Rules for the stay of Polish citizens in Ukraine
What rules apply for Polish citizens staying in Ukraine starting from 2024?
The State Migration Service reports that the preferential stay period ended on March 16, 2024, as 18 months have passed since the entry into force of the Law of Ukraine "On Additional Legal and Social Guarantees for the Citizens of the Republic of Poland" (September 16, 2022).
Starting from March 17, 2024, Polish citizens can stay in Ukraine without a visa for no more than 90 days within a 180-day period. If Polish citizens need to stay in Ukraine longer, they must apply for an extension of their stay or apply for a temporary or permanent residence permit, depending on the grounds that allow this.
What benefits are still available for Polish citizens?
Despite the completion of the preferential stay period, Polish citizens continue to enjoy certain benefits, including:
- Employment: Polish citizens have the right to work in Ukraine without a permit for the employment of foreigners and stateless persons.
- Temporary residence permit: Individuals who arrived in Ukraine for employment purposes can obtain a temporary residence permit without a long-term D visa.
Please note! Since applying for a residence permit must be done no later than 15 working days before the expiration of the legal stay period, once the visa-free period is exhausted, it will not be possible to submit documents without a D visa.
In this case, you will need to first obtain a D visa to be able to apply for a residence permit within the time frame set by law.