Ukraine grants two kinds of international protection: refugee status and complementary protection. Only the State Migration Service decides on them (Law of Ukraine "On Refugees and Persons in Need of Complementary or Temporary Protection").
Who can get protection
- Refugee — a foreigner or stateless person who, owing to a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, citizenship, membership of a social group or political opinion, cannot or does not want to return to their country.
- Complementary protection — for those who are not refugees but face the death penalty, torture, inhuman treatment or large-scale violence in an armed conflict in their country of origin.
How to apply
- The application is submitted in person to a regional office of the State Migration Service. If the person crossed the border illegally, they must apply without delay — they are then not liable for the illegal crossing. A person staying in Ukraine lawfully must apply before their permitted stay ends.
- After applying, a certificate of application for protection is issued; it confirms lawful stay while the application is considered.
- While the application is pending, the person cannot be removed to a country where they face danger.
- A refusal can be appealed to the Migration Service or an administrative court; deadlines are short.
Free legal and social assistance for asylum seekers is provided by UNHCR: help.unhcr.org/ukraine.
Law text: Law of Ukraine "On Refugees and Persons in Need of Complementary or Temporary Protection".