Ukrainian refugees in Poland must verify their identity in the PESEL system by the end of the summer

Ukrainian citizens living in Poland must confirm their identity in the PESEL system by August 31. This requirement applies to Ukrainians who were assigned a PESEL number with UKR status on the basis of a declaration and without presenting a passport.

This was reported by the press service of the Office of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights on its official website.

To confirm their identity, they must contact the local administration and present a valid passport; otherwise, they may lose their UKR status and even their legal grounds for staying and working in Poland.

If any personal data have changed — for example, if a new passport has been issued, or there has been a change of surname or other personal details — these must also be updated in the PESEL register.

In addition, when applying for a CUKR residence card, it is necessary to make sure that the data in PESEL are up to date, both for the applicant and for the child. Outdated data may create problems when submitting the application or during its consideration.

The Ombudsman’s Office urges people not to postpone this procedure, since identity confirmation is a key condition for preserving status and access to essential services in Poland.

PESEL (Powszechny Elektroniczny System Ewidencji Ludności) is an 11-digit unique personal identification number in Poland, necessary for life in the country: employment, medical care, opening bank accounts, registration of residence, and access to public services.

Earlier, Poland abolished “unconditional privileges” for Ukrainian refugees.

Media outlets have also reported that the European Union is discussing restrictions for Ukrainians when extending temporary protection after 2027.