Information on Temporary Protection for People fleeing the conflict in Ukraine

The EU Temporary Protection Directive has now been activated in response to the Ukraine crisis. The Directive is an emergency provision designed to quickly and humanely respond to the mass displacement of Ukrainian people by Russian aggression.

Ireland participates in this measure, which has been given legal effect under Section 60 of the International Protection Act 2015.

Under the terms of the Directive, those fleeing the conflict in Ukraine will be eligible for temporary protection, initially for one year and on a renewable basis. The Directive will apply to those who arrived into the State from Ukraine since the conflict began on 24 February 2022.

Please note that the current Visa waiver for Ukrainian nationals does not apply to any other visa required nationals resident in Ukraine including any family members of Ukrainian nationals. Such nationals will need to apply for an entry visa, please see the Department’s Frequently Asked Questions page.

It will provide beneficiaries with immediate access to the labour market, along with access to social protection and other State supports .

A whole-of-Government response is being mobilised to implement the practical arrangements to give effect to these commitments.

Those who have been provided Temporary Protection will be provided with a letter detailing their Temporary Protection in the State . This permission letter will enable them to access all necessary supports as soon as possible.

For the most up to date immigration information related to Ukraine and supports available to those fleeing the conflict, please see the Department’s Frequently Asked Questions page. This page will be updated regularly.

The Temporary Protection Directive (2001/55 EC) has been activated by EU Council Decision EU 2022/382  of 4 March 2022, to provide immediate protection in EU countries for people displaced by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Temporary Protection in Ireland applies to the following groups of people who have had to flee Ukraine due to the invasion by Russia:

a) Ukrainian nationals who were residing in Ukraine before 24 February 2022;

b) Nationals of a third country (other than Ukraine) or a stateless person who would have benefited from international protection (for example: Refugee status) or an equivalent national protection status in Ukraine and were residing there before 24 February 2022;

c) Family members of persons covered by a) and b), where their family already existed in Ukraine, prior to 24 February.

Family members include a spouse or partner, unmarried minor children of either of them, and their other close dependent family relatives who have been living with them as part of the family unit before 24 February 2022.

Temporary protection also applies to nationals of a third country (other than Ukraine) and stateless people who were residing in Ukraine before 24 February 2022 with a permanent Ukrainian residence permit, who cannot safely return to their country of origin.

People who arrive in Ireland who had been legally residing in Ukraine prior to 24 February 2022 with a temporary or short-term residence permit issued by the Ukrainian authorities, will be assisted to return to their country of origin, with the support of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), if it is safe for them to do so.

If you are a Ukrainian national who is currently in Ireland on an immigration permission or stamp, for example as a student or as someone with an employment permit, you will remain on that permission/stamp until it expires or falls due for renewal. At that point, you may decide whether to further extend or renew your existing permission or to avail of Temporary Protection for the remainder of the period for which the Temporary Protection is available as determined by the EU Council.

Those granted temporary protection under the Temporary Protection Directive will be entitled to:

While a person entitled to temporary protection can apply for international protection at any time, it is not possible for a temporary protection to be availed of while an application for international protection has been made. An application for international protection would have to be withdrawn before temporary protection could be granted or vice versa.

A person who applies for international protection will not have immediate access to employment, social welfare, or international travel in the same way as a person receiving temporary protection will.

A person may be excluded from temporary protection by the Minister in the following circumstances:

(a) There are serious reasons for considering that the person:

i. has committed a crime against peace, a war crime or a crime against humanity, as defined in the international instruments drawn up to make provision in respect of such crimes,

or

ii. has been found been guilty of acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations,

(b) There are reasonable grounds for regarding the person as a danger to the security of the State,

(c) The Minister is of the opinion that the person constitutes a danger to the community of the State because they were convicted by a final judgment of a particularly serious crime, whether in the State or elsewhere, or

(d) There are serious reasons for considering that the person has committed a serious non-political crime outside the State prior to their entry into the State.

or

(e) Third Country Nationals who arrive in Ireland who had been legally residing in Ukraine prior to 24 February 2022 with a temporary or short-term residence permit issued by the Ukrainian authorities, may avail of assisted voluntary return to their country of origin, with the support of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), if it is safe for them to do so.

(f) Ukrainian Nationals who cannot provide sufficient evidence of proof of residency in Ukraine on or immediately before 24 February 2022.

Do you have temporary protection in Ireland? If so, your current permission is valid until 4 March 2025. If you wish to avail of permission up to 4 March 2026 you now need to apply to renew your permission.

It is vital that you complete your application as soon as possible, in order to ensure that you have a valid Temporary Protection permission.

You will find full details on the Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection webpage.