Asylum seekers from Ukraine can be granted temporary protection under the Temporary Protection Directive
The Government has decided that more people will be able to obtain a residence permit with temporary protection under the Temporary Protection Directive. This primarily affects asylum seekers from Ukraine who came to Sweden before 30 October 2021.
Until today, the Temporary Protection Directive has only applied to people who came from Ukraine to Sweden on or after 30 October 2021. The Government’s decision means that people from Ukraine who came to Sweden before 30 October 2021 now have the opportunity to receive temporary protection under the Temporary Protection Directive. In order for these people to be covered by the Temporary Protection Directive, they must have been in Sweden legally prior to 22 December 2023.
Many asylum seekers from Ukraine who came to Sweden before 30 October 2021 are currently living as asylum seekers, because they have not previously been covered by the Temporary Protection Directive. However, the Swedish Migration Agency has not made any decisions on their asylum applications, because the uncertain situation in Ukraine has made it difficult to make individual assessments of their future need for protection under asylum legislation. The Swedish Migration Agency assesses that the situation in Ukraine is now such that this is possible.
The Government’s decision to expand the scope of the Temporary Protection Directive means that the Swedish Migration Agency will first investigate whether an asylum seeker from Ukraine can be granted a residence permit with temporary protection under the Temporary Protection Directive.
Asylum seekers do not need to do anything
If you are from Ukraine and have applied for asylum but have not yet received a decision, you do not need to do anything. The Swedish Migration Agency will soon review your application for asylum and assess whether you are covered by the Temporary Protection Directive. If the Swedish Migration Agency assesses that you are covered by the Temporary Protection Directive, you will be granted a residence permit with temporary protection that is valid until 4 March 2025. You will receive more information about what temporary protection means for you.
If the Swedish Migration Agency assesses that you are not covered by the Temporary Protection Directive, your asylum process will continue. Since the asylum process requires an individual examination of your grounds for asylum and an investigation in which we need to meet you in person, it will take longer to receive a decision than for people who can be granted temporary protection under the Temporary Protection Directive.
If you have received an expulsion decision but have been granted a new examination of your case that has yet to be concluded, you do not need to do anything. The Swedish Migration Agency will decide whether you can be covered by the Temporary Protection Directive.
Frequently asked questions about the Temporary Protection Directive
Apply for protection under the Temporary Protection Directive for the first time