CUKR card: a 3-year card if you still have UKR status

In May a client came to us with a typical situation: she had UKR status and had heard about the CUKR card, but had long forgotten her Profil Zaufany login and password. Without them you cannot apply at all, because there are no paper applications for CUKR.

We restored her access, set up an e-Doręczenia mailbox for her, checked that she met all the conditions — and submitted the application the same day, 19 May. On 15 July a letter arrived saying the card was ready, and on 17 July the client was already holding it. From first contact to card — 2 months.

Below is everything you need to know to go through this process just as calmly.

What CUKR is, in simple words

It is a temporary residence card for Ukrainians who currently live in Poland under temporary protection with a PESEL UKR. You move from a “special” status to a regular residence permit — for 3 years.

The key point: UKR status rests on a special act that is extended from year to year. The CUKR card is a document valid 3 years ahead, so you don't depend on the next extension.

Do you qualify? A 30-second check

• you had UKR status as of 4 June 2025;
• you still have it on the day you apply;
• and you have held it continuously for at least 365 days.

If the answer to all three is yes, you can apply. For children, the application is submitted by a parent or guardian.

Careful: if you left Poland for more than 30 days, your UKR status may have been lost — and continuity is broken. Message us before applying and we will check your status together.

How much time is there

Applications are accepted from 4 May 2026 to 4 March 2027. It may seem like plenty of time, but Voivodeship Offices are already overloaded: the later you apply, the longer you wait for the card.

How to apply: 5 steps

1. Restore or create your Profil Zaufany (or sign the application with a personal or qualified signature).
2. Prepare a digital photo and scans of your passport.
3. Pay 340 zł for the permit and 100 zł for the card — these are two separate payments.
4. Fill in the application on the MOS portal and sign it.
5. Wait for the letter saying the card is ready and collect it at the Voivodeship Office.

Tip from our specialists: the photo is the most common reason an application is returned. Background, size, shadows — the system and the office are strict. We adjust our clients' photos to the required format so the application doesn't get stuck over a small detail.

What you get with the card

• you work without a separate work permit;
• you can open a JDG or a company on the same terms as Polish citizens;
• you can travel in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period;
• time with the card counts toward a future EU long-term resident card — and that is already an indefinite residence status.

How not to lose the card once you have it

• collect the card within 60 days of the notice — otherwise it becomes invalid;
• if you move, notify the voivode within 15 working days;
• leaving Poland for more than 6 months means losing the permit.

Want the same — without the stress?

We check whether you qualify, restore your access, adjust your photos, submit the application in MOS and follow your case until the day you collect your card. The price is 900 zł for an adult and 700 zł for a child. The first consultation is free.