Table of Contents:
- Legal Residence of Ukrainian Citizens
- Employment of Ukrainian Citizens – Notification of Work Assignment
- Employment of Ukrainian Citizens – Other Bases
Ukrainian citizens are subject to special regulations based on the Act of March 12, 2022, on assistance to Ukrainian citizens in connection with the armed conflict in that country (consolidated text Journal of Laws of 2024, item 167, known as the special act). This act has been amended again, and the new provisions are effective from July 1, 2024.
Legal Residence of Ukrainian Citizens
One of the key provisions of the special act is the legal residence of Ukrainian citizens in Poland by law. Currently, Ukrainian citizens can legally stay in our country until September 30, 2025. This applies to Ukrainian citizens who:
- Arrived in Poland after February 24, 2022, due to the war – their stay in Poland is legal by law;
- Were previously in Poland on the basis of a visa or temporary residence permit, and these documents expired after February 24, 2022 – the special act extends the validity of these residence documents until the mentioned deadline;
- Were in Poland under visa-free movement – if the end date of the allowable stay in Poland fell after February 24, 2022.
However, it is important to note that residence documents whose validity has been extended under the special act do not entitle their holders to further cross the border into our country.
Employment of Ukrainian Citizens – Notification of Work Assignment
Under the special act, it is possible to employ Ukrainian citizens through a simplified procedure of notification of work assignment. For a Ukrainian citizen to start gainful employment in Poland on this basis, the following requirements must be met:
- The Ukrainian citizen’s stay must be legal,
- The entity assigning the work must submit the appropriate notification to the county labor office appropriate for its headquarters within 7 days from the start of work,
- The working hours and salary of the Ukrainian citizen must not be lower than those specified in the notification by the assigning entity,
- The salary must not be lower than the minimum wage (or the minimum hourly wage).
The notification must be renewed if:
- The type of contract between the assigning entity changes;
- The position or type of work performed changes;
- The working hours or the number of hours worked per week or month specified in the notification are reduced;
- The monthly or hourly wage rate specified in the notification is reduced.
Employment of Ukrainian Citizens – Other Bases
As a rule, the main procedure for legalizing the employment of Ukrainian citizens in Poland should be the mentioned notification. This particularly applies to people who came to Poland due to the war after February 24, 2022, and have UKR status. However, if a Ukrainian citizen was in Poland before the outbreak of the war, the employer can also employ such a person based on a declaration of work assignment or a classic work permit in addition to the notification.
Every Ukrainian citizen can also independently apply for a unified permit – for temporary residence and work.
