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To find organisations working for LGBTQI+ rights, visit our Ukraine LGBTQI+ Resources page.
For Ukraine country of origin information (COI) experts, reports, commentaries, and relevant documents visit our Ukraine COI page.
Refugee protection
Click here to see the numbers and origins of refugees hosted by Ukraine.
The following sections contain information on the most important international treaties and agreements of which Ukraine is signatory, as well as national legislation relevant to the protection of refugees.
Ukraine is a party to both the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees which provides the internationally recognised definition of a refugee and outlines the legal protection, rights and assistance a refugee is entitled to receive, and to its 1967 Protocol which expanded the Convention to apply universally and protect all persons fleeing conflict and persecution.
Ukraine has further acceded to the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons which established a framework for the international protection of stateless persons, and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness which set rules for the conferral and non-withdrawal of citizenship to prevent cases of statelessness from arising.
Ukraine is also a party to the 1997 European Convention on Nationality, which aims to establish a unified set of principles for acquiring, losing, and retaining nationality, particularly concerning statelessness and multiple nationality. Ukraine acceded to this Convention with reservations related to the non-application of the chapter covering military obligations in cases of multiple citizenship.
Ukraine has also ratified or acceded to several other international legal instruments that do not directly relate to refugee protection, but that ensure that the rights of potential refugees in Ukraine are protected, including the:
- International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which sets out protections for a wide range of human rights, including freedom from torture and other cruel, degrading or inhuman punishment, fair trial rights, equality, and non-discrimination
- International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), which ensures the enjoyment of economic, social, and cultural rights to education, fair and just working conditions, adequate standards of living, social security, and the highest attainable standard of health
- Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which protects children’s rights and obliges public bodies to consider children’s best interests
- Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), which sets out provisions to ensure women’s full enjoyment of human rights on an equal basis with men
- International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), which obliges signatories to take action to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination
- Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), which seeks to eliminate disability discrimination and safeguard the rights of disabled people
- Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT), which requires signatories to take effective measures to prevent acts of torture
In addition to its obligations under the aforementioned international instruments, Ukraine is obligated to respect the international customary legal principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits any country from deporting any person to a country where they face the threat of persecution.
In 2011, the government adopted the Law of Ukraine On the Legal Status of Foreigners and Stateless Persons (Law No. 3671-VI of 8 July 2011) and the Rules for the Consideration of Applications (Rules No. 649 of 7 September 2011), establishing a legal framework for migration in Ukraine. These rules define the legal status of foreigners and stateless persons staying in Ukraine and establish the procedure for their entry and exit to/from Ukraine.
The Refugee Status Determination process is managed by the State Migration Service of Ukraine (SMS or Державна міграційна служба України in Ukrainian).
The war in Ukraine has significantly hindered the ability of individuals to seek asylum within the country. The ongoing conflict has disrupted governmental operations and overwhelmed the existing asylum infrastructure, making it difficult for asylum seekers to access the necessary legal and administrative processes. Many government offices and institutions responsible for processing asylum claims have been affected by the hostilities, leading to delays and a backlog of applications. Additionally, the conflict has strained resources and diverted attention away from asylum-related issues, leaving many individuals in a state of uncertainty (see HIAS report here).
A detailed description of the asylum application process is available on the website of the SMS. We provide below a summary of the different steps:
Step 1: Application Submission
If you are seeking asylum in Ukraine, you must apply to territorial units of the SMS. If you entered the country legally you have five working days to apply. If you entered illegally, you should approach the State Border Guards immediately, and explain to them the reasons why you entered Ukraine illegally, and that you want to apply for asylum. After providing these explanations, your asylum application should be forwarded to the State Migration Service within 24 hours (please note the current situation in Ukraine may affect this timeframe).
Step 2: Document Issuance
When you apply, the SMS issues a certificate acknowledging your application for protection, which is valid for 1 month. This document proves your request and is essential for your legal stay in Ukraine during the processing period. The SMS registers your application and informs you about the next steps, your rights, and responsibilities. Fingerprinting is done to verify identity, and if necessary, age verification is performed to ensure accurate processing. In case the SMS refuses your application already at this stage, they will issue you a written notice containing the reasons for the refusal. You can appeal this decision within five working days; You are entitled to free legal aid provided by advocates of the Centres for Free Secondary Legal Aid operating all over Ukraine (reachable from Ukraine at 0 800 213 103).
If you choose to appeal the refusal, the SMS retains their documents and informs the relevant internal affairs body. This step maintains your legal status while the appeal is considered. If you do not appeal within five working days, the SMS withdraws the application certificate and returns identity documents, effectively closing the case.
Step 3: Initial Interview and Legal Assistance
Within 15 working days of registering your application, the SMS conducts an interview with you. This interview serves to present your case and provide additional information supporting your need for protection. If you do not speak Ukrainian or Russian, an interpreter is provided to ensure clear communication. You have the right to state-paid legal assistance, and you can request a lawyer to help you navigate the process.
Step 4: Decision on admissibility
After the interview, the SMS takes a decision whether to take your case into a full, substantive review, or to reject your case within about 15 working days. If the application is refused, you receive a written notification detailing the reasons for refusal and the procedure for appeal, which should be done within five working days (same process as for Step 2 above).
Step 5: Substantive assessment of the application
At this stage, the SMS will renew your certificate acknowledging your application for protection for another 6 months. The SMS will continue its investigation for which you should be fully cooperative (further interviews, examination of your identification documents, etc.). Within 2-3 months, the regional office of the SMS in charge of your file will send its recommendation to the central office in Kiev.
Final Decision
Within 1-3 months, the Central Migration Authority makes the final decision on whether to grant refugee status. This decision is based on a comprehensive evaluation of all documents and materials submitted. If recognised, you will be granted legal residency in Ukraine. In case of rejection of your application, you will need to appeal within five working days (Same process as for Step 2 above). The length of the appeal periods often vary depending on the process your application followed.
Certificate Issuance
Once a positive decision is made, the SMS issues a refugee certificate within 15 working days. This certificate is valid for five years and serves as the basis for your legal stay in Ukraine. It allows you to register with the SMS at their place of residence, ensuring you have access to necessary services and support.
Legal aid organisations
Website
Address: 57/1 Goncha St., Chernihiv, UA-14000, Ukraine
Tel: +380 462 675-281
Email: protection.ua@gmail.com
Chernihiv Public Committee for the Protection of Human Rights (CHGKZPL) is an NGO founded in 1999. They provide direct counselling assistance to refugees and migrants, arrange interpreters and lawyers; support with mediation activity; additional legal aid for migrants. They also prepare different human rights and information booklets for refugees and migrants, distributing information to promote legalisation of irregular migrants.
Website
Facebook
Tel: +380 44 333 42 95
Email: drc.ukraine@drc.ngo
The Danish Refugee Council is a humanitarian organisation that has been active in Ukraine since 2014. It has been involved in providing guidance and support on issues such as obtaining legal documentation, understanding and exercising rights, and navigating legal systems.
DRC’s operations have significantly expanded since February 24, 2022, in response to the escalation of conflict in the region. The DRC focuses on delivering lifesaving assistance and emergency responses to individuals affected by the war.
‘Edopomoha’ meaning ‘Help is there’ in Ukrainian is a dedicated virtual toolkit launched by the Danish Refugee Council Ukraine’s Legal Aid Team. The online platform allows people in need to access legal information and legal updates on Ukrainian and other legislations in relevant languages as well as to make a referral to free legal aid services in Ukraine and other countries.
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Tel: +38 (044) 363 10 41
Email: info@legalaid.gov.ua
Free Legal Aid is an organisation that provides legal support, fully or partially at the expense of the State Budget, local budgets, and other sources. The system of providing free legal aid unites a network of access points to legal assistance throughout Ukraine and offers legal services by phone and online. Applicants can receive free primary legal aid on any legal issues, including:
- Consultations with lawyers on legal matters.
- Explanations on how to exercise and protect your rights if they are violated.
- Assistance in drafting applications, complaints, and other legal documents.
- 21V Yaroslavska Street (Tsentralnyi Rynok Metro Station), Kharkiv – Pre-entry by phone +380 50 505 1415, +380 50 405 3015
- 4 Omeliana Pritsaka St. (arrival from Maksym Zalizniak St.), Kyiv, Ukraine – Admission by appointment only: +380 50 555 27 95, +380 75 330 10 31
Email: help@khpg.org
Human Rights in Ukraine is a registered charity that focuses on providing assistance to individuals whose rights have been infringed, and carrying out investigations into cases of human rights violation, developing human rights education and promoting legal awareness through public actions and publications, and providing analysis of the human rights situation in Ukraine (particularly with regard to political rights and civil liberties).
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Contact person: Oleksandr Galkin (A.Galkin@r2p.org.ua)
Addresses for free on-site legal advice open Monday-Friday 09:00–18:00
13 Shota Rustaveli St, 79005, Lviv
21/16 Hryhoriia Skovorody St. , 04070, Kyiv
4 Serpova Street, 61166, Kharkiv
Even during wartime, R2P remains active in their support of asylum seekers, continuously maintaining its focus on migrants and stateless persons. R2P provides advice on the procedure for foreigners’ stay in Ukraine, assists with applications for international protection in Ukraine, helps with appeals against refusals of the State Migration Service of Ukraine regarding refugee status, and assists with appeals against detention and placement in temporary accommodation centres for foreigners and stateless persons, imposition of administrative penalties, decisions on forced return and expulsion, and extradition.
Legal phone consultations for refugees are available from Monday to Friday from 9.00 to 18.00 at +38 (093) 038 95 62
Organisations providing other support to refugees
Website
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Address: Ozarkevycha str, 4, Lviv, Ukraine
Tel: 0 800 336 734
Email: secretary@caritas.ua
Caritas Ukraine provides food and hygiene packages to refugees detained at detention facilities and provides legal, social and medical assistance. They further provide legal and social assistance to refugees who are in the process of obtaining refugee status in Ukraine, temporary accommodation and work towards improving the dialogue between governmental bodies and other NGOs.
Website
Address: 3 Naberezhna Nezalezhnosti St., Mukachevo, Zakarpattya Region, Ukraine
Tel: +38 (098) 919-33-76 (Legal Aid Line), 0 800 308-300 (Hotline)
Email: info@neeka.org
The international fund of health and environment protection “Region Karpat”, or NEEKA (an abbreviation of the Hungarian name) is a branch of an international NGO established to assist with individual and social development. In Ukraine, NEEKA’s activities are focused mainly on providing social protection and aid to refugees, especially women, children and the elderly.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion, NEEKA has focused on supporting refugees and persons in need of additional protection in Ukraine whose vulnerabilities have been exacerbated by the war. Learn more about their current projects here.
Website
Address: 7 Chumaka St., Kyiv, 03065, Ukraine, P.O. Box 108
Tel: +38 093 736 36 34
Email: office@rokada.org.ua
ROKADA provides a variety of services for citizens, foreigners and local communities. For internally displaced and war-affected persons,they provide psychological support, consultation and basic necessities. For foreigners, they protect the rights of refugees from other countries, including structural advocacy work, provide psychosocial support and legal advice, promote adaptation and integration into Ukrainian society, and mobilise refugee communities in Ukraine.
Finally, they promote the development of communities through educational activities, the implementation of joint infrastructure projects with the involvement of displaced persons in the lives of host communities.
Website
Address: 01024, Kyiv, str. Yevhen Chykalenko 30
Tel: 0 800 332 656
Email: national@redcross.org.ua
The Ukrainian Red Cross is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the world’s largest humanitarian network. All national societies in the Movement can help you to trace family members who you have been separated from or who have gone missing due to conflict or natural disaster.
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Address: Velyka Vasylkivska Street, 6 “O”, Kyiv, Ukraine
Tel: +38 (044) 392 32 10
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Ukraine focuses on providing humanitarian assistance to those affected by conflict and violence. Their efforts include delivering essential supplies like food and water, offering medical support to hospitals and clinics, and ensuring the protection of civilians through advocacy and monitoring. The ICRC also works to reconnect families separated by conflict and educates communities about the dangers of landmines. Additionally, they assist in repairing critical infrastructure to restore essential services.
Ukraine LGBTQI+ Resources
Find organisations working for refugee LGBTQI+ rights in Ukraine.
Ukraine COI
Find Ukraine Country of Origin information (COI) experts, reports, commentaries, and relevant documents.
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Last updated November 2025
