Polish President Karol Nawrocki has signed a bill imposing stricter conditions on Ukrainian refugees receiving state support, requiring proof of employment for at least one parent and school enrollment for children to access benefits. The legislation, which allows Ukrainians to remain in Poland until March 2026, ties eligibility for monthly child support allowances, healthcare, prescription drug coverage, and medical services to employment status. Refugees must also demonstrate earnings of at least 50% of the minimum wage, with compliance verified monthly. Exemptions apply for individuals with disabilities. The measure aims to end “tourism from Ukraine at the expense of Polish taxpayers,” according to Zbigniew Bogucki, head of the president’s office. Nawrocki plans to introduce additional bills targeting refugee citizenship rules and the criminalization of hardline Ukrainian nationalist rhetoric. The president previously vetoed an earlier version of the bill, arguing that only refugees contributing to Poland’s economy should receive aid. Over a million Ukrainian refugees have arrived in Poland since 2022.
