided that the child is not a Polish citizen nor a citizen of an EU Member State other than Poland; |
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| ⇒ provided that this family member arrived in Poland from Ukraine in connection with the military operations conducted in the territory of that state together with this Ukrainian citizen. |
Issuing authority
- the competent voivode with jurisdiction over the place of residence at the time of submitting the application;
- Head of the Office for Foreigners (as the appeals authority, 2nd instance).
Validity period
- in accordance with the validity period of the card issued to the mother — in the case of a child of a foreigner benefiting from temporary protection, born in Poland;
- 3 years - in the remaining cases.
Afterssibility of card renewal
- Provisions of the special act do not provide for such a possibility.
Supplementary information
- After collecting the CUKR card, temporary protection is converted into a temporary residence permit. The foreigner who wishes to continue staying in Poland should, before the expiry of this permit, apply for a residence permit, if they meet the necessary requirements.
- If the CUKR card is not collected, after 60 days from the notification of the possibility of its collection, will be invalidated and the fees paid will be subject to refund.
Regulations
Statutory Regulations
The CUKR Card is regulated by the Act of March 12, 2022, on assistance to citizens of Ukraine in connection with the armed conflict on the territory of that country.
The substantive and legal requirements for its issuance are set forth in Articles 42c and 42d of that Act.
The provisions of the Act of December 12, 2013, on Foreigners also apply to the issuance and replacement of the card.
Implementing acts for the Act
- Regulation of the Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration of [...] 2026 on the form of the application for the issuance of a residence card to a citizen of Ukraine in the cases referred to in Articles 42c and 42d of the Act of March 12, 2022, on assistance to citizens of Ukraine in connection with the armed conflict on the territory of that country;
- Regulation of the Minister of Internal Affairs of April 29, 2014, on documents issued to foreigners;
- Regulation of the Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration of July 26, 2022, on fees charged in the Republic of Poland to foreign nationals for the issuance and replacement of documents that may be issued to foreign nationals, and the procedure for their payment.
Requirements
The application may be submitted by Ukrainian citizens and members of their families whose stay is recognised as legal on the basis of art. 106 ustawy z dnia 13 czerwca 2003r. o udzielaniu cudzoziemcom ochrony na terytorium RP, co jest potwierdzone posiadaniem przez nich numeru PESEL ze statusem "UKR".
This refers therefore to:
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of Ukrainian citizens and non-Ukrainian members of their families (spouse, child
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children born in Poland from 24 February 2022 by mothers whose stay in Poland is considered legal, after their arrival from Ukraine in connection with the armed conflict on its territory – provided the child is not a Polish citizen nor a citizen of another EU member state other than Poland;
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This requirement toes not apply to children born in Poland from 24 February 2022, holding UKR status. |
The 365-day period does not have to immediately precede the application.
The requirement will be met if you have held UKR status through 365 consecutive days in any period since you obtained this status. It is important that there is no break during this period - 365 consecutive days in which you have held UKR status.
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This requirement does not apply to children born in Poland from 24 February 2022 with UKR status. |
| What if I have lost my UKR status for a period of time - is it still possible to apply for a CUKR residence card? | |
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Yes, this is possible. It is permissible for there to be a gap between the period of consecutive 365 days of UKR status and the period in which you re-acquire and hold UKR status.
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The issuing of a residence card with the endorsement 'Previous holder of temporary protection' (CUKR) to the mother must precede the application for such a card to the child.
- including depending on the duties imposed on it and the specific way in which they are carried out:
- made a request through the MOSfor the issue of a CUKR residence card in electronic form in the manner prescribed by the regulationswith the necessary annexes(photograph, proof of payment of card and permit fees)
- has collected the card in person within 60 daysfrom the date of receipt of the request to collect it - a card that is not collected within this period will be invalidated.
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Requirements concerning a child born in Poland from 24 February 2022 by the mother benefiting from temporary protection, under the rules specified in the special act (UKR status), partially differ from the requirements covering other categories of persons with UKR status. Wobec tych dzieci nie jest stosowany wymóg nieprzerwanego posiadania statusu "UKR" przez 365 dni and posiadania tego statusu w dniu 4 czerwca 2025r. As an exception, the requirement for the mother to hold a CUKR card applies. |
Documents
Required tocuments when submitting the application – sent via MOS
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These tocuments are necessary for the application to be processed. |
Fill in the form in MOS electronically, in accordance with the instructions. Then sign it with a trusted signature or qualified electronic signature via login.gov.pl, after adding the necessary attachments.
- showing the facial image of the foreigner, without head covering and darkening glasses. The photo should meet the detailed criteria set by law.
Attach an electronic document or a scan of proof of payment that you have in paper form (click and go for more information). Attach it in PDF format.
Attach an electronic document or a scan of proof of payment that you have in paper form (click and go for more information). Attach them in PDF format.
Filling out and submitting the application
In-person action
The Special Act requires that a foreign national personally sign the application for a CUKR residence card in order for the application to be processed. The application cannot be signed and submitted by a representative.
An application concerning a foreign national who is:
- a minor—is submitted by their parent, guardian, or temporary guardian;
- a person who is completely incapacitated—must be submitted by their guardian;
- a partially incapacitated person—is submitted by their guardian.
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⇒ You cannot submit an application in MOS if the data you provided when registering your MOS account (which is automatically pulled into the application) differs from that in the following registers: the PESEL register and the register of beneficiaries of temporary protection who have been assigned a PESEL number with the status "UKR," the data in these registers is incomplete, or the registers indicate that you are not eligible to obtain a CUKR residence card. ⇒ If, when attempting to submit an application, you receive a message stating that this is not possible, contact the municipal authority to request a verification of the accuracy of the data in the registers and/or their supplementation, if necessary. Try again to submit an application for a CUKR residence card only once the data in the aforementioned registers is complete. ⇒ Do not attempt to circumvent the system’s requirements by submitting an application on a paper form or outside the service provided by MOS—applications submitted in this manner will not be processed. |
Application deadline
- by the end of the temporary protection period;
Submitting an application to MOS from abroad
- is not permitted. The application must be submitted while you are in Poland.
Submitting an application by any means other than through the MOS service
- is not permitted. An application submitted in paper form or electronically, but bypassing the dedicated service on MOS, will not be processed.
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⇒ Submitting an application via MOS means sending the application via MOS along with the necessary attachments, after it has been fully completed in Polish and signed with a trusted signature or a qualified electronic signature at login.gov.pl. An application submitted by a Polish citizen on behalf of a minor or an incapacitated person may also be signed with a handwritten signature. ⇒ The application is not considered submitted if it was sent in a manner other than that described above, or if it concerns a person whose data does not appear in the register of beneficiaries of temporary protection who have been assigned a PESEL number with the status "UKR" and in the PESEL register, or if the data contained in these registers is incomplete. |
To submit an application via MOS, follow the instructions below:
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A certificate confirming the submission of the application
- is not issued in MOS.
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If the application was submitted correctly during the period of temporary protection, the foreigner’s continued stay after submitting the application is considered legal until the day on which: ⇒ the foreign national collects the CUKR residence card or it is invalidated due to non-collection (60 days after receiving the notice to collect the card); ⇒ the decision to refuse issuance of the CUKR card or to discontinue the proceedings regarding its issuance becomes final. |
Required fees
- 100 PLN – fee for issuing a CUKR residence card;
- 340 PLN – stamp duty for granting a temporary residence permit, into which temporary protection is converted.
These fees must be paid in advance, before submitting the application. If you fail to pay any of these fees, the provincial governor will refuse to issue the residence card.
Payment method
| Stamp duty – for granting the permit | |
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| ⇒ Pay the fee to the bank account or at the cashier’s office of the tax authority, which is the mayor of the city where the provincial governor’s office to which you are submitting your application is located. |
| Fee for issuing a residence card | |
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| ⇒ Pay the fee by bank transfer or at the cashier’s office of the provincial office to which you are submitting your application. |
Proceedings in the case
Party to the proceedings
This applies exclusively to a foreign national with UKR status. This person:
- fill out the application in MOS,
- signs the application with a trusted signature using a trusted profile or a qualified electronic signature, and
- submit this application in MOS along with the necessary attachments.
They cannot be represented by an attorney in these proceedings.
The authority conducting the proceedings
The authority competent to review the application is the provincial governor with jurisdiction over the foreigner’s place of residence at the time the application is submitted. The authority of higher rank than the provincial governor is the Head of the Office for Foreigners.
Procedure
The administrative procedure is simplified—your participation in it will generally be limited to personally picking up your personalized residence card.
During the proceedings, you will not be asked to present a travel document, provide fingerprints, or submit a signature sample.
Unless the provincial governor deems it necessary in a given proceeding, you will also not be required to submit additional documents or provide explanations. The provincial governor will base their determination regarding the fulfillment of the conditions necessary for issuing a CUKR residence card and the absence of obstacles to its issuance on the information and data already available to them.
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If proceedings are pending regarding the granting of a temporary residence permit to you, and you decide to apply for a CUKR residence card, the proceedings regarding the granting of that permit will be discontinued by operation of law. The provincial governor will not issue a decision discontinuing those proceedings. |
Application processing time
- 180 days
Issuance of CUKR residence card
After conducting the necessary checks, the voivode will issue a CUKR residence card if they determine that the necessary requirements have been met, or will refuse to issue it. The issuance of the tocument is not preceded by the issuance of an administrative decision.
Issuing a refusal decision may be caused by:
- with the finding that the foreigner toes not meet the requirements applicable for the issuance of the card referred to in Articles 42c or d of the special act (see information in the Requirements tab);
- entry of the foreigner's data into the register of foreigners whose stay in the territory of the Republic of Poland is undesirable, or the listing of data in the Schengen Information System for the purpose of refusing entry and stay;
- grounds of national defence or state security or protection of public safety and order;
- failure to pay the necessary fees (for issuance of a residence card and for granting a temporary residence permit).
What next?
You will be called by the governor to collect your CUKR residence card.Follow the instructions given to you.
| Conversion of temporary protection into temporary residence | |
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| ⇒ On receipt of the card,existing residence entitlementbecomes a temporary residence permit by operation of law. This permit will remain valid for the duration of the residence card unless revoked. |
| Failure to receive the card in time | |
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⇒ Ifyou do not collect your card within 60 days it will be cancelled,and consequentlyyou will not obtain a temporary residence permit - you will have to reapply for it and you will lose the money associated with the application (fees are not refundable). ⇒ You will not, however, lose your "UKR" status.- you will be able to use it in Poland until the end of the temporary protection. |
Rights and obligations after the issue of the CUKR residence card, among others.
| Legal residence and travel entitlements | |
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⇒ With the CUKR card, you can legally reside in Poland and cross the Polish border without a visa or fulfilling the conditions for visa-free entry. ⇒ You may also cross the internal borders of the Schengen area and stay in other Schengen countries for a period of 90 days in any 180-day period, provided that you comply with the entry and stay requirements. ⇒ Remember that leaving Poland for more than 6 months is one of the grounds for revoking a temporary residence permit. |
| Full access to the Polish labour market | |
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| ⇒ This means that you can work on the same basis as Polish citizens (without a work permit). The residence card contains an endorsement about access to the labour market. |
| Conduct of business | |
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| ⇒ is possible on the basis of an entry in the CEiDG. |
| Duty to comply with legal standards | |
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⇒ You are liable for violations of applicable laws and, if you are found to pose a threat to the defence or security of the state or the protection of public safety and order, your permit will be revoked |
| Information obligations | |
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| ⇒ You are required to notify the provincial governor in writing, within 15 working days, of any change of residence. Give the information to the governor who issued your CUKR card. If you do not provide this information, all possible correspondence will be directed to your current address with effect of service. |
| You will lose the rights to the benefits of UKR status, but gain others | |
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| ⇒ You will still be able to receive certain benefits such as, but not limited to, social pension, family or parental benefits, provided you meet the requirements set out in the legislation establishing these benefits. |
Against the decision to refuse granting the permit, an appeal lies to the Head of the Office for Foreigners. Filing an appeal constitutes Your right, not an obligation.
Appeal
If you disagree with the decision issued by the voivode, you may appeal against it. Appeal will be considered by the Head of the Office for Foreigners, and the case will be handled by the Department for Legalization of Stay of this office.
Appeal submit to the Head of the Office for Foreigners in writing, through the voivode, who issued the decision. Do this within 14 days from the date, when the decision was served.
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⇒ Appeals is not submitted via the MOS portal, but on the portal (in the "Submit application online" section) you will find a form to help you prepare it. ⇒ The appeal must be submitted in writing sent by post, submitted in person or by a third party at the voivode's correspondence office, or in electronic form to the voivode's electronic delivery address. ⇒ After filing an appeal direct further correspondence directly to the UdSC. |
Appeal processing deadline
Appeal should be examined within 90 days. If it contains any formal deficiencies, this deadline will be counted from the date they are remedied.
Most typical decisions
In the appeal proceedings, the Head of the Office for Foreigners may recognise the validity of issuing the CUKR residence card by the voivode.
In that case will annul the challenged voivode's decision, explaining in the justification the reasons for revoking the decision, and will instruct the voivode to issue the card.
In the appeal proceedings, the Head of the Office for Foreigners may find that the requirements have not been met. Then will uphold the voivode's decision and explain its position.
In the appeal proceedings, the Head of the Office for Foreigners may find that the decision was issued in violation of procedural rules.
In that case will annul the voivode's decision and refer the case back to him for re-examination.
