Temporary Protection Directive residence permit

The information on this page is aimed at people who have fled the war in Ukraine and want to apply for protection in Sweden under the EU’s Temporary Protection Directive.

These requirements must be met in order for you to be granted a residence permit with temporary protection under the Temporary Protection Directive:

You have fled the war in Ukraine alone or with your family and want to apply for protection in Sweden.

You must be one of the following a Ukrainian citizen a person who had international protection or equivalent national protection in Ukraine prior to 24 February 2022 an accompanying family member of someone belonging to either of the two groups described above.

You must have lived in Ukraine and left the country because of the war on 24 February 2022 or later

Even if you were already in Sweden when the war in Ukraine broke out, you may still be entitled to protection under the Temporary Protection Directive, if you were legally in Sweden before 22 December 2023.

If you are a man aged 23 to 65, you must show that you have fullfilled your military obligations in Ukraine or that you are exempt from the compulsory military service requirement, This requirement only applies if you are applying for temporary protection for the first time on or after 5 August 2026.

You apply in the e-service. If you are applying for the first time, you can also do so by visiting a Swedish Migration Agency Service Centre.

If you cannot apply in the e-service, you must visit the Swedish Migration Agency in person to apply.

Your residence permit with temporary protection under the Temporary Protection Directive in one EU country does not automatically apply in other EU countries.

If you wish to live in Sweden, you must apply to the Swedish Migration Agency for protection.

Your family members can get residence permits under the Temporary Protection Directive if they came to Sweden with you. Your co-applicant family members do not need to be Ukrainian citizens, but each must have a valid passport or other identification document.

When you apply for a residence permits for yourself, you can apply for residence permits for your family members at the same time.

Once you have applied in the e-service, you will receive an email confirming that you have applied.

The letter contains the person’s name and case number, as well as information that they are entitled to accommodation and financial aid as long as they are still registered at one of the Migration Agency’s reception units.

If you cannot arrange your accommodation on your own, you are entitled to accommodation provided by the Swedish Migration Agency once you have applied for a residence permit under the Temporary Protection Directive.

If you do not have your own money, you may also be entitled to financial aid from the Swedish Migration Agency.

It usually takes a few weeks for the Swedish Migration Agency to check whether you are entitled to protection.

In order to receive a residence permit card as proof that you have the right to be in Sweden, you need to be photographed and fingerprinted.

If you are 16 years of age or older and are granted a residence permit in Sweden, you have the right to work, and children are allowed to attend school.

This means that people fleeing the war in Ukraine are at a particularly high risk of being exploited. This is especially true of women and children.

When many people must flee their country simultaneously, the risk of being subjected to various forms of violence and oppression increases.

Notify the police if you are the victim of a crime. In case of emergency situations and ongoing crimes, call 112. If the matter is not urgent, you can contact the police at +46 77 114 14 00.

Information on human trafficking in English and Ukrainian on the website of the Swedish Gender Equality Agency External link.

Contact them if you were a civilian in Ukraine and have been a victim of a war crime or witnessed other civilians who have been victims of war crimes.

E-mail registrator.kansli@polisen.se and mark your message with “to the War Crimes Investigation Team”, or call the police’s Contact Centre at phone number 114 14.

There is a new meeting place for Ukrainians in Sweden, designed to provide support, guidance and information.

The Swedish Migration Agency is responsible for considering applications from people who want to live in Sweden, seek protection or become Swedish citizens.