Ukrainians in Poland Must Update PESEL UKR

26.08.2026, 12:38 visitukraine.today

Ukrainians in Poland must update PESEL UKR by 31 August. Discover how this requirement may affect access to the 800 Plus benefit

Ukrainians in Poland who obtained PESEL UKR without a valid international passport must update their details by 31 August 2026. If they fail to do so, their temporary protection status may be changed to NUE, which could affect their eligibility for social benefits, including 800 Plus.

Ukrainians must visit any Polish Urząd gminy if they:

This situation particularly affects children who arrived in Poland after the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. If they did not have an international passport when their PESEL number was issued, their details may have been entered into the register based on other documents.

To update the information, visit an Urząd gminy and present a valid international passport or another document confirming the updated details. Before visiting the office, check the requirements of the relevant municipality because the list of necessary documents may vary.

Read also: Poland May Deport Ukrainian Men Without Official Employment: Details

PESEL is an eleven-digit identification number used by Polish state institutions to identify a person and provide access to public services. The UKR designation in the register confirms that a Ukrainian citizen is staying in Poland under temporary protection.

Based on PESEL UKR, Ukrainians may legally reside in Poland while temporary protection remains in force, work, use healthcare services and apply for social benefits if they meet the relevant conditions.

If a person fails to confirm their identity with a valid international passport by 31 August 2026, the UKR status may be changed to NUE. This change means losing the basis for residence in Poland under temporary protection.

The consequences may affect:

If the status is changed, the person will need to check whether they have another legal basis for staying in Poland. Delaying the update may create additional difficulties, especially when PESEL UKR was issued to a child.

Read also: Poland Will Not Close Its Border to Ukrainian Men of Conscription Age: New EU Rules for 2026

800 Plus is a Polish monthly child benefit. Under the programme, families may receive PLN 800 for each child until the child turns 18, regardless of the family’s income.

Ukrainians with temporary protection may apply for 800 Plus if they meet the requirements of Polish law. These include legal residence, actual residence in Poland and, for many applicants, professional activity by one of the parents.

The benefit is administered and verified by Zakład Ubezpieczeń Społecznych, commonly known as ZUS. The money is transferred to the bank account indicated in the application.

The benefit is available to parents or legal guardians who:

The rules for Ukrainians with UKR status have become stricter. ZUS checks information about residence, border crossings, the applicant’s status and the child’s fulfilment of educational obligations.

In many cases, one of the parents must also confirm professional activity in Poland. This may include official employment, running a business, registered unemployment with the relevant benefit, education with a scholarship and certain other forms of legal economic activity.

The professional activity requirement may not apply to parents of children with disabilities. Separate rules may also apply when the benefit is claimed for a child who holds Polish citizenship.

How to apply for the benefit

An application for 800 Plus can be submitted electronically through one of the following channels:

The application must include the details of the applicant and child, the PESEL number, the bank account for the payment, the address in Poland and information about the legal representative if the application is submitted by a guardian.

For Ukrainians with UKR status, the information in the application must match the details held in Polish registers. Errors in the spelling of a name or surname, the date of birth or the PESEL number may result in additional verification or suspension of the benefit.

If a family has already received 800 Plus, a new application may be required when the rules change or a new benefit period begins. ZUS sends decisions and requests for additional documents to the applicant’s electronic account.

Don't want to miss important updates and useful articles? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter!

ZUS may suspend or stop the benefit if:

ZUS may verify information in the registers of the Polish Border Guard and other state databases. As a result, payments may sometimes be suspended even when the family believes that the information about the child’s departure is incorrect.

A suspension notification does not automatically mean a permanent loss of the benefit. In this situation, the recipient should read the letter in eZUS, check the reason for the decision and submit an explanation or documents confirming residence in Poland.

Ukrainians in Poland should check whether the current details in their international passport, PESEL UKR record and the child’s documents match. If the passport was issued after PESEL UKR was obtained, the information must be updated at an Urząd gminy by 31 August.

Recipients of 800 Plus should:

If the benefit was suspended because of incorrect information about a border crossing, the recipient may submit a written explanation and evidence confirming that the child was living in Poland. These documents may include records from a school or kindergarten, medical records, proof of residence or other materials concerning the period in question.

Ukrainians who obtained PESEL UKR without a valid international passport must visit an Urząd gminy and update their details by 31 August 2026. Completing this step can help preserve their confirmed temporary protection status and prevent difficulties with social benefits.

The 800 Plus programme remains available to Ukrainian families, although eligibility depends on several conditions. UKR status, actual residence in Poland, up-to-date personal details, compliance with educational requirements and professional activity, where required, may all be checked by ZUS.

Reminder! Poland has started refusing protection to some Ukrainians. Read why and who may be refused PESEL UKR.

Image: Pexels

Want to know more? Read the latest news and useful materials about Ukraine and the world in the News section.

Our recommendation for a safe and comfortable trip:

Visit Ukraine Insurance - insurance for a safe stay abroad without unnecessary expenses;

Green Card - compulsory car insurance for traveling abroad;

Visit Ukraine Tickets - book tickets for buses, trains, and airplanes to/from Ukraine and between cities around the world;

Private Lawyer service - professional legal support on visa and migration issues;

Visit Ukraine Merch - buy patriotic clothing and accessories with worldwide delivery.

Read full news…