The information on this page was collected from public resources and does not constitute legal advice.
General information on border crossing?To enter France, you must first cross the border through an EU country, for example Poland. Check the interactive map of waiting time at the countries that border with Ukraine here For specific questions regarding the border crossing, please contact the French embassy in Ukraine via ambafrance.org If you are already in one of the countries that border with Ukraine, please check the useful contacts below: Accordingly, we urge you to ensure that the border guards of the country through which you entered the Schengen area put a stamp on the border crossing in your passport (foreign, "domestic" or in the child's birth certificate), or obtain a certificate from them about crossing the border. Check for more information at visitukraine.today Chatbot to help Ukrainians around the world from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine The chatbot can simultaneously serve several users and provide advice on the most common questions, namely:
You can get help through the chatbot at the link In addition to the chatbot, citizens can also contact the call center at +38 (044) 224-57-20. |
What documents do I need to enter?If you left Ukraine because of the war after February 24, 2022, you can enter France under the following conditions: โข You are a Ukrainian citizen and have a document certifying your identity:
โข You are a Ukrainian resident with a valid residence permit or an identity card of a foreign resident in Ukraine. If you do not have a document proving your ID and citizenship, OR if you do not have a border crossing stamp/certificate issued by the border services, you need to contact the French Embassy in the first Schengen country you entered to obtain permission to enter France. โข Embassy of France in Poland (Warsaw): details in Ukrainian at pl.ambafrance.org Accordingly, we urge you to ensure that the border guards of the country through which you entered the Schengen area put a stamp on the border crossing in your passport (foreign, "domestic" or in the child's birth certificate), or obtain a certificate from them about crossing the border. The telephone number of the DPSU hotline ("Trust" Service) is 1598. You can use it for questions of a consultative nature within the competence of the State Border Service of Ukraine. For more information about the documents with which you can cross the border, and about the categories of citizens who are allowed to travel outside Ukraine, see here |
What happens after a border crossing?Information for those who have arrived in France and do not know where to go. 1. Night Shelter - open around the clock, every day; located at the Porte de la Villette Exhibition Center at 20 avenue de la Porte de la Villette, 75019 Paris 2. PREFECTURE OF POLICE - from Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; located at the Porte de la Villette Exhibition Center at 20 avenue de la Porte de la Villette, 75019 Paris โ Everyone who wants to apply for the status of Temporary Protection in France can apply here, i.e. obtain the first APS and who has an official address of residence/registration in the Ile-de-France region 3. Center for the reception of foreigners (CRE Charcot) - open from Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 42, rue Charcot, 75013 Paris โ citizens of Ukraine living in Paris can apply here to extend the status of Temporary Protection (APS) 4. State Agency for Immigration and Integration (OFII) - open from Monday to Friday, reception only after a meeting appointed by the agency itself; address 83 Rue de Patay, 75013 Paris โ This agency issues a card (carte ADA) to which assistance is transferred to Ukrainian citizens who have obtained the status of Temporary Protection (APS) 5. FTDA (France Terre d'Asil) - open from Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4 pm; located at the Porte de la Villette Exhibition Center at 20 avenue de la Porte de la Villette, 75019 Paris โ support on all issues of social assistance for citizens of Ukraine living in Paris โ distribution and resettlement in French regions of all citizens of Ukraine who decided to stay in France under the status of Temporary Protection. If you're Ukrainian you have a right to enter France and all the Schengen zone for 90 days without a visa. After that you have to apply for temporary protection to stay legally in France. If you are in transit in France you can refer to Red Cross If you'd like to stay in France you should first go to one of the reception points. Red Cross provides free transfers from Gare de l'Est to the reception points. You can call the emergency line of Red Cross at 0805 389 789. Outside of Paris you can find the closest reception point using Soliguide search Citizens of Ukraine are not recommended to apply for refugee status (asile), because temporary protection status better meets the needs of displaced Ukrainians and is obtained through a simplified procedure. For more details on the difference between temporary protection status and refugee status, see the link |
How can I get from the border to the capital (a certain town)?To travel by train Ukrainian refugees can receive 1 free train ticket per person (according to new stricter SNCF rules When you arrive at the station, you must go to a ticket window and present one of the documents below to get your free ticket: โข a passport or ID card issued by Ukraine The same conditions apply if you want to obtain a free return ticket to Ukraine. You can also travel by bus at your own expense. |
How can I travel to another (specific) country?To certain destinations you can receive a free train ticket: โข UK with Eurostar When you arrive at the station, you must go to a ticket window and present one of the documents below to get your free ticket: โข a passport or ID card issued by Ukraine To Belgium and the Netherlands you will no longer be able to receive a free ticket. To buy the ticket use Thalys |
How long can I stay?With a valid Ukrainian passport you can stay for 90 days in the Schenghen zone. For example, if you stayed for 30 days in Germany before coming to France you can only stay for 60 more days in France without further action required. Please note that Ukrainians staying in France for longer than 6 months must renew their right to temporary protection. More details at the link The EU migration calculator |
Where can an unaccompanied minor get help?If you're less than 18 years old and don't have a legal representative in France you're classified as an unaccompanied foreign minor ("mineurs non accompagnรฉs" or "MNA"). You can benefit from the special child protection measures. France then has the obligation to protect you until you reach adulthood (18 years old), even if you have not made an asylum application. As an unaccompanied minor, you have the right to make an asylum request. However, we usually advise unaccompanied minors to first start by requesting child protection from the ASE (Aide sociale ร lโenfance) of the department where you live through the police. Upon arrival in France you have to go to a commissariat, or a police department. In large cities commissariats are open 24/7. The police will provide you food and call social services. The social services will direct you to mission mineurs non accompagnรฉs (MMNA) - social centers for teenagers, where you will be accommodated. |
Are there any Covid-related requirements and if yes, what are they?There are no entry restrictions due to the COVID-19 coronavirus. From August 1, 2022, a vaccination certificate or a PCR test is not required to enter France. |
Where do I register for temporary protection?Ukrainians who found asylum in France can apply for temporary protection status. This can be done in a special center without prior appointment. However, this status must be renewed at another institution. Where to get temporary protection status for the first time? Address of the center: Paris Event Center 20, Avenue de la Porte de la Villette โ 75019 Paris Please pay attention to the fact that previously temporary protection had to be issued at a different address. In smaller towns you have to go to the closest Prefecture (see the map How to renew temporary protection? Temporary protection status is granted in France for six months. After the expiration date, it must be extended at the reception center for foreigners in Paris or at the prefecture at the place of residence, if the Ukrainian lives in another city in France. Address in Paris: Center de Reฬception des Etrangers (CRE) 42, Rue Charcot โ 75013 Paris. The center is open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. No prior appointment is required, but in case of many visitors, a staff member may ask you to come on another day. When to apply for renewal of status? You need to come to the CRE center no earlier than three weeks and no later than three days before the status expires. Necessary documents for obtaining and renewing the status of temporary protection While planning a visit to the center, be sure to prepare the following documents:
Please note! If you are hosted by an individual, you must provide the following documents:
More information can be found on the French Ministry of the Interior website |
How to extend the status of temporary protection?When to apply for extension of temporary protection status in France? From three weeks to three days - it is during this period before the expiration of the status that you need to submit an application for its extension. Pay attention! You should not extend your status before this period, because the prefecture will not consider your request. If you submit an application later than three days before it ends, the renewal of social rights will most likely be delayed. Can I apply for status extension online? Yes, you can apply online using this link Importantly! Each family member must fill out a separate form. After filling out, you will receive an invitation to the prefecture. During the visit, the old document will be exchanged for a new one and an OFII application form will be issued, according to which you will continue to receive assistance. You can find the prefecture by your place of residence on the interactive map What documents are required to extend temporary protection in France? Before filling out the form on the website, prepare:
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What are my rights while I wait to get temporary protection?If you are eligible temporary protection will be granted you immediatelly. It can take several weeks to start receiving your financial aid. โข A right to stay in France ; More information at welcometofrance.com You will receive an emergency housing for one or two nights until waiting for social housing. Depending on your personal situation and housing availability you will be directed to different regions of France where you can first receive temporary housing for a few weeks or months until you'll be granted a permament place. You can also rent social housing at discounted rates through the CAF (caisses dโAllocations familiales) program. More information on how to apply for the housing at a discounted rate is caf.fr |
What documents will I receive once I get temporary protection?โข a temporary residence permit, APS (Autorisation Provisioire de Sรฉjour), valid for 6 months. To extend it you will have to go to OFII 1-2 months before the expiration date. More information at interieur.gouv.fr |
May I temporarily return to Ukraine? What will happen to my protection status?A short-term trip to Ukraine from France will not lead to the cancellation of the residence permit and the loss of rights associated with this status. Certain rules should be followed for smooth departure and return:
If you want to return to Ukraine, then most likely you will have to buy a train or bus ticket with your own money. |
What should be done before coming to Ukraine?Relinquish temporary protection status: Regardless of the country of residence, temporary protection must be waived. Your status will be revoked by the state body or institution where you issued the documents. However, citizens of Ukraine can re-obtain this status if they decide to return abroad. Make sure your documents are valid: Citizens who left Ukraine with a valid foreign passport will not face any difficulties. The expired document can be extended in diplomatic institutions for another five years - this decision was made by the Cabinet of Ministers, because it is not possible to issue biometrics abroad. You can also add a child's data to an adult's passport. Ukrainians who have only an internal passport or who left Ukraine without documents should also contact the embassy or consulate. Employees of the institution will issue a special document - an identity card for returning to Ukraine (it is not necessary to pay the consular fee during martial law). Cancel receiving cash assistance abroad: When returning home, refugees cannot receive state benefits. If you do not notify the relevant institution about your departure from the country, it will be considered an offence. In such a case, a Ukrainian may be fined or even banned from entering the country. By the way, it is not necessary to declare cash payments received abroad in Ukraine. |
Can I move around the country and the European Union freely while under temporary protection?Yes, while under temporary protection you have the right to move to another EU country, before the issuance of a residence permit as well as the right to move freely in EU countries (other than the EU country of residence) for 90 days within a 180-day period after a residence permit in the host EU country is issued. More information at ec.europa.eu |
Can I apply for asylum while under temporary protection? What is the difference?Yes, you can, but it is not advised, since the temporary protection status can be obtained via a faster process and has more benefits than asylum. A demand for asylum can take months to be processed, while you can get a temporary protection on the spot. For more details on the difference between temporary protection status and refugee status, see the link |
How and where can I apply for the residency?To apply for a temporary residence permit (โautorisation provisoire de sรฉjourโ) you need to go to your local Prefecture (or to the reception center in large cities). You will need to provide the following documents: โข A form to request the temporary protection (can be downloaded here |
How long I need to wait to get the residency?A temporary residence permit and medical insurance will be issued to you on the spot. |
What if I don't have the international passport?You don't need one to enter France. It it sufficient if you have a national ID AND a border crossing mark / border crossing certificate issued by the border services. If you do not have at least one of those you should contact the French Embassy in the first Schengen country you entered to obtain permission to enter France. โข Embassy of France in Poland (Warsaw): pl.ambafrance.org It is therefore essential that you to ensure that the border guards of the country through which you entered the Schengen area put a stamp on the border crossing in your passport (foreign, "domestic" or in the child's birth certificate), or issue a certificate about crossing the border. More information at visitukraine.today |
How to issue a foreign passport while abroad?In order to issue a foreign passport, you need to contact the Ukrainian Embassy 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:
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?
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 France? In order for Ukrainians to return home with a child born in the France, they must have with them:
Is the status of a citizen of Ukraine preserved during the birth of a child in the France? A newborn Ukrainian in the France 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. The rules for obtaining citizenship in France for children are quite complex, but parents do not have to have residency. A child born in the country can acquire citizenship after reaching the age of 13. At the same time, she has to live most of her life in the country. |
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 France, so you can register the death. Ukrainian embassy 2. Arrange the correct documents. Youโll 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:
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 French 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 |
Where can I take a photo for my documents?You can find photo machines in most cities ("photomatons") |
Where can I translate my documents?Translators from Ukrainian / Russian: annuaire-traducteur-assermente.fr General certified translation agencies: For general translation you can request help by submitting this form |
How do I get Mobile phone/internet services?Bouygues Telecom is providing free SIM cards to refugees arriving in France and is sending mobile devices to Ukraine. From 24 Feb. 2022 international calls, SMS and MMS sent from Bouygues Telecom network in mainland France to Ukrainian numbers are free of charge. More information here Cheap prepaid sim cards: Lycamobile at lycamobile.ua/uk |
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