Poland: Phasing Out of the Special Act for Ukrainian Refugees

The government plans to replace the provisions of the so-called special act on assistance to Ukrainian citizens with new, systemic solutions. The aim is to adapt the law to the current migration situation and to implement EU recommendations on the gradual phasing out of temporary protection.

The draft act provides, among other things, for limiting the use of the simplified procedure for employing Ukrainian citizens (based on a notification to the county labour office) exclusively to persons covered by temporary protection, i.e., those who arrived in Poland from Ukraine after 24 February 2022. So far, this facilitation applies to all Ukrainian citizens legally residing in Poland.

The currently available version of the draft is likely not final and will be subject to further legislative work. Nevertheless, most of the regulations (including those restricting the simplified procedure) are expected to enter into force on 5 March 2026, while the remaining provisions would take effect in 2027.