The information on this page was collected from public resources and does not constitute legal advice.

General information on border crossing?

For detailed information on the documents required to cross the border, the procedure for crossing, checkpoints and the categories of citizens who are allowed to travel outside Ukraine, please see the link of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.

You can get help through the chatbot here.

- In addition to the chatbot, citizens can also contact the call centre at +38 (044) 224-57-20.

- The SBGS hotline is 1598.

What documents are required to cross the border with animals?

According to the rules that apply to dogs, cats, ferrets and others, it is necessary to have a numbered veterinary passport of an international standard, which must contain

  • a mark on comprehensive vaccination against viral diseases: the last vaccination must be carried out no later than 30 days and no earlier than 12 months before the date of departure
  • a photo of the animal before it reaches the age of 12 months
  • a chipping mark indicating the date of chipping and the location of the microchip
  • a mark of vaccination against rabies (name of the vaccine, signature, seal, date)
  • information on treatment against ecto- and endoparasites (fleas and worms)

Also:

  • chipping or titration prior to rabies vaccination and obtaining a certificate; the microchip implanted under the animal's skin must comply with ISO 11784, ISO 11785 standards
  • an international veterinary certificate for an animal transported through the EU for non-commercial purposes
  • a certificate stating that the animal is not of breeding value

If you have any additional questions, we recommend that you contact the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine:

- dovira@dpsu.gov.ua

- +38 044 527 63 63 (for calls from abroad), 1598 (for calls within Ukraine)

Detailed information on the rules for crossing the border with animals by country

How long can I stay?

The EU migration calculator mceclip0.png helps to calculate the number of days of stay in EU countries for those who do not apply for temporary protection.

Where can an unaccompanied minor get help?

The Migration Agency is responsible for general assistance. Any unaccompanied minors will be received by representatives of the local municipality who will arrange housing/accommodation and will handle services such as school etc. Any unaccompanied minor will receive detailed information by the local municipalities upon arrival, as exact actions may vary between regions and municipalities. Local volunteers are also available and happy to help with questions, interpreting etc.

Where do I register for temporary protection?

Ukrainians who arrived in Sweden after February 24 or stayed in the country for a certain time before the start of the war have the right to obtain the status of "temporary protection". To obtain a residence permit in Sweden, you must provide a passport of a citizen of Ukraine or other documents that will confirm your need for protection.

The application can be submitted online mceclip0.png or come to the office of the Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) in person. The offices are located mceclip0.png in six cities of the country: Boden, Malmoฬˆ, Norrkoping, Stockholm and Sundsvall.

Processing of the application and registration of the status will take several days. When the decision is made, the Migration Service will send you a letter to the postal address you provided in your application.

How to extend the status of temporary protection?

Ukrainian refugees in Sweden who planned to stay in the country had to apply for an extension of their temporary protection status until March 4, 2023.

The application had to be submitted online by March 4, 2023. If you do not apply on time, you will have to reapply for protection, housing, and financial support. In addition, you will not be able to work until you receive a new decision.

After submitting the application in the electronic service, all family members must visit the Migration Service in person to take a photo and submit their fingerprints in order to obtain a new temporary residence permit. An appointment is made in the electronic service when submitting an application.

In order to use the electronic service and submit an application, you must have the e-mail address, mobile phone number and case numbers of all persons for whom you are submitting an application. You also need to have an account or create a new one if you don't have one.

After submitting the application, you will receive:

  • an email confirming that you submitted your application on time;
  • e-mail confirming the appointment for photography and fingerprinting;
  • each person for whom you submitted an application will receive their own receipt by mail stating that the application was received by the Migration Service.

As soon as the decision on the extension of temporary protection is made, it will be sent by mail. In this case, you will need a new residence permit card as proof that you have the right to reside in Sweden. After fingerprinting and photography, a temporary residence permit card will be made for you and sent by mail.

Link to the electronic service mceclip0.png for extending the validity of the residence permit in accordance with the Temporary Protection Directive.

May I temporarily return to Ukraine? What will happen to my protection status?

The Swedish Migration Agency will not cancel your residence permit if you return to Ukraine. However, you lose your right to housing and financial assistance when you leave Sweden. If you need to return to Sweden, you can apply for housing and financial aid again.

You can also travel within the EU for up to 90 days within six months without losing your residence permit, but you may lose your right to housing and financial support from the Swedish Migration Agency if you leave Sweden.

Can I move around the country and the European Union freely while under temporary protection?

Yes, you may move around in the country and even if you leave Sweden you are still allowed to come back to Sweden during the validity period of your residence permit. Please note that you have a right to travel freely within the EU for up to 90 days during a six-month period if you have a residence permit in Sweden. However, if you leave Sweden you may lose your right to aid under the Swedish Act on Reception of Asylum Seekers. That being said, if you return to Sweden, you may be entitled to receive such aid again, although there is no guarantee that you will be able to reside in the same place as previously.

Can I apply for asylum while under temporary protection? What is the difference?

Yes, you can always apply for asylum. However, this option is most relevant for individuals in need for protection who are not already covered by the temporary protection rules. The asylum application is a more extensive/lengthy process and the Swedish Migration Agency conducts an individual examination in all asylum cases. Moreover, the Migration Agency has decided to temporarily suspend its enforcement of decisions in asylum cases on Ukraine until further notice, meaning that such applications will neither be approved nor rejected. The fact that the Migration Agency has temporarily suspended its decisions in asylum cases involving Ukrainian citizens, does however not affect the possibility to be granted temporary protection status. Furthermore, the temporary suspension does not affect the Migration Agencyโ€™s processing of other matters for Ukrainian citizens not covered by the temporary protection rules, for example in cases related to work permits or family ties.

How and where can I apply for the residency?

Ukrainians who arrived in Sweden after February 24 or stayed in the country for a certain time before the start of the war have the right to obtain the status of "temporary protection". To obtain a residence permit in Sweden, you must provide a passport of a citizen of Ukraine or other documents that will confirm your need for protection.

The application can be submitted online mceclip0.png or come to the office of the Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) in person. The offices are located mceclip0.png in six cities of the country: Boden, Malmoฬˆ, Norrkoping, Stockholm and Sundsvall.

Processing of the application and registration of the status will take several days. When the decision is made, the Migration Service will send you a letter to the postal address you provided in your application.

How long I need to wait to get the residency?

This depends on the number of people applying for a residence permit at the same time. The pressure on the Migration Agency has been high and the processing time varies from case to case, but generally it should not take more than a week.

What if I don't have the international passport?

If you donโ€™t have a biometric passport, you may enter into Sweden by presenting a Schengen visa at the border instead. You may also present other documents proving your identity, e.g. drivers licence, birth certificate, proof of citizenship or military registration documents that can demonstrate the likelihood that you are entitled to protection under the EU Temporary Protection Directive.

How to issue a foreign passport while abroad?

In order to issue a foreign passport, you need to contact the Ukrainian Embassy mceclip0.png.

A foreign passport is issued to a person who has reached the age of 16 on the basis of an application-questionnaire submitted by him personally. At the same time, the issuance of a foreign passport to a person who has been recognized by the court as having limited legal capacity or incapacity is carried out on the basis of an application-questionnaire of the guardian or other legal representative.

The following are attached to the application:

  • previous passport to be exchanged (if the passport is not issued for the first time);
  • internal passport in the form of a booklet (if available);
  • or ID card (if available);
  • a document confirming permanent residence or temporary stay abroad (if available);
  • certificate of registration of the place of residence in Ukraine / certificate of registration of the place of residence of a temporarily displaced person (if available);
  • a certificate of assignment of the registration number of the taxpayer's registration card (RNOKPP; if available).

In case of loss or theft of the previous passport, a document (report, certificate, etc.) issued by the competent authority of the state in which the passport was lost or stolen is attached to the application, confirming the fact of the owner's application regarding its loss or theft. Such a document is submitted without legalization and translation into Ukrainian.

In the case of issuing a passport in connection with a change in personal data (surname and/or first name), a document confirming such a change (marriage certificate, divorce certificate, court decision, etc.) is attached to the application. When issuing a foreign passport with a new surname and/or first name, the "domestic" passport (ID card) must be reissued.

In the event that the applicant has not previously been issued with an identity document, confirming Ukrainian citizenship and/or granting the right to leave Ukraine and enter Ukraine, a certificate of registration of the person as a citizen of Ukraine is provided (with the exception of cases when the person's parents at the time of his were citizens of Ukraine at birth).

How can a Ukrainian refugee register a newborn in this country?

You can register the birth of a child only at the consulate. There, the determination of his origin and the assignment of his surname, first name, and patronymic are carried out.

The application for registration must be submitted immediately, but no later than one month after the birth of the child, and in the case of a stillborn child - no later than three days.

The registration process takes place at the place of birth or at the place of residence of the child's parents or one of them (with a written application). At the same time, in case of illness, death of the parents or for other reasons it is impossible to register the birth - the application can be submitted by relatives or other persons authorized by the representative of the health care institution in which the child was born or is currently.

What is required for registration?

  • a document from a medical institution about the birth of a child, passports certifying the identity of the parents;
  • application (written or addressed orally) to enter information about the father.

Registration is free, and based on its results, parents are issued a birth certificate.

How to return to the homeland with a child born in the Sweden?

In order for Ukrainians to return home with a child born in the Sweden, they must have with them:

  • a document certifying his identity;
  • a child's birth certificate issued by a consular institution.

Is the status of a citizen of Ukraine preserved during the birth of a child in the Sweden?

A newborn Ukrainian in the Sweden retains the status of a citizen of Ukraine. Data on citizenship and nationality in the act record of birth and certificate are not filled in, which is why a corresponding entry is made in the column "For marks".

In addition, a person whose parents or one of his parents were citizens of Ukraine at the time of his birth is a citizen of Ukraine. The place of birth of the baby does not affect the possibility of him acquiring Ukrainian citizenship.

Where to apply in case of death of a Ukrainian abroad? How to repatriate the deceased to their homeland?

There are several steps involved in the process of body repatriation from abroad to Ukraine:

1. Notify the authorities.

The first step of body repatriation from abroad to Ukraine is to contact the local authorities in Sweden, so you can register the death. Ukrainian embassy mceclip0.png should also be able to help you in the process of registering the death abroad.

2. Arrange the correct documents.

Youโ€™ll need to have all the right paperwork before you can repatriate your loved one home from abroad to Ukraine. If you are repatriating a body to Ukraine for burial or cremation, the documents you will need include:

  • Death Certificate.
  • Certificate or Affidavit from the local health authorities stating that the cause of death of the individual to be shipped to Ukraine was not a communicable disease or infections.
  • A Document about the absence of any excessive objects inside the casket or urn with the ashes.
  • The Certificate of Cremation issued be the Funeral home or Cremation office.

All the mentioned documents should be authenticated, legalized and translated into Ukrainian by the certified translator. The originals of abovementioned documents and notarized translations, must accompany the casket containing the deceased, or urn with ashes, to Ukraine.

The passport of the deceased person should be sent to the Embassy of Ukraine along with a notarized and authenticated copy of the Certificate of Death, and a translation from Swedish to Ukrainian. The Embassy is to make correspondent procedures with the passport and can forward it back if it is required to accompany the casket containing the deceased, or urn with ashes, to Ukraine.

The Embassy is to be informed of the date, time, and the place of delivery of the casket containing the deceased, or urn with ashes, to Ukraine. Only the next of kin relatives of the deceased, or persons correspondingly authorized by them, can receive the casket or urn.

3. Transport the deceased to Ukraine.

The casket containing the body, or urn with ashes, must be sealed by the Funeral Home. There are no strict requirements with respect to the urn with ashes; however, the body should be transported in a metal casket, made of zinc-plated steel or tinplate not more than 0,4 thick.

For the air cargo transportation, it is necessary to specify a cemetery in Ukraine as well as Ukrainian Funeral Home which will take care of the casket, or the urn with ashes, in Ukraine. Both are a subject of private choice by the relatives or friends of the deceased person. Source mceclip0.png.

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