An administrative collapse is brewing in Poland, home to about 1 million Ukrainian refugees. According to Polish law, by March next year, Ukrainians with temporary protection status are required to replace their Ukrainian driver's licenses with Polish ones.
This is the second largest Ukrainian community after Germany, and for thousands of people the issue is critical.
The problem of "old" driving licenses
A special difficulty arises for holders of old-style certificates, which Poland replaces only by passing an exam. During 2023-2024, the centers of the "Document" State Enterprise successfully exchanged such driving licenses for new plastic ones directly in 4 cities of Poland. But they suddenly stopped "for technical reasons." Although they have the necessary equipment and experience for this. However, this service has been blocked for two years. And the demand for it is only growing.
Bureaucratic refusal
The editorial board of the Ukrainian News agency appealed to the Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine, headed by Denys Uliutin, with a request for the Ministry's actions to restore the exchange of driving licenses. However, in an official response signed by First Deputy Minister Liudmyla Shemelynets, the Ministry actually denied the problem of Ukrainian refugees in Poland: "...the issue of protecting the rights of Ukrainian citizens to drive vehicles both on the territory of Ukraine and abroad does not fall within the competence of the Ministry of Social Policy."
This position directly contradicts the Ministry's Regulation, which states that it provides communication with Ukrainians abroad and access to public services. Minister Denys Uliutin himself likes to repeat this. In particular, during the opening of the Unity Hub in Berlin on April 14, 2026, he said: "It is important for us that this becomes a space of trust and connection with the state for Ukrainians abroad."
That is, in words, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Minister Denys Uliutin talks about support and unity, but in reality ignores the serious problem of a million-strong community that can be solved by a government decision without additional funds.
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