
Many Ukrainians officially residing in the EU would like to come to Ukraine to visit relatives or for other personal reasons. Find out whether EU laws allow Ukrainian citizens with temporary protection to leave the territory of the bloc
Ukrainians who are under temporary protection in the European Union have the right to return to Ukraine and then return to the EU without losing their temporary protection status. This rule applies to all EU member states, and they have no right to restrict such travel. This was stated by a representative of the European Commission in a commentary to Europiean Pravda.
What does the European Commission say?
The European Commission spokesperson stressed that short-term trips to Ukraine should not be considered by EU countries as grounds for cancelling temporary protection. This rule allows Ukrainians to retain all the rights associated with temporary protection, even if they temporarily leave the EU.
‘Persons enjoying temporary protection may need to return to Ukraine for reasons other than voluntary return before the expiry of temporary protection (e.g. to visit family). Therefore, national authorities should not consider short-term trips to Ukraine as voluntary return,’ the European Commission explained.
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Are there any restrictions on the period of absence in the EU?
According to a representative of the European Commission, the Temporary Protection Directive does not contain a clear limit on the maximum duration of absence of Ukrainians in the EU. This means that each case should be considered individually, and short-term trips do not jeopardise the temporary protection status.
What about financial assistance?
The European Commission has also clarified that temporary travel to Ukraine should not deprive Ukrainians of financial assistance if they are eligible for it. EU states are obliged to continue to provide social benefits and other guarantees provided by the temporary protection status, even during a short-term absence from the country.
‘Leave in Ukraine does not equal voluntary return. Therefore, EU member states should continue to provide all rights related to temporary protection,’ the European Commission representative said.
What does this mean for Ukrainians?
Ukrainians with temporary protection can safely travel to Ukraine, for example, to visit family or to resolve personal issues, without fear of losing their status in the EU. This important clarification gives Ukrainians more freedom of movement while maintaining their access to social assistance and other rights.
However, it should be borne in mind that rules and procedures may differ slightly from country to country. Therefore, it is recommended to check with local authorities or migration services before travelling.
If you need help with migration issues, be sure to get advice from the relevant lawyers. Professionals from Visit Ukraine will help you deal with all the pitfalls of moving abroad or living there.
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