CUKR Card: Transition from UKR Status to Residence
The CUKR card is a simplified transition from temporary protection (UKR status) to a full temporary residence permit, issued for 3 years. UKR status is only valid until 04.03.2027, so switching to the CUKR card gives you stability going forward and counts toward the residence period required for EU long-term resident status. The application can only be filed electronically, via the MOS portal, before 04.03.2027.
⚡ Information current as of 2026, reflecting the latest amendments to the law (Ustawa o pomocy obywatelom Ukrainy). You can review the official filing rules on the state portal Moduł Obsługi Spraw (MOS) and on the ministry's site Gov.pl.
What you need to get the CUKR card
Data is current as of the official source gov.pl/web/udsc (Urząd do Spraw Cudzoziemców).
Who is eligible to apply
- A valid PESEL with UKR status on the date of filing
- Uninterrupted UKR status for at least 365 days
- Ukrainian citizens and certain family members (spouse, minor children, spouse's children, close relatives holding Karta Polaka)
- Children born in Poland after February 23, 2022, whose mother holds a CUKR card — under special conditions
- The application can only be filed before March 4, 2027
Documents and fees
- The application must be filed only electronically via the MOS portal — paper or e-mail submissions are not accepted
- The application is signed personally (profil zaufany, a qualified electronic signature, or a personal signature) — it cannot be filed through a representative
- A digital photo in the required format (at least 684×883 px, up to 2.5 MB)
- Stamp duty (opłata skarbowa) for the residence permit — 340 zł
- Residence card fee — 100 zł
- Both fees are paid in advance, before filing, to separate accounts — proof of payment is attached to the application
- Fees are non-refundable, and no discounts or exemptions apply
What the CUKR card gives you
- A full temporary residence permit valid for 3 years
- A simplified procedure — no need to submit fingerprints at the office
- The right to run a business in Poland on the same terms as Polish citizens
- Time spent on the CUKR card counts toward the residence period required for EU long-term resident status later on
- The decision is issued within 90 days of filing
- Important: once you receive the CUKR card, UKR status ends, including the right to free accommodation and meals at temporary reception centers
After filing: collecting the card
- You only need to visit the office in person to collect the finished card, after being notified it's ready
- The card must be collected within 60 days of the notification — otherwise it's cancelled and the fees paid are non-refundable
- Once you collect the card, UKR status is automatically converted into a temporary residence permit
- You can reapply for a CUKR card after a cancellation
The procedure for filing CUKR card applications is governed by a separate law dated March 12, 2022, and is periodically updated — we verify the current conditions before every consultation.
How long the review will roughly take
The timeline depends on the voivodeship, the type of status, and the office's workload. This is only an estimate — we'll confirm the exact timeline after reviewing your documents.
This estimate reflects average Urząd Wojewódzki timelines and is not a guarantee of the exact review period.
Acceleration and appeals
We also take on cases already filed — including those filed without us.
Process acceleration (Ponaglenie)
If the office exceeds the statutory review period, we file a complaint about inaction (ponaglenie) and push for a substantive response.
How it works →
- We review the case: filing date, system status, statutory review deadline.
- We prepare a ponaglenie — a complaint about the office's inaction — with legal grounds.
- We file the complaint and, if needed, duplicate it to the higher authority.
- We follow the case through to a substantive response or a new deadline.
Appealing a rejection
We analyze the reason for rejection and prepare an appeal to a higher authority or administrative court, respecting filing deadlines.
File an appeal →
- We study the decision and identify the reason for the rejection.
- We assess the case's chances and check the appeal filing deadline.
- We prepare an appeal to the higher authority or administrative court.
- We file the documents and follow the case through to a new decision.
Free consultation about your situation
Describe your purpose of stay — we'll select the right status, list the required documents, and quote a final turnkey price.