Warsaw, June 13, 2024 — On 10 June 2024, Polish President Andrzej Duda signed amendments to the existing Act on Assistance for Ukrainian Citizens, bringing several major changes for refugees in the country. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Poland had the opportunity to participate in the consultation process for the new law and has been actively monitoring all the legislative changes affecting the Ukrainian population.
Alan Moseley, IRC Country Director in Poland, said:
“We welcome the new amendments to the refugee hosting laws, which reflect the government’s longer-term approach towards Ukrainians seeking refuge from war in Poland. The effort to encourage all refugee children enroll in Polish schools is likely to facilitate learning and can play a significant role in their inclusion, emotional development and well-being, which have been at the very heart of IRC’s work, too.
“The IRC and our partners’ integration activities in Polish schools are a testimony to the crucial role Intercultural Assistants play in mixed classrooms; to this end, we are pleased to see that the position of Intercultural Assistant has been acknowledged in legislation. Adding an additional layer of supervision to collective accommodation centres is also a positive step, which hopefully will translate into better and safer living conditions for people fleeing to Poland. The IRC has repeatedly called on the government to provide all refugees fleeing Ukraine with access to dignified, affordable accommodation.
“However, we are concerned about some of the assistance that is being withdrawn, including cash assistance for people who have just arrived, or support for individuals hosting refugees. The government should ensure an appropriate timeframe to allow people to adapt to the new changes. Additionally, it should run a comprehensive information campaign for the affected population to be aware of the impact of the upcoming changes on their lives.
“As normal life remains out of reach for millions of Ukrainians, the EU and Poland should develop durable solutions to support conflict-affected Ukrainians, ensuring that the most vulnerable people can still access the care they need in the long run, beyond the provisions secured by 2025.”
Among the new legal provisions for Ukrainians in Poland, the most significant are:
1. Prolonging Temporary Protection and Simplifying Temporary Residency Procedures.
The Amendment will extend temporary protection from June 30, 2024, to September 2025 (the EU directive extends it to March 4, 2025). Moreover, all Ukrainian citizens in Poland who had a PESEL UKR, will be able to apply for a 3-year temporary residence in Poland through a simplified procedure. This will grant them access to the labor market and allow for business ventures in Poland. However, it will not provide access to healthcare and other services guaranteed under temporary protection.
2. Requirement to Have Valid Travel Documents
The new regulations mandate municipal offices to verify the identity of Ukrainian citizens based on valid travel documents. Consequently, all Ukrainian citizens holding UKR status are required to update their data, while new arrivals must present travel documents for registration. However, the IRC is concerned about the impracticality of requesting such travel documents for registration from some refugees who may be unable to secure these documents.
3. Withdrawing Financial Support from Private Individuals Hosting Refugees
The government has decided to withdraw the program that previously provided private citizens, institutions, and organizations with 40 PLN per day for hosting refugees. As a result, private households will no longer receive financial support. Additionally, all collective accommodations must be registered in voivodeships, which will issue decisions on whether they can continue operating or need to be closed. While more extended supervision and control of collective accommodation is welcome, the IRC is concerned about the accommodation for those staying in private households and in collective shelters that will no longer be able to operate. This could cause the risk of homelessness, especially among the most vulnerable groups, as stated in the IRC’s Protection Monitoring Report.
4. Obligatory Education for All Children in the Polish School System and the Link Between School Attendance and the 800+ Benefit
This amendment ties the payment of the 800 Plus benefit and the "Good Start" benefit to the obligation of schooling. According to the new regulations, a child of a Ukrainian citizen for whom they are applying for the childcare benefit (800 PLN/monthly), or the Good Start (300 PLN one time) benefit must fulfil the obligation of education/attend a school that is part of the Polish education system. The IRC believes that children attending school is beneficial for their well-being and that access to quality education is a fundamental right. However, we will monitor the situation, as accommodating tens of thousands of new students in schools might be challenging for both teachers and current students, as well as for Ukrainian families.