Crossing the Polish Border for Men Liable for Military Service
The Polish border remains open to anyone who left Ukraine legally — there are no additional Polish restrictions specifically for men liable for military service upon entry. However, from March 2027 a new condition will apply for new applicants aged 23–60 seeking access to temporary protection in the EU, so documents confirming the grounds for departure should be retained.
International Law Firm "Zahist" advises clients who cross the border with Poland. In our practice, the greatest confusion arises precisely from mixing two different issues — the grounds for leaving Ukraine, which are governed by Ukrainian border legislation, and what happens after entry into Poland, where different rules apply.
We break down which documents will be needed on the Polish side, what changes with temporary protection from 2027, and why the legality of departure should be confirmed in advance.
The Polish border is open — this is Poland’s official position
Despite discussions of new protection rules at the EU level, Poland has officially confirmed: the border remains open for Ukrainian men of conscription age who leave Ukraine legally.
The standard list of documents for entry has not changed — a foreign passport and, where necessary, confirmation of the purpose of the trip, as for any other Ukrainian citizen.
The decision on who is entitled to leave the territory of Ukraine is made by the Ukrainian border service before the crossing — the Polish side essentially does not reassess that ground upon entry.
This is a fundamental difference from what is sometimes discussed in the news: talk of possible restrictions for men of conscription age concerns access to protection status already in the EU, not the right itself to cross the border and be on the territory of Poland.
Which documents are worth having at the Polish border
For men aged 18–60 who are subject to military registration, in addition to a passport it is in practice useful to carry a military registration document and confirmation of the grounds for departure abroad — even if a border officer does not formally require this separately.
These documents may be needed later — when applying for temporary protection, PESEL UKR, or any other status in Poland, where the legality of departure from Ukraine may be asked to be confirmed.
A stamp in the passport on border crossing or a certificate on the grounds for departure are documents that seem simple at first glance, the loss or absence of which later complicates proving the circumstances of departure after the fact.
Therefore, a copy or photo of each important document should be stored separately from the original — in case the passport or other papers are lost while already staying in Poland.
If the grounds for departure are later subject to additional verification — for example, when filing an application for temporary protection after March 2027 — it is precisely having these documents on hand that will determine how quickly and without complications the procedure proceeds.
What changes with temporary protection from March 2027
On 15 July 2026, EU countries agreed to extend temporary protection for those who already benefit from it until March 2028 — this decision in itself does not deprive anyone of an existing status.
At the same time, a new condition was adopted for new applicants: from March 2027, men aged 23–60 who are subject to military service in Ukraine will not be able to obtain temporary protection in EU countries automatically.
After that date, such applicants will be able to obtain protection only by confirming fulfilment of military duty — for example, with a document on discharge from military service or on lawful exemption from mobilisation.
Whom the changes do not concern
Ukrainians who already hold temporary protection status in any EU country at the time the changes take effect do not fall under the new restrictions — the decision concerns only new applicants after March 2027.
That is, if temporary protection is arranged now, before March 2027, the new requirement will not apply to that already obtained status — what matters is the date of filing the application, not the applicant’s age in itself.
The decision of 15 July 2026 was adopted by representatives of the EU Member States — Poland supported the idea of restrictions for new applicants, together with Germany and Sweden, while some countries advocated extension without changes.
| Applicant category | Status of access to temporary protection |
| Already obtained protection before March 2027 | Changes do not apply; protection is valid until March 2028 |
| New applicant aged 23–60 who confirmed fulfilment of military duty | Protection is granted |
| New applicant aged 23–60 without confirmation | Automatic protection is not granted |
| Applicants outside the 23–60 age group | General procedure without new restrictions |
Why documents for legalisation should be filed now rather than postponed
The date of filing an application for temporary protection is the decisive factor under the new condition: an application filed and registered before March 2027 does not fall under the requirement to prove fulfilment of military duty.
For those who have already crossed the Polish border legally but have not yet obtained any status, delaying the filing of an application after March 2027 will mean the need to gather additional documents that may not be on hand.
In practice this also concerns related procedures — PESEL UKR registration, access to medical insurance or social benefits, which are tied specifically to temporary protection status, not merely to the fact of presence in the country.
Alternative legalisation routes — for example, a temporary residence permit through work or study — remain available regardless of these changes, but usually require a longer and more complex set of documents than simplified temporary protection registration.
What to do if problems arise at the border
If the border service refuses entry or demands documents beyond the standard list, the grounds for refusal should be recorded in writing immediately — an oral explanation is difficult to challenge later.
A refusal of entry at the Polish border can be appealed — but this requires a written decision with reasoning, not an oral statement by a border officer, so insisting on written form on the spot is warranted.
Cases of formal misunderstandings — for example, when a border officer demands a document not provided for by law — do occur, and it is written recording that provides grounds to challenge the decision at a higher instance, rather than merely turning around and going back.
Legal assistance with legalisation after crossing the border
Determining which documents will be needed after entry and filing an application for legalisation on time is a task where a delay of several months may mean loss of access to automatic protection after March 2027.
Lawyers at "Zahist" help assess a specific client’s situation, prepare documents for temporary protection or another status, and support the procedure after crossing the border.
We also advise on which documents should already be retained now to avoid problems confirming the grounds for departure in the future — this is especially important in light of the rule changes from 2027.
If you plan to cross the border or are already in Poland and want to obtain legal status on time, contact International Law Firm "Zahist"— we will review your situation at a consultation.
