The International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) provides free legal help to some refugees and displaced people.
- IRAP helps some people find services and prepare refugee and visa applications.
- IRAP is not part of any government, IOM, or UNHCR.
- IRAP cannot grant refugee status or visas or speed up cases.
- IRAP cannot provide financial help, find or pay for housing, or find jobs.
- All of IRAP’s help is free. No one affiliated with IRAP has the right to ask you for money or any other service.
IRAP decides to help people based on their need and eligibility for immigration status. IRAP does not decide to help people based on any other social or political or religious criteria.
This website provides general information about legal processes available to some refugees. It is not meant as legal advice for individual applications.
Requirements may change. Always check for current requirements from the government or agency deciding your request.
If you are in a refugee emergency, we recommend that you contact the UNHCR office in the country where you live.
NOTE: This information is affected by new policies as of January 20, 2025 and will be updated soon.
Introduction
This guide is for people of all nationalities who have fled the war in Ukraine. It is available in Ukrainian and Russian. This is the only guide available in those languages on our website. If you want to check other guides please use the English, Spanish, Arabic, Persian, or Pashto version of the website.
If you are a citizen of Ukraine, you can enter countries in the Schengen area, or Romania or Moldova, without a visa. You can stay in these countries for up to 90 days. Information about entering these countries is below. If you are in a country in the European Union, you will be able to apply for temporary protection status, which will allow you to stay longer in that country. More information about this status is below.
If you are not a Ukrainian citizen but are fleeing the conflict in Ukraine, you can also enter the below countries that neighbor Ukraine. This admission may be temporary (for example, to allow you to arrange to return to your home country). You may also be able to apply for a longer-term status, like temporary protection or asylum, if you had residency in Ukraine or are unable to return to your home country. This depends on what your legal status was in Ukraine and whether you are able to return to your home country. More information about temporary protection status is below. If you do not want to return to your home country, you may want to seek legal advice from one of the organizations below.
Temporary Protection Status in the European Union for individuals fleeing Ukraine
The countries of the European Union have agreed to grant temporary protection status to Ukrainian citizens, permanent residents of Ukraine who are unable to return to their home country, and their family members. People who get this status will get a residence permit for at least one year. Each EU Member State will have its own rules for how to access this status.
Hungary
If you are fleeing the conflict in Ukraine, you are allowed to enter Hungary. No visas are required. If you do not have a passport, you should be allowed to enter, but you may need to wait longer at the border.
For more information on the situation in Hungary for people fleeing the war in Ukraine, see the resources below:
UNHCR’s website (in English) and UNHCR’s website (in Ukrainian) have a list of other organizations that may be able to provide legal and other assistance to refugees and asylum seekers in Hungary.
You may also wish to seek assistance from the following organizations:
- Hungarian Helsinki Committee (website in English). Legal assistance in the asylum process.
- Menedék Hungarian Association for Migrants (website in English, Ukrainian, Russian).
- Hungarian Red Cross (website in English). Humanitarian assistance and Restoring Family Links (serving for finding missing loved ones).
Moldova
If you are fleeing the conflict in Ukraine, you are allowed to enter Moldova. No visas are required. If you do not have a passport, you should be allowed to enter, but you may need to wait longer at the border.
For further information on the process in Moldova for people fleeing the war in Ukraine, see the resources below:
- Moldovan government website on assistance for people entering Moldova from Ukraine (in English)
- Hotline of the Moldovan Bureau for Migration and Asylum: +373 (0) 8000 15 27
- Guide for refugees from Ukraine in Moldova (website in Russian)
You may also wish to seek assistance from the following organizations.
- The Law Center of Advocates (LCA / Centrul de Drept al Avocatilor) (website in English). Legal aid in the asylum process.
- The Law Center of Advocates (LCA / Centrul de Drept al Avocatilor) (website in Ukrainian).
- The Law Center of Advocates (LCA / Centrul de Drept al Avocatilor) (website in Russian).
- Charity Center for Refugees in Moldova (website in English). Social assistance and other services for refugees and asylum seekers.
- Moldovan Red Cross (website in English). Restoring Family Links (service for finding missing loved ones).
- Moldovan Red Cross (website in Russian). Restoring Family Links (service for finding missing loved ones).
Poland
If you are fleeing the conflict in Ukraine, you are allowed to enter Poland. No visas are required. If you do not have a passport or other identification document, you should be allowed to enter, but you may need to wait longer at the border. If you don’t have a place to stay in Poland, the Polish government is providing temporary housing and humanitarian assistance.
For further information on the process in Poland for people fleeing the war in Ukraine, see the resources below:
- List of reception points in Poland (in English, Ukrainian, Russian, Polish). Registration at a reception point is not required. You only need to go to a reception point if you do not have a place to stay in Poland or if you need assistance.
- Information points have been established in train stations of most major cities. If you need information or require on-site assistance, please go to the nearest information center. List of information points here in English.
If you are an asylum seeker/refugee, regardless of your nationality and status, you may benefit from the assistance of the following organizations in Poland.
Humanitarian and other assistance:
- List of Humanitarian Organizations in Poland (website in Polish)
- Polish Red Cross (website in Polish) / Polish Red Cross Contacts List (website in Polish)
Legal counseling/aid services:
-
General:
- The Ministry of Justice runs a network of free legal assistance points in most major cities (including in Ukrainian). List of free legal assistance points (in Polish).
- If you speak Polish, you may also seek assistance from the general network of free legal assistance points run by the Ministry.
- Most law schools also offer free legal assistance to those fleeing Ukraine, please check their respective websites for details.
-
Asylum and Legal Stay:
- Stowarzyszenie Interwencji Prawnej (SIP) (Association for Legal Intervention (website in English). Legal aid to people fleeing Ukraine.
-
Halina Nieć Legal Aid Center (website in English). Legal aid to asylum seekers in Krakow and at the Belarus/Poland border.
- Halina Nieć Legal Aid Center (website in Russian). Legal aid to asylum seekers in Krakow.
- Fundacja Ocalenie (website in English). Legal aid centers in Warsaw and Łomża, and remote counseling. Interpretation in various languages available.
- The Rule of Law Institute Foundation (website in English). Legal aid in Lublin region; counseling in Dari/Farsi, Arabic, Russian, and English.
- Warsaw University Student Legal Clinic (website in Polish).
- Jagiellonian University Human Rights Student Legal Clinic (website in Polish). Legal assistance for Ukrainian citizens; assistance provided in English, Russian, German, and French.
- Restoring Family Links (service for finding missing loved ones):
-
Discrimination Cases:
- Homo Faber (website in English). Advice available in English and Ukrainian.
- Homo Faber (website in Ukrainian).
- Homo Faber (website in Russian).
Psychosocial assistance:
- Polish Migration Forum (website in English, Russian, Polish). Psychological assistance and integration services. Services available in Ukrainian and Russian.
- Fundacja Ocalenie (website in English). Psychosocial assistance in Warsaw and Łomża. Interpretation in various languages available.
UNHCR contacts:
- Additional information from UNHCR is available on the UNHCR Poland website (in English).
Disability support:
Generally available services:
- Please be advised that as a person fleeing the war in Ukraine you are eligible for free access to the public healthcare system in Poland. If you need medical help, visit the nearest medical office or a hospital and you will be assisted free of charge. Please find details on the official website of the Health Ministry (in Polish).
- The Polish Railway (public PKP Intercity & TLK) has announced that Ukrainian citizens can travel with its trains free of charge (information about free train travel available here in Polish). Not all private and municipal railway operators offer free travel. Some major cities have also announced the same for their public transportation systems. You should ask the local information point before you use public transportation without payment.
- If you need assistance that is not listed above or cannot be provided in a reasonable time, consider requesting help from the dedicated community on Facebook. Please be aware of fraudulent assistance attempts and do not give your documents or goods to people you do not know.
Romania
If you are fleeing the conflict in Ukraine, you are allowed to enter Romania. No visas are required. If you do not have a passport, you should be allowed to enter, but you may need to wait longer at the border.
For further information on the process in Romania for people fleeing the war in Ukraine, see the resources below:
- Code for Romania guide for people entering Romania from Ukraine (in English)
- Code for Romania guide for people entering Romania from Ukraine (in Ukrainian)
- Code for Romania guide for people entering Romania from Ukraine (in Russian)
- Romanian government website on assistance for people entering Romania from Ukraine (in English)
- Guide for refugees from Ukraine in Moldova (in Russian) (including information on entry to Romania and services in Romania).
UNHCR Romania’s website (in English) has a list of other organizations that may be able to provide legal and other assistance to refugees and asylum seekers in Romania.
You may also wish to seek assistance from the following organizations.
- Romanian National Council for Refugees (website in English). Legal assistance in the asylum process.
- Romanian Red Cross (website in English). Humanitarian assistance and Restoring Family Links (serving for finding missing loved ones).
Slovakia
If you are fleeing the conflict in Ukraine, you are allowed to enter Slovakia. No visas are required. If you do not have a passport, you should be allowed to enter, but you may need to wait longer at the border.
For further information on the process set up by the Slovak government for people fleeing the war in Ukraine, see the resources below:
UNHCR Slovakia’s website (in English) has a list of other organizations that may be able to provide legal and other assistance to refugees and asylum seekers in Slovakia.
You may also wish to seek assistance from the following organizations.
- Legal assistance in the asylum process:
- Centre for Legal Aid (website in English).
- Human Rights League (website in English).
- Slovak Humanitarian Council (website in Slovak).
- Humanitarian assistance:
- Slovak Humanitarian Council (website in Slovak).
- Slovak Red Cross (website in Slovak). Humanitarian assistance and Restoring Family Links (serving for finding missing loved ones).