440 PLN in official fees, 3 years of validity, and online-only submission - that’s what you need to know about the CUKR card before you open the MOS portal. Since March 5, 2026, temporary protection for Ukrainians in Poland has essentially ended, and the CUKR card has become the main legalization tool for those with PESEL UKR. If you’re one of the 1.5 million Ukrainians in Poland - this is for you.
What is the CUKR card and why you need it¶
CUKR stands for Czasowe Uprawnienie Karty Rezydenta - a temporary residence authorization in the form of a plastic residence card. It’s not a regular residence card, but a special instrument for Ukrainians who previously had temporary protection. The card even carries a note: “Poprzednio posiadał ochronę czasową” (previously had temporary protection).
Why does this matter right now? Because since March 5, 2026, the special law (specustawa) has essentially expired. The old rules where PESEL UKR automatically gave you the right to work and access healthcare no longer apply the way they used to. CUKR is a transitional solution for those who aren’t ready to switch to standard migration instruments (residence card through employment, studies, or family reunification).
Here’s what the CUKR card gives you:
- Legal residence for 3 years
- Full labor market access without a separate work permit
- Right to run a business on general terms
- Schengen travel - up to 90 days within every 180-day period
- Access to healthcare and social services on general terms
Who can apply: requirements for Ukrainians¶
Not every PESEL UKR holder can get CUKR. Here are the specific criteria:
Ukrainian citizenship. The CUKR card is only available to Ukrainian citizens. If you’re a citizen of another country with temporary protection in Poland, you’ll need different legalization instruments.
UKR status as of June 4, 2025. You must have had active PESEL UKR on this specific date. If your status was deactivated for any reason at that point - you can’t apply for CUKR.
UKR status at the time of application. Beyond the historical date, your status must also be active when you hit “submit” on the MOS portal.
Continuous UKR status for at least 365 days. This is where most people run into trouble. If you lost your UKR status and then restored it - even for a single day gap - that continuity is broken and your application won’t be accepted. One forum user shared: “I went to Germany for 2 months, they deactivated my status, then I restored it - and that’s it, I can’t apply for CUKR because I don’t have continuous 365 days.”
Complete data in the PESEL registry. The system checks automatically. If even one element is missing - a valid passport, fingerprints, signature sample, or photo - your application gets rejected before anyone even looks at it.
What documents you need and what requires translation¶
The CUKR application is fully electronic, so you don’t need physical copies when applying. But here’s what you need to prepare:
| Document | Translation needed? | Translation type |
|---|---|---|
| Digital photo (current) | No | - |
| Payment confirmation (scan or electronic) | No | - |
| Valid foreign passport (registered in PESEL) | No | - |
| Birth certificate (if additionally required) | Yes | Tłumaczenie przysięgłe |
| Marriage certificate (if name change) | Yes | Tłumaczenie przysięgłe |
| Ukrainian diplomas and certificates (for qualification recognition) | Yes | Tłumaczenie przysięgłe |
| Criminal record certificate from Ukraine | Yes | Tłumaczenie przysięgłe |
| Medical documents (if for special programs) | Yes | Tłumaczenie przysięgłe |
The CUKR procedure itself is fairly simple - the system pulls most data from the PESEL registry. But if you’re also planning to get your diploma recognized, find employment, or enroll your child in school - you’ll need sworn translations of your Ukrainian documents.
Who can translate documents for Poland¶
In Poland, sworn translations (tłumaczenie przysięgłe) can only be done by a tłumacz przysięgły - sworn translators who passed an exam at the Ministry of Justice and are listed in the official registry. This isn’t a notary or a translation agency - it’s a specific person with a seal and a registry number.
Translations done in Ukraine by a Ukrainian notary aren’t accepted for official procedures in Poland. You need a Polish sworn translator specifically.
You can find a sworn translator for Ukrainian through: - Ministry of Justice Sworn Translator Registry - the official database - Compare prices from several translators - they can differ significantly even within the same city
If you need documents translated from Ukrainian to Polish, ChatsControl can help with a first draft that a sworn translator can then certify - this cuts both time and cost significantly.
How much does it all cost¶
| Expense | Cost |
|---|---|
| Stamp duty for temporary residence permit | 340 PLN |
| Plastic residence card production | 100 PLN |
| Sworn translation of birth certificate | 100-150 PLN |
| Sworn translation of marriage certificate | 100-150 PLN |
| Sworn translation of criminal record certificate | 80-130 PLN |
| Sworn translation of diploma (if needed) | 130-250 PLN |
| Document photo (digital) | 30-50 PLN |
| Total (official fees only) | 440 PLN |
| Total (with translations) | ~750-1,200 PLN |
Sworn translation prices in Poland are calculated per standard page (1,125 characters including spaces). The minimum rate is 35-60 PLN per page depending on the translator. Short documents (birth certificates, simple references) are usually priced at a flat rate, because even if the document is half a page - the translator charges for a full page. Rush translation (same day) costs 50% more.
Step-by-step: how to apply for CUKR¶
Step 1: Check your PESEL UKR data¶
Before submitting anything - make sure your data in the PESEL registry is complete. Check: - Valid foreign passport (registered in the system) - Fingerprints (if you haven’t given them - visit any gmina office) - Signature sample - Current photo
If anything is missing - complete your data first, then apply. Otherwise the system will reject your application automatically.
Step 2: Prepare payment¶
Pay both fees and save the confirmation: - 340 PLN - stamp duty (opłata skarbowa) for the residence permit - 100 PLN - for card production
You’ll need to attach payment confirmation (receipt scan or electronic transfer confirmation) to your application.
Step 3: Log into the MOS portal¶
Applications are submitted exclusively through the MOS portal (Moduł Obsługi Spraw). If you had an old MOS account - you can’t use it, you need to create a new one in MOS 2.0.
To log in, you need a profil zaufany (trusted profile), a qualified electronic signature, or a personal signature. If you don’t have a profil zaufany yet - set it up in advance through your bank or via ePUAP.
Step 4: Fill out and submit your application¶
Complete the electronic form, upload your photo and payment confirmation, sign with your electronic signature, and submit. The upside of this process - you can save a draft, pause the form, and come back later.
No appointments needed, no lines to stand in. If everything is filled out correctly, you’ll only be called to the voivodeship office to pick up your finished card.
Step 5: Wait for the decision and pick up your card¶
Processing times haven’t been firmly established yet - this is a new procedure. But here’s the critical part: after you’re notified that your card is ready, you have 60 days to pick it up. If you don’t collect it in time - the card gets invalidated.
What changed on March 5, 2026¶
Beyond the CUKR rollout, March 5 brought sweeping changes for all Ukrainians in Poland:
Data verification by August 31, 2026. If you got your PESEL UKR without an identity document (and many people did in early 2022) - you need to verify your data by August 31, 2026. Anyone who doesn’t will lose their status on September 1, 2026.
Leaving Poland for more than 30 days = losing UKR status. Previously you could leave for longer periods. Now 30 days is the maximum, after which your status gets deactivated automatically. For CUKR holders the rule is different - 6 months, but still with consequences.
Healthcare on general terms. No more automatic free healthcare under UKR status. You need insurance and must pay contributions - same as everyone else.
Education. Students who studied for free at public universities under temporary protection may lose that benefit and have to pay tuition.
Common mistakes and problems¶
Incomplete PESEL data. The number one reason for automatic rejection. Before applying, make sure your passport is registered, fingerprints are submitted, and your photo is current. Many people got their PESEL UKR in 2022 in a rush without a complete data set.
Gap in UKR status. Even a single day without active status breaks the “continuous 365 days” requirement. Trips abroad, registration issues - any of these can disrupt continuity.
Translation done in Ukraine. If you need sworn translations for other procedures (employment, diploma recognition, school enrollment for your child) - translations done by Ukrainian notaries aren’t accepted in Poland. You need a tłumacz przysięgły from the Polish Ministry of Justice registry.
No profil zaufany. Without a trusted profile, you can’t log into the MOS portal and submit your application. Setting it up takes time - don’t leave it for the last day.
Didn’t pick up the card on time. 60 days after notification - and the card gets invalidated. Keep an eye on your notifications.
CUKR vs other legalization options¶
The CUKR card isn’t the only path. If you have a job, you can apply for a regular residence card through employment. If you’re studying - a student residence card. CUKR is for those who want to “lock in” their status for 3 years without extra conditions like a specific employer or educational institution.
After your 3-year CUKR card expires, you can apply for a standard residence card or even a long-term EU resident card, provided you have enough residence history.
FAQ¶
How much does the CUKR card cost in 2026?¶
Official fees total 440 PLN (340 PLN stamp duty + 100 PLN for card production). If you need sworn translations of documents - add 200-500 PLN depending on the number and type of documents.
Do I need a sworn translation to apply for CUKR?¶
The CUKR application itself doesn’t require translations - the system pulls data from the PESEL registry. But sworn translations of Ukrainian documents will be needed for related procedures: employment, diploma recognition, enrolling your child in school or kindergarten, applying for social benefits.
What happens to UKR status after getting CUKR?¶
Your UKR status gets canceled. This means you’ll lose benefits tied specifically to UKR status (for example, free tuition on certain programs). In return, you get a residence card that provides a more stable legal status for 3 years.
Can I apply for CUKR if I traveled outside Poland?¶
If you were away for less than 30 days and your UKR status wasn’t deactivated - yes, you can. If your trip led to status loss and you later restored it - no, because the continuous 365-day requirement is broken.
How long does CUKR application review take?¶
There are no firm timelines yet - this is a new procedure. If your application was submitted through the MOS portal with all documents and payment - the expectation is that processing will be faster than regular residence cards, where queues stretch for months. Your stay is considered legal while waiting for a decision, as long as you applied on time.
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