Poland changes its support for Ukrainian refugees, while over a million migrants are already working in the economy
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Poland is gradually changing its policies for displaced persons from Ukraine, for migrant workers, and for the integration of children with migration or refugee experience in schools. The material published by the General Directorate for Migration and Internal Affairs of the European Commission shows a combination of measures: special support for Ukrainians is reduced in some areas, but legal residence is extended, and the labor market remains heavily dependent on workers from outside the EU.
In short
Poland spent over 8 billion zlotys, approximately 1.9 billion euros, in 2025 to support displaced persons from Ukraine. The majority of the funds went towards children's education, family benefits, child-rearing support, medical services, medications, and social assistance.
The special support introduced in 2022 for Ukrainian citizens is being gradually reduced. Legal residence for persons with temporary protection, through the PESEL UKR status, is extended until March 4, 2027, but some educational measures and free access to health care will be restricted for several categories of beneficiaries.
Public opinion in Poland is almost split regarding support for displaced persons from Ukraine. A CBOS survey shows that 48% of respondents believe Poland should accept them, while 46% oppose, the lowest level of support recorded in 10 years of measurements.
The Polish labor market increasingly employs migrant workers. As of August 31, 2025, approximately 1.1 million citizens from outside the EU were employed in Poland, an increase of 5.6% in two years; Ukrainians represented 67% of these, followed by workers from Belarus, Georgia, India, Colombia, and the Philippines.
Poland is preparing rules to prioritize visas and work permits in 329 occupations with staff shortages, including health, engineering, IT, technical trades, public transport, and education. At the same time, about 100 prosecutors will be specialized in cases of hate crimes, including racism and insults based on national or ethnic criteria.
One of the most visible changes concerns support for displaced persons from Ukraine. Poland is extending legal residence for persons under temporary protection, through the PESEL UKR status, until March 4, 2027. Certain visas and residence documents are also being extended.
Access to the labor market through the simplified employer notification procedure will continue. For some groups, there will be transitional arrangements until March 4, 2029. In practice, this procedure allows employers to hire eligible individuals more easily, without all the administrative steps of the usual procedures.
At the same time, other measures will be reduced. Educational support for children, including language courses, transport, and additional help in schools, will end by the end of the 2025/2026 school year. Free access to medical services will be restricted for many beneficiaries who are not working, with exceptions for some vulnerable groups.
According to the Polish Migration Forum, the restriction of access to health care has particularly affected elderly individuals, chronic patients, and those undergoing vital treatments. This change shows that the transition from emergency aid to regular integration policies may leave some vulnerable categories without the protection they depend on.
The cost of support provided by Poland in 2025 was high. According to a report by Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego cited in the material, Poland spent over 8 billion zlotys, approximately 1.9 billion euros, from the Assistance Fund for displaced persons from Ukraine. The majority of the funds came from the Polish state budget.
Children's education represented the largest category of expenses. Local authorities received 3.3 billion zlotys for additional educational activities, and 25 million zlotys went towards scholarships, allowances, and educational materials for students from Ukraine. Over 2.4 billion zlotys covered family benefits and other forms of financial support for child-rearing. Another 763.5 million zlotys were allocated for medical services and medications, and nearly 75.7 million for social assistance benefits.
Public support for receiving displaced persons from Ukraine is, however, much more fragile than at the beginning of the war. A CBOS survey conducted between November 27 and December 8, 2025, on a representative sample of 948 respondents, shows that 48% of Poles believe the country should accept displaced persons from Ukraine, while 46% oppose.
This is the lowest level of support in the 10 years that CBOS has tracked attitudes on this issue, starting after the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation. Support is higher in large cities, among those with higher education, and among those with higher incomes.
The education of migrant and refugee children is another important issue. A new publication from a national research institute in Poland contains recommendations for central authorities, regional education authorities, and schools regarding the integration of children with migration or refugee experience into the Polish educational system.
The recommendations cover new areas of integration, including support for children who have experienced stress or trauma, cooperation with parents, inclusive working conditions, conflict resolution in culturally diverse contexts, and violence among students.
The report indicates several essential measures: hiring intercultural assistants, training teachers who work with migrant students, including addressing trauma in refugee children, support for teachers from intercultural backgrounds, and broader psychological assistance for migrant children in their native languages.
Integration is not limited to schools. A publication from Fundacja Ocalenie offers practical guidelines for hosting refugees in private housing, from preparation and relocation to departure. The guide emphasizes setting expectations, preventing conflicts, and providing professional support for hosts and refugees.
A central tool is the "Shared Living Pact," an agreement that establishes house rules and shares responsibilities. The goal is for shared living to be clearer and less vulnerable to conflicts, especially in situations where people come with experiences of trauma, loss, or uncertainty.
In the labor market, Poland is preparing a list of 329 occupations with shortages in sectors considered crucial for the economy. The list will be used by consulates when issuing visas and by voivodes when issuing work permits. Applicants from these professions will have priority in the processing of applications. The regulation is still under public consultation.
The list covers very different fields: health specialists, engineers, IT professionals, qualified technical workers, installers, plumbers, roofers, public transport drivers, foreign language teachers, and teaching assistants. This shows that economic migration is linked not only to seasonal or low-skilled work but also to sectors where Poland has a shortage of specialized personnel.
Data from Statistics Poland shows the extent of this dependence. Approximately 1.1 million citizens from outside the EU were employed in Poland as of August 31, 2025, 5.6% more than two years earlier. They represented 6.7% of the total labor force.
Ukrainians remain the largest group, making up 67% of migrant workers from outside the EU. They are followed by workers from Belarus, Georgia, India, Colombia, and the Philippines. Men represent 59.7% of migrant workers. The study also shows that 38.5% of these workers are employed under civil mandate contracts, not standard employment contracts, which may affect job stability and integration.
Poland is also changing eligibility for the simplified hiring procedure. As of December 1, 2025, citizens of Georgia will no longer be able to use the procedure based on the employer's declaration of entrusting work to a foreigner, registered at the local labor office. A similar restriction had been applied to Russian citizens in October 2022.
The simplified procedure remains available only for citizens of Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, and Armenia. Employment through this mechanism can last up to 24 months, after which a new declaration can be submitted for continued work.
On the safety and rights side, the Ministry of Justice and the Attorney General introduced a change in February regarding hate-motivated crimes. 50 prosecutor's offices will be responsible for prosecuting these cases, including insults based on national or ethnic origin and acts of racism.
In practice, about 100 prosecutors will be trained and specialized in such cases. The change comes against the backdrop of an increasing number of such crimes and a decrease in the number of cases reaching the courts. The Ministry of Justice is also preparing a manual for prosecutors and police officers, as well as special training programs at the National School of Judiciary and Prosecution.
The overall picture is of a country that has quickly become one of the main destinations for protection and work for migrants in the EU, but which is recalibrating its support. Ukrainian refugees still receive legal protection, but some services are being reduced; employers need foreign labor, but procedures are being adjusted; schools need intercultural assistants and psychological support, and judicial authorities are preparing a more specialized response to hate-motivated crimes.
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