Ukrainians entering Poland are increasingly receiving a stamp for tourism purposes rather than for entry under temporary protection. The Polish "Gazeta Wyborcza" reports on this change in practice, citing data from the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (HFPC)
According to the publication, particularly noticeable changes began to be recorded from March 2026. At the same time, the first signs of the new trend appeared two months earlier.
Sharp decline in the number of entries under temporary protection
HFPC reported that at certain border crossings, the number of entries of Ukrainian citizens classified by border guards as evacuation or entry for the purpose of obtaining temporary protection sharply decreased from March to June
A telling example of the transition in Medyka. In January and February 2026, around 9 thousand people were registered there as refugees. However, then the number dropped sharply:
- in March — 1814 people;
- in April — 82;
- in May — 94;
- in June — 359.
A similar situation, according to the foundation, was also observed in Korczowa, Hrubieszów, and Dorohusk. The exception was the border crossing in Chrebnem.
At the same time, there are currently no official statistics on how many Ukrainians were registered as tourists instead of as refugees.
Why the status is changing
As reported by «Gazeta Wyborcza,» Ukrainians who leave Poland for more than 30 days may lose their temporary protection. However, according to an activist quoted by the newspaper, even those who return before this period are increasingly entering Poland as tourists.
The border guards are not required to separately inform a person about the category under which their entry was registered. Therefore, some Ukrainians find out weeks after their return that their temporary protection has ceased to be valid.
The interlocutor of the publication links the beginning of this trend to political changes in Poland. According to him, the first such cases became noticeable after President Karol Nawrocki vetoed a special law to assist citizens of Ukraine in August 2025.
What to do if the status was incorrectly determined
If a citizen of Ukraine believes that their entry was mistakenly classified as tourist, they can appeal the decision. The Border Guard indicates that it is necessary to contact the border service unit that registered the entry for this purpose.
The deadline for submitting such a request is 30 days. The same period applies for submitting an application for a PESEL number with UKR status.
Changing the practice may have serious consequences for Ukrainians, as the temporary protection status is linked to the ability to enjoy a number of rights and benefits provided by Polish law
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