CUKR card for Ukrainians in Poland: step-by-step guide and what to prepare

The CUKR card — Karta CUKR, “Dawniej pod ochroną czasową” (“Earlier under temporary protection”) — is a three-year residence permit created specifically for Ukrainians who arrived in Poland after February 2022 under temporary protection. The pathway opened on 4 May 2026 and is filed exclusively through MOS 2.0.

What the CUKR card actually gives you

• Three-year right of stay in Poland.
• Unrestricted access to the Polish labour market — no separate work permit needed.
• Right to start a business on the same terms as Polish citizens.
• Schengen travel for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
• Counts toward the 5-year qualification for EU long-term residency.
• The application itself is free. You only pay the standard PLN 340 stamp duty and PLN 100 card production fee.

Who qualifies

All three conditions must be true at the moment you apply:

1. You held PESEL UKR status on 4 June 2025.
2. You still hold PESEL UKR status on the date of filing.
3. You have held UKR status continuously for at least 365 days.

Children born in Poland after February 2022 may qualify as dependants if their mother holds CUKR. Spouses and other family members fall under separate residence pathways and are not covered here.

Important trade-off: CUKR replaces UKR

Once a CUKR card is issued, your PESEL UKR status is replaced. Some welfare benefits tied specifically to temporary-protection status (for example, the 800+ child benefit provisions for UKR holders) may change. Check your specific situation with a local advisory point before applying — particularly if you receive social benefits.

Step-by-step: filing your CUKR application in MOS 2.0

1. Set up the digital prerequisites

Before MOS, you need three things in place: PESEL UKR (you already have it), Profil Zaufany (Poland’s national digital identity), and e-Doręczenia (the official electronic delivery address for receiving voivode correspondence). If you do not have Profil Zaufany yet, the fastest route is through your Polish bank.

2. Create a fresh MOS account

All accounts on the legacy MOS system were deleted at the 27 April 2026 launch of MOS 2.0. Go to mos.cudzoziemcy.gov.pl and register from scratch.

3. Sign in via login.gov.pl

From the MOS login screen, choose login.gov.pl and authenticate with your Profil Zaufany. A qualified electronic signature also works, but it costs money and is harder to set up — Profil Zaufany is the recommended path.

4. Fill out the CUKR application form

The form auto-fills your name, PESEL, and address from government registers. Double-check every field — corrections after signing are not possible.

5. Attach the required documents

• Digital photo (JPG, minimum 684 × 883 px, max 2.5 MB) — taken within the last six months.
• Colour scan of all passport pages, including blank pages and the cover.
• Proof of stamp-duty payment (PLN 340) — bank transfer confirmation or electronic receipt.

6. Sign and submit

You sign the application electronically with Profil Zaufany. After submission, MOS sends an electronic confirmation. You will be invited once to collect the physical card at the voivode office.

The deadline you cannot miss

The statutory cut-off for filing a CUKR application is 4 March 2027. After that date the pathway closes. Do not wait for the final months — the MOS portal experiences load spikes before deadlines, and document corrections take time.

What if I’m on a regular karta pobytu pathway instead?

Many Ukrainians qualify for both CUKR and a regular temporary residence permit (work, family reunification, studies). CUKR is usually faster and free, but a work-based permit links to a specific employer and may be required for certain professional licences. If you are unsure, file whichever you qualify for first and consult an advisor before changing status.