Refugees from Ukraine who have taken refuge in Europe since the beginning of the full-scale war continue to return home. Here's how to refuse temporary protection in Poland, the Czech Republic, Germany, Switzerland and the UK

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Before returning to Ukraine, refugees need to renounce temporary protection in the country that provided asylum. Each country has its own rules that must be followed before leaving. We offer you to find out how to refuse temporary protection in the countries that have accepted the largest number of refugees.

Poland

If you leave Poland for 30 days or less, you do not need to cancel your temporary protection. However, if Ukrainians plan to go home for a longer period of time, they can cancel their PESEL UKR status. To do so, notify the gmina office:

• While in Poland, submit a special application on the official form;

• if you have left Poland, submit an application through your authorized representative.

It is important to refuse PESEL UKR for those traveling to Schengen countries. Ukrainians who leave Poland and do not return within 30 days will automatically lose their temporary protection.

Read more about renunciation of asylum in Poland here.

Germany

Ukrainians in Germany need to finalize all matters with state institutions in order not to accumulate debts to the country and avoid problems in the future.

If you have not received social assistance, you do not need to do anything before leaving the country. Staying outside of Germany for more than six months automatically revokes your residence permit status after overstaying it.

Those who received financial assistance or other benefits should do the following:

1. Notify the Jobcenter of your return to Ukraine;

2. pay off the Jobcenter, if necessary. For example, a refugee may receive a payment for the entire month and leave in the first days of the month. In such cases, there is a requirement to return the amount paid for the relevant period;

3. after taking the first steps, you need to close your bank account;

4. check out of the place of registration in the KVR (Kreisverwaltungsreferat);

5. inform the migration service of the Landratsamt (county administration).

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Great Britain

Currently, more than 200,000 refugees live in the UK. Although the British welcome Ukrainians and support them in every possible way, refugees still return home. 

Ukrainians came to this country under the Ukraine family scheme and Homes for Ukraine programs, which provide protection similar to the status of temporary protection in the EU. To leave the UK for longer than 28 days, you need to give up social benefits: 

1. Terminate Universal Credit benefits for Ukrainians. To do this, write an application at a government office or inform your coach during a conversation. If you do not suspend the payment, you will be charged and then asked to return it. It is better to take care of closing all payments in advance so as not to create unnecessary trouble for yourself;

2. Cancel child support. There are several ways to do this: online, by phone or by letter;

3. Quit your job or stop doing business.

Read more about how to close all payments here.

You also need to notify your sponsors of your departure. They must pass this information to the local council so that their state payments can be stopped. If you rent an apartment, notify your landlord of your departure. The period of notice is specified in the lease agreement.

Czech Republic

Ukrainians who want to cancel their temporary protection in the Czech Republic should contact the Consulate General. You need to come to the institution in person and fill out a special application. It should be noted that citizens are accepted in a live queue on weekdays from 9:00 to 11:00.

If you are unable to come to the consulate, you can send the application by mail to the address of the consulate in Lviv - 130A Antonovycha Street. The applicant's signature must be officially certified. 

All refugees are also required to notify their insurance company of their departure. Send email [email protected], be sure to attach a scanned copy of the application for refusal of a residence permit for temporary protection. Health insurance will cease to be valid on the day of visa cancellation.

Switzerland

Refugees from Ukraine who sought asylum in Switzerland were granted S status. It guaranteed Ukrainians the right to reside in the country for a year, to work, study and use medical services legally. 

Before you leave the country, you need to give up your S status. There is only one step you need to take - submit a special application. Sign it and send it to the following address: Staatssekretariat für Migration SEM, Quellenweg 6, 3003 Bern-Wabern.

Please note that although the airspace of Ukraine is still closed, there are many options to return home by land. Buy plane tickets to the nearest airports, bus and train tickets only from reliable carriers.

We remind you! Almost 4 million Ukrainians have been granted temporary protection in the EU since February 2022. At the same time, the number of refugees in Poland, Estonia, Portugal and France is decreasing. Read more about the current number of refugees in the EU in our article.

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