The number of Ukrainians with temporary protection in Poland has dropped sharply
The number of Ukrainians with temporary protection status in Poland has decreased by more than 106,500 since the spring. In April 2026, approximately 974,500 people held this status, while in early September the number stood at about 868,000—a decrease of nearly 11%.
One of the reasons cited is the new rules for crossing the Polish border. Following legislative changes in March, Ukrainians must clearly inform border guards that they are entering the country specifically to obtain temporary protection.
According to Bohdan Kontsur, a migration expert at the “Ukrainian House” in Warsaw, some Ukrainians only learn about this requirement once they arrive at immigration offices. If their entry is processed as a tourist entry when crossing the border, they can no longer apply for temporary protection.
Another factor has been changes regarding documentation. After the start of the full-scale war, Poland granted protection to Ukrainians even without a valid foreign passport—their identity could be verified with an internal passport, an ID card, a child’s birth certificate, or other documents.
Those who received status without a valid travel document had until August 31 to verify their identity. People who failed to do so lost their right to legally remain in the country under temporary protection as of September 1. According to Kontsur’s estimate, this could have affected tens of thousands of Ukrainians. However, the rules were later changed—they were given an additional six months to regularize their status.
The Polish Border Guard noted that Ukrainians who lost their temporary protection can reinstate it after legally re-entering Poland with a valid passport.
Source: Radio Free Europe
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