Frequently asked questions about the Temporary Protection Directive for you from Ukraine
On this page you will find frequently asked questions about the Temporary Protection Directive for you who have fled the war in Ukraine.
This information is available in Ukrainian and Russian. Click on the “Other languages” button above to change the language.
Ця інформація доступна українською та російською мовами. Натисніть кнопку Other languages вгорі, щоб змінити мову.
Данная информация представлена на украинском и русском языках. Нажмите на кнопку Other languages вверху, чтобы сменить язык.
Application for extended protection under the Temporary Protection Directive
The application to extend a residence permit under the Temporary Protection Directive is now closed.
The Swedish Migration Agency expects that the vast majority of those who have applied for extended protection under the Temporary Protection Directive will receive a decision by the end of May at the latest.
If you did not apply for an extended residence permit by the 4 March deadline, you need to reapply for protection, accommodation and financial support.
You can apply for protection via the same e-service used by people who have recently arrived in Sweden and who wish to apply for protection under the Temporary Protection Directive for the first time, but you can also visit the Swedish Migration Agency in person. It is important that you apply as soon as possible.
When you submitted your application in the e-service, you received an email with a confirmation showing that you applied before the deadline. The email contains the names of all the people for whom you have applied. The email also includes a control number that you can use to check whether you have received a decision.
A few days after you have submitted the application, each person for whom you have applied will also receive their own letter confirming that the Swedish Migration Agency has received the application. The letter contains the person’s name and case number, as well as information about the fact that they retain their right to accommodation and financial support pending a new decision. This letter can be good to have if you need to prove to an authority or employer that you applied for an extended residence permit in time.
Yes, if you submitted your application and booked an appointment in the e-service to extend a residence permit under the Temporary Protection Directive, you have applied in time.
Yes, if you need financial support you can speak to your Unit for Reception about applying for travel compensation. You can book an appointment in any location you want, but you can only receive financial support to travel to the location closest to where you live.
No, the time spent in Sweden with a residence permit under the Temporary Protection Directive cannot lead to a permanent residence permit.
The Temporary Protection Directive can only provide temporary protection for a maximum of three years, and cannot be extended after 4 March 2025. The government is investigating what rules should apply for those who cannot return to Ukraine after that date. We will contact people who have protection under the Temporary Protection Directive and tell them what to do in good time before their temporary residence permit expires.
On the Government’s decision that more people will be able to receive temporary protection under the Temporary Protection Directive
The decision means that more people than can currently do so will be able to obtain a residence permit with temporary protection under the Temporary Protection Directive. The decision primarily concerns people from Ukraine who sought protection in Sweden before 30 October 2021, and who therefore have not previously been covered by the Temporary Protection Directive. Most of them are currently staying in Sweden as asylum seekers. Other people from Ukraine may also be affected by the decision, if they were in Sweden legally prior to 22 December 2023 and apply for protection.
If you are an asylum seeker, you do not need to do anything. The Swedish Migration Agency will review your application for asylum and assess whether you are covered by the Temporary Protection Directive.
If you are covered by the Temporary Protection Directive, you will soon receive a letter with a decision granting you a residence permit under the Temporary Protection Directive and information about what this means for you.
No, you must follow the instructions you receive about applying for extended protection under the Temporary Protection Directive.
The Government’s decision may apply to people who have come here from Ukraine but have not previously been covered by the Temporary Protection Directive, for example because they came to Sweden before 30 October 2021. It is then required that you were legally in Sweden before 22 December 2023 and have not been convicted of a crime that can result in at least two years in prison.
If you are an asylum seeker or have applied for impediments to enforcement, you do not need to do anything. The Swedish Migration Agency will review your application and assess whether you can be granted protection under the Temporary Protection Directive.
Read more about who is covered by the Temporary Protection Directive
Under certain circumstances, someone who has applied for impediments to enforcement and been granted a new examination of their case can be considered to be in Sweden legally. The Swedish Migration Agency is currently analysing what applies in this case and will soon provide more information about this question.
Everyone who is covered by the Temporary Protection Directive and has applied for protection under the directive will receive a decision on their application for a residence permit based on these grounds.
If you have individual grounds for protection, you can apply for a refugee status declaration, even if you already have a residence permit with temporary protection under the Temporary Protection Directive.
The Swedish Migration Agency will then investigate your application in the same way as an application for asylum. An individual asylum investigation requires a personal interview and takes time. In the meantime, you will retain your rights under the Temporary Protection Directive.
It is important to know that if you are granted a refugee status declaration, it is assumed that you do not intend to return to Ukraine. If you return to Ukraine, you may lose your refugee status. Persons who have temporary protection under the Temporary Protection Directive can visit Ukraine without affecting their status in Sweden.
Everyone who has applied for protection will receive a residence permit under the Temporary Protection Directive if they are covered by it. If you have already applied for asylum, you do not need to do anything. The Swedish Migration Agency will review your application and assess whether you are covered by the Temporary Protection Directive.
You will then receive a letter with information about what it would mean to receive a status declaration, and you will be asked whether you want the Swedish Migration Agency to investigate your application. The Swedish Migration Agency will then investigate your application in the same way as an application for asylum. An individual asylum investigation requires a personal interview and takes time. In the meantime, you will retain your rights under the Temporary Protection Directive.
Yes, people who are neither covered by the Temporary Protection Directive nor have individual grounds for asylum can be deported to Ukraine.
You can apply for protection under the Temporary Protection Directive when your current permit expires, or when you receive a decision rejecting your application for an extension. The Swedish Migration Agency will then examine whether you meet the requirements under the Temporary Protection Directive.
Read more about who is covered by the Temporary Protection Directive
The temporary protection directive – rules and how to apply
Stay in Sweden for 90 days
Ukrainian citizens with biometric national passports or Schengen visas can stay in Sweden for 90 days and do not need to contact the Swedish Migration Agency until the 90 days have passed.
Temporary Protection Directive
The Temporary Protection Directive means that persons who come to Sweden from Ukraine can get immediate protection and a temporary residence permit.
The permit gives you the opportunity to get help with finding accommodation, the right to work, the right to seek basic care, the right to schooling for children, and certain financial support in Sweden.
Asylum
A person from Ukraine will in the first instance be granted a residence permit in accordance with the Temporary Protection Directive. A person in need of protection, who does not meet the requirements for a permit in accordance with the Temporary Protection Directive, can apply for asylum. An application for asylum is always examined individually.
Read more about how to apply for asylum
Other grounds for residence permit in Sweden
Other grounds for residence permit in Sweden include a permit to work, study, or live with your family that already lives in Sweden. The requirements for obtaining a residence permit differ depending on the permit you are applying for. In most cases, you need to apply from outside Sweden in order to be granted the residence permit. More information about different residence permits can be found under the menu entry Private individuals on our website.
If you are a Ukrainian citizen, are in Sweden and have a valid passport or other Ukrainian identification documents, you can use the e‑service to apply. If you cannot use the e‑service or if you are in urgent need of somewhere to stay, you can visit us in person.
No, you must be in Sweden when you submit the application.
When you apply for a permit under the Temporary Protection Directive you need to show who you are. If you do not have a passport or a national ID card, you can present other documents that state your identity. For example, you can show us a driving licence, birth certificate, citizenship certificate or military service book. Such documents can help to prove that you are a person with the right to protection under the Temporary Protection Directive.
If your family member can get to Sweden and has a biometric passport or a Schengen visa, they have the right to stay here for up to 90 days without a residence permit.
Your family member can apply for temporary protection.
If you live in Sweden and your family member does not have a residence permit or citizenship in Sweden, in some cases they may have the right to apply for a residence permit on the grounds of close family ties to you. There are no special rules for people from Ukraine; the same rules apply to anyone applying on the grounds of close family ties.
If you are bringing your dog, cat or other pet from Ukraine, you need to find out which rules apply to bringing the animal into Sweden. You can read more about what rules apply for pets on the website of Jordbruksverket. They have information in Swedish, English and Ukrainian.
Pets from Ukraine (Jordbruksverket)
External link, opens in new window.
No, the Swedish Migration Agency does not keep your passport. You need the passport to identify yourself during your stay in Sweden.
If you do not have any money of your own, you can get financial support from the Swedish Migration Agency when you apply for protection under the Temporary Protection Directive. You must hand in your application for financial support in person or by sending a signed form to the Swedish Migration Agency.
If you are getting financial support from the Swedish Migration Agency, it is important you tell the Swedish Migration Agency if your financial situation changes, for example, if you get a job, or if you change accommodation.
Read more about financial support from the Swedish Migration Agency
If you have a residence permit with protection under the Temporary Protection Directive and need a place to stay, you must visit the Swedish Migration Agency's office for help. The Swedish Migration Agency will find out which municipality has space for you and instructs that municipality to arrange accommodation for you. The municipality then has one month to arrange accommodation for you. Once this is done, you will receive information from the Swedish Migration Agency about where you are going to live. While we wait for the municipality to arrange accommodation for you, you can stay in one of the Swedish Migration Agency's temporary accommodations.
After the decision has been made
If you are granted a residence permit under the EU Temporary Protection Directive, your permit will be valid until 4 March 2025. Before then, you will receive information about what to do when your residence permit according to the Temporary Protection Directive expires.
If the security situation in Ukraine improves to the extent that the EU decides to end the Temporary Protection Directive before 4 March 2025, the Swedish Migration Agency will revoke your residence permit. If this happens, you will receive information before your residence permit ends.
Yes, people who have turned 16 have the right to work from the day they receive a decision on protection under the Temporary Protection Directive. Notify the Swedish Migration Agency if you start working, as this may affect your right to financial support.
Some municipalities offer Sfi (Swedish for immigrants) for you from Ukraine. Contact your municipality you live in to find out if they offer Sfi.
More information on Skolverket's website: Rätt till Sfi (in Swedish) External link, opens in new window.
Yes, persons with a permit for temporary protection are covered by the Reception of Asylum Seekers Act (LMA), like asylum seekers. This means you have the right to school for your children, the right to work, the right to health care that cannot wait and certain financial support if needed.
If you have been granted a residence permit for temporary protection you will get a residence permit card as proof that you are permitted to live in Sweden. The card will show what kind of permit you have.
Your residence permit card is produced for you after the Swedish Migration Agency has decided to grant you a residence permit. Before we can order the card for you, you need to be photographed and provide your fingerprints. If you were photographed and provided fingerprints when you applied for protection or accommodation, you do not need to do anything. If you applied for protection in the e‑service and have not yet been fingerprinted and photographed, you will need to make an appointment to do so.
Book an appointment before you visit us
Once your residence permit card is ready, we will send the card to you by post or contact you and tell you where you can pick up your card. Remember to notify the Swedish Migration Agency if you change your address. You can do this by sending a completed Adressanmälan eller adressändring (Mot93) form to your nearest Unit for Reception.
No, people who have been granted temporary protection under the Temporary Protection Directive are not registered in the Swedish population register and thus do not have the right to a personal identity number. However, there are exceptions, for example if you are the partner of an EEA citizen who is registered in the population register, or if you were registered in the population register because you had a different residence permit before the Temporary Protection Directive was applicable.
If you are registered in the population register, you are no longer entitled to financial support and accommodation from the Swedish Migration Agency.
If you have previously been registered in the population register but have left Sweden for a period longer than six months, and the Swedish Tax Agency has registered that you have left the country, you are no longer registered in the population register. If you come back to Sweden, you have the right to financial support and accommodation from the Swedish Migration Agency as long as you are not registered in the population register again.
When the Swedish Migration Agency has decided that you will receive financial support, you will receive a bank card and information about how it works. We will send you the bank card by post or contact you and tell you where you can pick up the bank card.
Read more about financial support from the Swedish Migration Agency
Yes, you are allowed to leave Sweden and come back as long as your residence permit is valid. If you have a residence permit in Sweden, you have the right to travel freely within the EU for up to 90 days during a six-month period.
You may lose your right to aid under the Act on Reception of Asylum Seekers (i.e., accommodation and financial support from the Swedish Migration Agency) if you leave Sweden, but if you return to Sweden while your permit is still valid, you may be entitled to receive aid under the Act on Reception of Asylum Seekers again. If you need help with accommodation when you return, there is no guarantee that you will be able to stay in the same place where you previously lived.
No, the Swedish Migration Agency will not revoke your residence permit if you travel back to Ukraine. However, your right to financial support and accommodation will stop once you leave Sweden. If you need to return to Sweden you can apply for accommodation and financial support again.
No, the Swedish Migration Agency will not revoke your residence permit if you move from Sweden, but you are only entitled to support under the Temporary Protection Directive in one country at a time. If you move to another EU country and apply for a residence permit there, the Swedish Migration Agency will be informed of this and will then stop your right to accommodation and financial support in Sweden.
Yes, you can travel up to 90 days in a six-month period within the EU without losing your residence permit. However, if you leave Sweden you may lose your right to aid under the Act on Reception of Asylum Seekers (i.e., accommodation and financial support from the Swedish Migration Agency).
The residence permit that you receive from the Swedish Migration Agency only gives you the right to live in Sweden. If you want to move to another EU country, you must register in that country in accordance with the Temporary Protection Directive.
All EU countries share information about people receiving protection under the Temporary Protection Directive in a common database. If you are granted a residence permit under the Temporary Protection Directive in another EU country, the Swedish Migration Agency will receive information about this, and we will then stop providing you with accommodation and financial support.
Your residence permit under the Temporary Protection Directive in one EU-country does not automatically give you the right to live in another EU-country. The rules for who may be granted temporary protection might vary slightly from country to country. If you wish to live in Sweden, you must apply to the Swedish Migration Agency for protection under the Temporary Protection Directive.
Read about who can be granted protection under the Temporary Protection Directive in Sweden
If you are granted a residence permit in Sweden under the Temporary Protection Directive, the Swedish Migration Agency will upload your personal data to an EU-wide database. The authorities in the country where you were first granted protection will receive information about the fact that you have been granted a residence permit in Sweden, and will then stop providing you with financial support.
No, a person with a residence permit under the Temporary Protection Directive can not receive a travel grant or other help from the Swedish Migration Agency to move back home.