Having a PESEL number with the UKR marker in the Polish state register confirms that a person enjoys temporary protection in Poland. However, the number alone does not guarantee the preservation of this status: the marker in the register can change without separate notification, and along with it, the rights associated with temporary protection, including the right to stay and receive state assistance, may terminate. Starting September 1, 2026, amendments came into effect affecting a portion of Ukrainian citizens, and the issue of checking one's status has become urgent for many.
Under What Circumstances is UKR Status Lost
According to clarifications from the Polish Office for Foreigners on the official MOS portal, the UKR marker is removed in several cases. First, when leaving Poland for more than 30 days — this rule applies regardless of the travel destination, whether to Ukraine or another state. Second, upon obtaining a residence permit: a temporary or permanent residence permit or EU long-term resident status. Third, upon receiving temporary protection in another EU country, since one cannot use such protection simultaneously in two states. Additionally, status terminates when applying for international protection — a separate procedure — and upon receiving another legal basis for stay provided by law, including humanitarian grounds or tolerated stay.
It is important to distinguish between obtaining a residence permit and the application process itself: merely applying for a residence card (karta pobytu) does not always mean the immediate loss of UKR. On the contrary, after a residence permit is granted, the legality of stay may be confirmed precisely by this document rather than the UKR marker.
What Happened on September 1, 2026
Certain changes affected Ukrainians who obtained PESEL UKR without presenting a valid foreign passport — that is, on the basis of declared personal data without a proper travel document. According to information from the Polish government portal, such individuals were required to confirm their identity at the local office (urząd) by August 31, 2026. The requirement applied, in particular, to parents of children whose identity was verified during PESEL issuance without their own foreign passport. If confirmation was not provided within the established deadline, starting September 1, 2026, the UKR status in the register automatically changed to NUE.
The NUE marking means that the person is no longer registered as a recipient of temporary protection with UKR status. At the same time, Ukrainians who presented a valid passport when obtaining PESEL UKR and have not changed the document since do not need to re-verify their identity solely because of the established deadline. However, if the passport was replaced, its new details must be updated in the Polish register.
How to Check If Your Status Is Active
You can check the current marker through Polish state electronic services: log in using Profil Zaufany or another available electronic identification method and view personal data with the current foreigner status marker. If the register indicates UKR, this confirms the presence of the corresponding temporary protection status; if NUE or another marker is displayed, the reason for the change must be investigated. An alternative way is to personally apply to any urząd gminy or urząd miasta with a request to check the information in the PESEL register; it is advisable to have your passport and PESEL number with you.
NUE Does Not Always Mean Illegal Stay
The change from UKR to NUE does not automatically make a stay in Poland illegal: having another legal basis for residence is decisive. Such grounds include a valid temporary or permanent residence permit, stay under the visa-free regime subject to established time limits, and a timely submitted application for a residence permit while meeting the legislative conditions for extending legal stay. In some cases, special rules for extending the legality of Ukrainians' stay apply.
At the same time, not every submitted application for a residence card automatically legalizes residency: the submission date, the legality of stay at that time, and compliance with formal requirements matter. If there is no other basis, the stay in Poland may turn out to be illegal. Therefore, after a status change, it is important to check not only the information in the PESEL register but also the documents on the basis of which a person actually resides in the country.
