A short analysis of the effects and potential threats
One of the first strategically important decisions made by the new president, Karol Nawrocki, was the August 25, 2025 veto of the act amending the Law on assistance to Ukrainian citizens
The key areas affected by this decision are:
- Legality of stay: The act was supposed to extend the right to legal residency for Ukrainian citizens in Poland until March 4, 2026, in line with European Union requirements. Without the amendment, the existing regulations, including those on temporary protection, will expire on September 30, 2025. Without a proper extension, the legal stay of hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians in Poland may be at risk.
- Labor Market: The failure to extend legal residency could have negative consequences for many industries that heavily rely on workers from Ukraine. This might lead to an increase in illegal employment and a loss of tax revenue for the state budget.
- Social Benefits: The amendment was intended to maintain the right to benefits, such as the 800+ payment. In justifying his veto, the president noted that benefits should only be available to Ukrainian citizens who are employed and pay taxes in Poland.
- Accommodation: The act proposed introducing restrictions on access to free accommodation and meals starting November 1, 2025. These would only be available to select vulnerable groups (e.g., people with disabilities, pregnant women, the elderly). Due to the veto, these changes will not take effect, meaning the current rules will remain in force.
- Administrative Procedures: The amendment was meant to extend the suspension of deadlines in administrative proceedings concerning residence permits, which (allegedly) allowed provincial governors to efficiently process a large number of applications for residency and work. The lack of this regulation could lead to an increase in backlogs and problems with the legalization of stay for people awaiting decisions, including not only Ukrainian citizens but all foreigners in Poland.
In response to the presidential veto, the government reacted by publishing a new draft law designed to address the head of state’s concerns and prevent a legal vacuum after September 30, 2025.
The Government’s position
The president’s decision was criticized in a statement by the Ministry of Interior and Administration on August 26, 2025, as a threat to the stability of the Polish economy and its broader security. This is primarily because thousands of people could lose their ability to work legally, which would directly lead to a rapid growth of the gray employment market. Despite this, the government did not abandon the idea of linking the 800+ benefit to professional activity.
The New Draft Law
The new proposal combines solutions from the vetoed act with some of the president’s demands:
- Legality of Stay: The draft extends the validity of visas and residence permits for Ukrainian citizens until March 4, 2026, which was a key element of the vetoed act.
- Benefit Verification: In response to the president’s reservations, the draft introduces stricter criteria for accessing social benefits (including the 800+). The payment of benefits will be tied to activity on the Polish labor market, with “activity” being broadly defined. Benefits will also be available to individuals registered as unemployed, those in training or on scholarships, recipients of social allowances, and parents on maternity or parental leave.
- Institutional Cooperation: The new draft will enable the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) to perform a monthly verification with the Border Guard’s registry to confirm if a foreigner resides in Poland, which is intended to prevent abuse and fraud against the state budget.
The government aims to pass the new draft in a legislative sprint to ensure the act comes into force before October 1, 2025, which would prevent legal and administrative chaos.
We will therefore be able to follow the actual fate of the act over the coming weeks.
Author: Magdalena Szkudlarek
