Poland

Poland has become the primary host country for Ukrainian refugees fleeing the full-scale invasion, hosting approximately 980,000 beneficiaries of temporary protection as of early 2026, in addition to smaller refugee populations from Belarus, Chechnya, and the Middle East. The Office for Foreigners (Urząd do Spraw Cudzoziemców) manages residence permits, asylum applications, and temporary protection registration, while the Ministry of Family and Social Policy coordinates the Polish Emergency Programme (PEP), which provides monthly cash transfers to displaced households.

Unlike many Western European host states, Poland opted for a decentralised accommodation model, with the majority of Ukrainian refugees residing in private rental housing rather than collective shelters, supported by municipal social housing offices and civil society networks. The labour market has absorbed Ukrainian refugees at historically high rates, particularly in healthcare, education, information technology, manufacturing, and logistics, yet childcare availability and credential recognition for teachers and medical professionals remain persistent bottlenecks.

The Polish education system has demonstrated remarkable adaptability, enrolling hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian children in mainstream schools and establishing preparatory Polish-language classes, though psychosocial support for war-traumatised minors remains unevenly distributed across voivodeships. Mazowieckie, Małopolskie, Dolnośląskie, Wielkopolskie, and Pomorskie host the largest concentrations of beneficiaries. Healthcare access is guaranteed under temporary protection, yet administrative hurdles and language barriers continue to delay specialist referrals in some regions.