CUKR path ยท timeline

CUKR is a fresh start. The beginning of your road to the EU, no strings attached

The CUKR card stabilises your stay for 3 years and, at that very moment, starts the clock toward EU long-term residency. See the whole path on one axis.

From CUKR, the clock toward legal, permanent residence in the EU starts ticking
Phase 1 ยท Before you apply
Do you qualify?
Two groups of conditions โ€” both must be met together.

Active โ€œUKRโ€ status on 4 Jun 2025

Your โ€œUKRโ€ status must be active on exactly 4 June 2025. If it wasnโ€™t active that day, you canโ€™t get the CUKR card.

365 days of continuity

Your โ€œUKRโ€ status must run without a break for at least one year (365 days). Leaving Poland for more than 30 days restarts the count from zero.

day 1365 days โœ“
A break >30 days resets the count to zero.

โ€œUKRโ€ status at application and decision

Your โ€œUKRโ€ status must be active on the day you apply and on the day the office issues its decision.

No prior temporary residence permit / permanent / EU resident

If you already hold temporary, permanent or EU-resident status, you no longer have โ€œUKRโ€ status and canโ€™t get the CUKR card.

Check your situation

The Dopomo assistant checks your situation step by step and prepares your application.

Check your CUKR eligibility โ†’
Phase 2 ยท You have the CUKR card
Getting your CUKR card
You collect the card. What you gain โ€” and lose โ€” honestly.
What you gain
  • 3-year temporary residence โ€” regardless of your purpose of stay.
  • Work and your own business, no red tape โ€” no permits, no employer notification.
  • This time counts toward EU residency โ€” UKR status alone does not.
  • 800+ and family benefits stay โ€” on general terms.
  • Simplified procedure โ€” fewer formalities than a standard application. more
  • Schengen travel โ€” up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
What you lose
  • UKR status and temporary-protection benefits โ€” e.g. free accommodation and meals in collective centres.
  • diia.pl stops working โ€” in PESEL, UKR status changes to CUKR.
  • New obligations โ€” report any address change within 15 working days; leaving Poland >6 months means losing the permit.
A decision with no quick way back. Once the temporary-residence decision is issued, returning to UKR status is not possible โ€” weigh it up before you apply.
60
days to collect the card. If you donโ€™t collect it, it wonโ€™t convert into temporary residence.
Fees:340 zล‚+100 zล‚

Ready to apply?

We guide you through every field of the CUKR application and check your data before the office sees it.

File your CUKR application with Dopomo โ†’
Phase 3 ยท What comes after CUKR
Where it leads
This is where CUKR connects to your long-term future.
0years
to EU long-term residency โ€” CUKR time counts
CUKR โ€” year 1
year 2
year 3
year 4
year 5 โ†’ EU
Time spent only on PESEL UKR status does not count toward EU residency โ€” only the CUKR period counts.
Mind long trips abroad. Leaving Poland for 6 months or more cancels the CUKR card โ€” and breaks in your stay reset the time counted toward EU residency.
CUKR (3 yrs)EU resident
See the path to EU residencyโ†’
Required when CUKR expires after 3 years

Next temporary residence permit โ€” on general terms

When the CUKR card expires, you apply for the next permit on general terms โ€” work, study or family.

Send this to someone with UKR status

Legal stay with PESEL UKR status runs until 4 March 2027 โ€” after that date the CUKR application wonโ€™t be possible, only the standard path remains. Share while thereโ€™s still time.

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