In 2025, EU countries will introduce significant changes to the rules of stay and social assistance for Ukrainian refugees. Find out more about what innovations our citizens abroad should prepare for

Legal assistance on migration issues for Ukrainians in Ukraine and abroad

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The EU has extended the Temporary Protection Directive for Ukrainians until March 2026, allowing almost 4 million Ukrainians to stay legally in Europe.

At the same time, a number of countries plan to reduce the amount of social assistance. In which countries Ukrainians should expect changes in their living conditions, we will tell you in detail in today's article.

Reduction of the Bürgergeld benefit in Germany

Ukrainian refugees in Germany receive the Bürgergeld benefit. The amount of assistance differs depending on the category of person. For example, single adults receive €563 per month, adolescents receive €471, and children under 12 receive €357.

As early as January 2025, the allowance for able-bodied refugees will be reduced by 30% for 3 months, provided that the person rejects a job offer. This decision was made because refugees are not motivated to look for work due to high social benefits. Cutting benefits will encourage them to find employment and reduce the burden on the budget. Currently, there are about 1.1 million Ukrainians living in Germany, 700,000 of whom are of working age.

Visa extension for Ukrainians in the UK

In the UK, the validity of visas for Ukrainians who arrived after February 24, 2022, will be extended by 18 months. The application can be submitted as early as February 4, 2025.

It is important to remember that the application must be submitted 28 days before the expiration of the visa. Consideration takes up to 8 weeks. During this time, it is forbidden to travel outside the country, but refugees will be able to continue to enjoy all the rights of their legal status.

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Issuance of a CUKR card in Poland

 In 2025, Ukrainian refugees with Pesel UKR status may receive a CUKR residence card. This will allow them to legally reside and work in Poland for 3 years. Citizens who had the Pesel UKR status as of March 4, 2024 will be able to obtain the CUKR. With the new status, Ukrainians will be able to leave Poland for a period not exceeding 6 months.

To learn more about the electronic submission of documents for the CUKR residence card, please follow the link.

Free public transportation in Lithuania

Vilnius City Council has extended free public transportation for refugees from Ukraine for another 1 year. This benefit has been available to Ukrainians since March 2022. A similar decision was made in other major cities of Lithuania.

Since February 24, 2022, almost 90 thousand Ukrainians have arrived in Lithuania. Currently, almost 34% of refugees are officially employed. Temporary protection is valid until March 4, 2026, so Ukrainians need to replace their residence permits by the end of the year.

Extension of state aid to Ukrainians in Latvia

In November, Latvia amended the law on support for Ukrainian refugees, extending state aid for a year. The government has allocated 65 million euros from the budget to implement the new measures.

The amendments to the law increase the period of temporary residence for Ukrainians from 2 to 3 years. The amount of one-time crisis assistance has also been increased: for adults, the amount will increase to €377 (UAH 16,437), which is €34 more than before, and for children, it will increase to €264 (UAH 11,510), an increase of €24.

In addition, refugees will continue to receive compensation for housing and food expenses, especially vulnerable categories of the population. It also provides for coverage of the costs of essential medicines, which will provide additional support for those in need of medical care.

A new type of long-term residence permit in the Czech Republic

The Czech Republic plans to introduce a new type of long-term residence permit (dlouhodobý pobyt) starting in 2025. It differs significantly from the permanent residence permit (trvalý pobyt) and offers foreigners the opportunity to stay in the country for up to 5 years with full access to the labor market.

The new permit will be available to Ukrainian citizens who have worked in the Czech Republic for the last two years and meet the established financial criteria. To obtain it, applicants will have to provide biometric data. If the application is submitted by a family, its financial ability to cover the expenses of all family members, including children, will be additionally checked. Spouses must apply at the same time.

This initiative is intended to simplify the procedure for those who currently enjoy temporary protection and have to renew their visas every year. According to preliminary plans, the application for dlouhodobý pobyt will be possible in mid-2025. In early 2025, citizens with temporary protection will need to register for its extension.

In our previous article, we talked about the pension reform in the Czech Republic and its impact on Ukrainian refugees.

Changes in the rules for Ukrainian refugees in Ireland

Starting from March 2025, newly arrived Ukrainian refugees in Ireland will no longer be provided with free public housing. First of all, those who have lived there the longest will be evicted. Such a political lever should reduce the number of Ukrainians on state support and encourage them to live independently.

In the last months of 2024, the number of Ukrainians living in state-run shelters in Ireland decreased from 58,830 to 35,833. The government has cut social benefits and limited the stay of newly arrived refugees to 90 days.

Termination of automatic asylum in Norway

Norway has announced changes to its asylum policy for Ukrainian refugees. Now, applications of citizens from the western regions of Ukraine, in particular Lviv, Volyn, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ternopil, Rivne and Zakarpattia regions, will be considered individually. Previously, asylum was granted automatically to all Ukrainians.

Minister of Justice Emilie Enger Mel stated that the country has already accepted about 85,000 Ukrainians since the beginning of the war, but Norway cannot continue to bear a disproportionate burden compared to other Northern European countries. At the same time, the share of applicants among men of military age has increased.

Changes have also affected financial support. Refugees who decide to live outside reception centers will be deprived of assistance. Also, the costs of keeping pets will no longer be covered, and it is no longer possible to live with them in the centers.

In addition, young Ukrainians aged 19-24 must now live in the country for at least 5 years to qualify for free dental services. The monthly allowance for couples without children was reduced by 6 thousand kroons ($576). These measures are aimed at reducing the flow of Ukrainian refugees to Norway.

If you need help at any stage of migration, you should contact a qualified specialist and get advice on problematic issues, assistance with the preparation of the necessary documents or full legal support. You can order a consultation by following the link or write “I need a consultation” in a messenger convenient for you (WhatsApp | Telegram).

We remind you! The Slovak authorities are preparing to significantly reduce assistance for Ukrainian refugees who arrive in the country after February 2025. The new rules will reduce the length of stay in shelters and financial support, but will not affect the most vulnerable categories of the population. Find out more about how this will affect Ukrainians.

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