UkraineHumanitarian protection
Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.
This is refugee status, one of the two legal statuses providing international protection in Ukraine.
There are two legal statuses providing international protection in Ukraine: 1) refugee status and 2) status of person in need of complementary protection.
Ukrainian legislation defines a refugee as a person who is not a citizen of Ukraine and, owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality/citizenship, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of their nationality/citizenship and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail themselves of the protection of that country.
Ukrainian legislation defines a refugee as a person, who - is not a citizen of Ukraine; and - owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality/ citizenship, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of their nationality/citizenship; and - is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail themselves of the protection of that country
Refugee status is requested by a direct application to the Ukrainian state authorities: the person fills out an asylum application form and questionnaire and submits the asylum application documents to the Regional State Department of the State Migration Service (SMS). The official source does not state whether a request can be lodged at the border or through referral.
To apply for refugee status or complementary protection status in Ukraine, you must fill out an **asylum** **application form and questionnaire**.
An asylum seeker is a person who expressed their wish to apply for asylum through the submission of the asylum application documents to the state authorities.
For a step by step infographic (in six different languages) on how to submit an application to the Regional State Department of State Migration Service (SMS) as well as how to appeal a negative decision, please see below:
After the request, the State Migration Service (SMS) registers the application, determines identity, asks basic questions, and issues an asylum seeker certificate called a “dovidka”. The application is considered in three stages: the SMS decides whether to accept the application; if accepted, the person is invited for a personal interview and the SMS decides whether to take the case into full substantive review or reject it as inadmissible; if taken into full procedure, the “dovidka” is prolonged and additional interviews are held, and the SMS regional office sends the file with its recommendation to the SMS central office in Kyiv. The SMS central office makes a substantive assessment and a final decision within one to three months. If the application is rejected, the person has the right to appeal within five working days. UNHCR provides free legal aid to persons applying for refugee or complementary protection status through a network of NGO partners. The official source does not state how family members are handled.
The [State Migration Service (SMS)](https://help.unhcr.org/ukraine/where-to-seek-help/governmental-institutions/) will register your application, determine your identity, ask you some basic questions, and issue you with an asylum seeker certificate called a “dovidka”.
Your application will be considered in three stages: 1. The SMS takes a decision on whether to accept your application for international protection (refugee status or complementary protection status) or not. 2. If you are accepted for the procedure, you will be invited for a personal interview. After the interview, the SMS decides whether to take your case into a full substantive review, or to reject your case as inadmissible. If your case is taken into the full procedure, your “dovidka” will be prolonged and you will be invited for additional interviews. Within two to three months, the SMS regional office will send your file with its recommendation on your case to the SMS central office in Kyiv. 3. The SMS central office makes a substantive assessment and a final decision on your case will happen within one to three months.
If the SMS decides to reject your application for refugee status or complementary protection status, it will issue you a written notice. If you are rejected, you have the **right to appeal against this rejection within five working days**.
UNHCR provides free legal aid to persons applying for refugee or complementary protection status through a network of [NGO partners](https://help.unhcr.org/ukraine/where-to-seek-help/unhcr-partner-organisations/).
The State Migration Service of Ukraine is the authority entitled to grant international protection (refugee or complementary protection status) in Ukraine. UNHCR provides free legal and social services to persons who apply for asylum in Ukraine. UNHCR partner organisations provide more detailed information.
Only the State Migration Service of Ukraine is entitled to grant international protection (refugee or complementary protection status) in Ukraine.
UNHCR’s main objective in Ukraine is to assist the Government in protecting the rights of the asylum seekers and refugees as well as to provide free of charge legal and social services to persons who apply for asylum in Ukraine.
For more detailed information please refer to UNHCR Partner organizations.
These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.
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Not legal advice. No eligibility verdict or ranking. Check the linked sources before applying.