The President signed an amendment to the special law on support for Ukrainian citizens in connection with the conflict on the territory of that country, which extends the legal stay of Ukrainian citizens till 4 March 2024. Previously, the legal stay was to end on 24 August 2023. The law applies to Ukrainian citizens – refugees – that is, persons who, as of 24 February 2022, have arrived legally in Poland from the territory of the Ukrainian state in connection with the Russian aggression.
The situation is different for children and young people who are studying in schools and universities in Poland or remotely in the Ukrainian education system. For them, the period of legal residence has been extended until the end of the 2023/2024 school year, that is, till 31 August 2024, or until the end of September next year in the case of those taking the matura examination on a revision date. By the same extension, the time limits for the legal residence of parents or legal tutors of under-age children studying are also extended.
The amendment obliges refugees from Ukraine to obtain a PESEL number. Refugees have 30 days from the day the law enters into force to do so. The obligation to obtain a PESEL number also applies to those refugees who are already in Poland but do not have a PESEL number.