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 come from Ukraine.

This information is available in Ukrainian and Russian. Click on the “Other languages” button above to change the language.

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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 for an extended residence permit with protection under the Temporary Protection Directive is now closed.

Yes, if you need financial support you can speak to your Unit for Reception about applying for travel compensation.

No, the time spent in Sweden with a residence permit under the Temporary Protection Directive cannot lead to a permanent residence permit. When the EU's Temporary Protection Directive is no longer in force, a person who wants to remain in Sweden can apply for a residence permit according to Swedish law. The same requirements then apply as for anyone else who applies for, for example, a work permit or a residence permit to live with a partner in Sweden. Anyone who is granted such a residence permit can begin to count the time towards a permanent residence permit.

No, as long as the Temporary Protection Directive remains in force, you will receive such a permit in the first place, regardless of what you apply for. The Swedish Migration Agency has suspended decisions in asylum cases and cannot currently decide take decisions regarding applications for asylum or status declarations.

No, as long as the Temporary Protection Directive is in force, everyone covered by the directive will receive such a permit. It is not possible to choose to apply for another type of permit.

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 following entry as long as the 90 days have not passed.

Temporary Protection Directive

EU Member States have activated the Temporary Protection Directive. This 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.

Read more about how to apply for protection under the Temporary Protection Directive for the first time

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.

Read more about how to apply for protection under the Temporary Protection Directive for the first time

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.

Read more about how to apply for protection under the Temporary Protection Directive for the first time

Family members who have a residence permit or citizenship in Sweden can sign up on the Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ “Swedish list” External link, opens in new window..

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.

Read more about the rules for 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.

Read more about financial support from the Swedish Migration Agency

Accommodation

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.

If you need help with accommodation, you should visit the Swedish Migration Agency. When you ask for help with accommodation, you can tell the Swedish Migration Agency if you wish to live in a particular municipality and what your reasons are. When deciding which municipality will be responsible for your accommodation, we take into account the reasons you have shared with us. However, there are no guarantees that you will get a place in your preferred municipality.

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, you can start looking for work after your residence permit has been granted.

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.

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.

Form to notify us of your new address: Adressanmälan eller adressändring (Mot93) (in Swedish) Pdf, 631.9 kB, opens in new window.

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. If you are granted a residence permit in another EU country, your Swedish permit no longer applies. You can only have a permit in one country at a time.

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.

If you wish to live in Sweden, you must apply to the Swedish Migration Agency for protection under the Temporary Protection Directive.

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.

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