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Temporary Protection for People Displaced from Ukraine

BulgariaHumanitarian protection

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

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Explore pathways in Bulgaria Read the five questions ↓

What exactly is this: asylum, temporary protection, humanitarian admission, resettlement or another protection mechanism?

This is EU temporary protection, an exceptional measure for people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine that gives eligible people immediate protection in an EU Member State such as Bulgaria without applying for international protection through the standard procedure. Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1912 of 30 July 2026 extends it by one year, until 4 March 2028, applying from 5 March 2027. In Bulgaria, the current national basis shown by UNHCR is Council of Ministers Decision No. 190 of 17 February 2026, which extends temporary-protection residence until 4 March 2027; the checked official sources do not show a Bulgarian decision implementing the extension to 4 March 2028.

See recorded sources

Which population, circumstances or geographic group does the mechanism cover?

The published population includes Ukrainians resident in Ukraine before 24 February 2022, specified non-Ukrainian protected persons, qualifying family, and qualifying permanent residents unable to return safely and permanently. Corrected Article 2 of Decision 2026/1912 adds, without prejudice to EU law and fundamental rights, compliance with Ukrainian military obligations and proof where applicable from 5 August 2026. It does not apply to people already enjoying temporary protection in the same Member State by 4 August 2026 and continuously retaining it there.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The Bulgarian authority must clarify who is actually subject to the military-obligations condition and acceptable proof; no blanket male/female or age rule is inferred.
  • UNHCR Ukraine, population and family categories
    Ukrainian citizens residing in Ukraine before February 24, 2022 Stateless persons or third-country nationals other than Ukraine who were granted international protection or other equivalent protection in Ukraine before 24 February 2022. Family members* of the above categories of persons. Stateless persons or third-country nationals other than Ukraine who can prove that they were legally residing in Ukraine before February 24, 2022, based on a valid permanent residence permit issued in accordance with Ukrainian law, and are unable to return permanently to their country or region of origin under safe conditions. *Family Members include spouses, partners, minor unmarried children, and other close relatives, for example parents, dependent on you.
  • Decision2026/1912 corrected Article2, condition and continuous-status exception
    Без да се засягат правото на Съюза и основните права, временната закрила, посочена в член 2 от Решение за изпълнение (ЕС) 2022/382 и удължена, когато е приложимо, с член 1 от Решение за изпълнение (ЕС) 2025/1460 или с член 1 от настоящото решение, се предоставя само на лицата, които спазват военните си задължения в Украйна, след представяне, когато е приложимо, на доказателство за това. ▼C1 Настоящият член не се прилага спрямо лица, които вече се ползват с временна закрила в дадена държава членка преди или на 4 август 2026 г. и които са запазили този статут без прекъсване в съот­ ветната държава членка след тази дата.
  • Decision2026/1912 corrected Article3, entry into force versus application
    Настоящото решение влиза в сила в деня след публикуването му в Официален вестник на Европейския съюз. ▼C1 Прилага се от 5 март 2027 г., с изключение на член 2, който се прилага от 5 август 2026 г.
  • Official Journal5 August2026 authentic correction, replacement dates
    На страница 4 в член 2 вместо: „Настоящият член не се прилага спрямо лица, които вече се ползват с временна закрила в дадена държава членка преди или на 30 юли 2026 г. и които са запазили този статут без прекъсване в съответната държава членка след тази дата.“ да се чете: „Настоящият член не се прилага спрямо лица, които вече се ползват с временна закрила в дадена държава членка преди или на 4 август 2026 г. и които са запазили този статут без прекъсване в съответната държава членка след тази дата.“ На страница 5 в член 3 вместо: „Прилага се от 5 март 2027 г., с изключение на член 2, който се прилага от 31 юли 2026 г.“ да се чете: „Прилага се от 5 март 2027 г., с изключение на член 2, който се прилага от 5 август 2026 г.“.

Where can protection be requested, and is this a direct application, border/in-country request, referral or other process?

Initial registration is requested personally at a Ministry of Interior regional directorate or a SAR reception centre. The authority records identity and family information and takes a photograph before issuing a card if conditions are met. For existing holders, the published post 30 April 2026 re-registration channel is SAR territorial divisions, not automatic renewal.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • Confirm the new decision's Bulgarian registration instructions and card validity.
  • SAR FAQ, initial temporary-protection registration
    За да бъдете регистриран като лице, ползващо се от временна закрила в Република България е необходимо да се явите лично и да поискате временна закрила в най-близката Областна дирекция на Министерство на вътрешните работи (ОДМВР), Столична дирекция на Вътрешните работи (СДВР) - за гр. София или в един от следните Регистрационно-приемателните центрове (РПЦ): Регистрационно-приемателен център гр. София Адрес: гр. София, кв. Овча купел, ул. “Монтевидео” № 21A Регистрационно-приемателен център с. Баня Адрес: с. Баня, общ. Нова Загора, район „Минерални бани“ №17 Регистрационно-приемателен център – Харманли Адрес: гр. Харманли, ж.к. „Дружба“ № 23 След като заявите желанието си за временна закрила, ще Ви бъде поискана информация за Вашата самоличност и семейните Ви връзки и ще бъдете фотографиран. В случай, че отговаряте на изискванията за предоставяне на временна закрила ще Ви бъде издадена регистрационна карта, която удостоверява, че имате правата на лице, ползващо се от временна закрила в Република България за срока на временната закрила. Носете регистрационната карта в себе си.
  • UNHCR Ukraine, post30 April2026 renewal location
    After April 30, 2026, re-registration can only be carried out in the territorial divisions of the State Agency for Refugees.
  • UNHCR Ukraine, renewal initiative/documents
    Re-registration does not happen automatically, but only at your own initiative. The new card will look as follows: You should submit: An application form for renewal of your registration card. The application form will be provided to you on-site. You might also be asked to provide proof of address National ID document Your old registration card.

What happens after the request: registration, family handling, major support and rights where officially stated?

UNHCR lists rights to remain, receive understandable information and a registration card, reunite with family, work, education, necessary accommodation support, social aid and health insurance. These rights do not establish a universal accommodation grant, amount or unlimited funded stay; programme-specific conditions and current implementation remain separate.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • Current support-programme duration, contribution conditions and family procedure must be checked individually; the page still contains older dates.
  • UNHCR Ukraine, stated protection rights
    In Bulgaria, persons under temporary protection have the following rights: Right to remain on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria; Right to written information in an understandable for you language about the rules and conditions of temporary protection; Right to a temporary protection registration card for the period of the protection; Right to reuniting with your family; Right to work and the right to receive professional education; Right to education, including pre-school, school and higher education; Right to appropriate accommodation or to funds for accommodation if needed; Right to social aid; Right to health insurance.
  • UNHCR Ukraine, mechanism
    Temporary protection is an exceptional measure introduced by the European Union for people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. It allows eligible individuals in exceptional situations of mass displacement to receive immediate protection in an EU Member State, such as Bulgaria, without applying for international protection through the standard procedure. Temporary Protection allows access to shelter, social welfare assistance, medical care, education, and the ability to work without a permit.

Which competent authority, UN body or official assistance channel should the person use?

A first application for temporary protection can be made at State Agency for Refugees (SAR) registration-reception centres, or to Ministry of Interior officials at the border police or regional departments of the Ministry of Interior. People who already hold temporary protection and whose registration card expires must re-register on their own initiative, as re-registration is not automatic; after 30 April 2026, re-registration can only be done at SAR territorial divisions. UNHCR's Bulgaria page states that the new card is valid until 4 March 2027, under Council of Ministers Decision No. 190 of 17 February 2026, while Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1912 extends temporary protection until 4 March 2028; the checked official sources do not show a Bulgarian decision implementing the 2028 date, so SAR is the channel for case-specific instructions.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The official source does not state the complete answer to this question for this route.

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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