Between the end of temporary protection and a new status: what decisions will Ukrainians in Sweden have to make?
More than a hundred thousand Ukrainians who found refuge in Sweden after the outbreak of full-scale war are gradually approaching the point at which their legal status in the country will need to be re-defined. The temporary protection mechanism introduced by the European Union to respond urgently to mass displacement of people has a clearly defined period of validity.
Termination of temporary protection for Ukrainian citizens
According to the decision of the European Union, the Directive on temporary protection for Ukrainian citizens will expire on March 4, 2027. For Sweden, which as a member state is obliged to implement European law, this means the termination of the legal regime of the massflyktsdirektiv, within the framework of which Ukrainians received the right to residence, access to work, education and basic social services. The end of this program does not mean a one-time eviction or automatic loss of all rights, but creates a situation in which people need to decide in advance on another legal path for their continued stay in the country.
The temporary protection mechanism, introduced after the start of the Russian invasion in 2022, allowed European Union countries to quickly grant asylum to a large number of people without conducting a complex individual application review procedure. In Swedish law, this status is known as tällälft skydd and is based on the EU directive on mass influx of refugees.
The main feature of this system was a collective protection procedure that did not require proof of individual persecution or personal danger. The very fact of forced departure from a country where war is ongoing was recognized as a sufficient argument. Thanks to this mechanism, tens of thousands of Ukrainians have been able to quickly legalize their stay in Sweden, obtain a temporary residence document and access basic state services.
At the same time, temporary protection was considered a short-term solution from the very beginning. The time spent in Sweden with this status is not included in the period of residence required to obtain a permanent residence permit, which creates a special situation for those who plan to stay in the country for a longer period.
What will happen until March 2027
For Ukrainians who have received a permit to stay under temporary protection, the coming years do not foresee any drastic changes. The Swedish Migration Agency, Migrationsverket, has confirmed that all permits issued before the end of 2026 will be automatically extended until 4 March 2027. This means that a new application is not required, as the extension is done administratively.
In most cases, the agency will send status holders a notification and a new UT-kort card, which confirms the right to reside. An administrative fee of 400 Swedish kronor is required for its issuance. People who wish to receive an updated document earlier or need confirmation of status for an employer or other institutions can submit an appropriate application through the electronic service on the Migrationsverket website.
The application procedure includes standard requirements, including the presence of an identity document, confirmation of stay in Ukraine until February 24, 2022, as well as biometric data already contained in the migration agency’s database.
Legal situation after the end of the program
After March 2027, Ukrainians staying in Sweden on the basis of temporary protection will have to choose another legal mechanism to extend their stay. The main difficulty is that the time spent in the country under this status does not count towards the length of stay required to obtain a permanent residence permit, known as permanent uppehållstillstånd.
In comparison, refugees who receive individual asylum can apply for permanent status after several years of residence in the country. For temporary protection holders, the process actually starts from scratch, which requires planning and preparing documents long before the program ends.
Despite this circumstance, Swedish legislation provides for several real ways to legalize further stay.
Individual asylum as an opportunity to obtain long-term protection
One option remains to apply for individual asylum. This mechanism involves a detailed examination of the applicant’s personal history and an assessment of the risks that may arise if they return to their country of origin.
A person must prove that their safety is at risk due to persecution, political circumstances, membership of a particular social group, or because the region of their residence remains a zone of active hostilities or occupation. The decision is made after an individual interview and analysis of the evidence provided.
According to various estimates, the chances of a positive decision can be approximately twenty to forty percent, and they largely depend on the region of origin of the applicant. People from territories that are under occupation or regularly under attack have more grounds for protection.
Receiving asylum opens up the possibility of gradually moving to permanent status after several years of residence, provided that integration requirements are met, which include knowledge of the Swedish language and a proven stable income.
Work permit as a practical path to legalization
For those Ukrainians who have already integrated into the Swedish labor market, obtaining a work permit may be a more realistic option. This procedure requires an employment contract with a Swedish employer and an appropriate salary level that meets the minimum requirements of the social security system.
An important change in Swedish law was the decision to allow temporary protection holders to apply for a work permit without having to leave the country. Previously, a similar procedure required obtaining a permit outside Sweden, which created significant difficulties for those who had already worked in the country.
After obtaining a work permit, a person can gradually accumulate the necessary length of residence and work, which paves the way for a permanent residence permit after about four years, provided that they have a stable income and knowledge of the language.
Possible new transition mechanisms
In 2025, the Swedish government presented a proposal to create a special transition program for people who have lived in the country for several years on the basis of temporary protection and were able to integrate into society. These are those who have a job or a stable income, whose children attend Swedish schools, and who already speak the language at a basic level.
The final rules for this program are still being developed. It is expected that the specific application conditions and selection criteria will be published in late 2026 or early 2027, when it will become clear how Sweden plans to resolve the issue of the future status of Ukrainians.
What to do in advance
Preparing for the end of the temporary protection program requires several practical steps that allow you to avoid legal uncertainty. First of all, it is important to check the validity of your residence permit via the electronic service “Mina sidor” on the Migrationsverket website.
The next step is to prepare documents, including a passport, employment contract, income certificates and proof of Swedish language learning, such as SFI certificates or language test results.
It is also important to determine in advance which of the possible statuses is the most realistic in a particular situation, since the consideration of the application can take from several months to a year. If the documents are submitted before the end of temporary protection, the applicant receives a special document that allows him to legally stay and work in the country until the decision is made.
Consequences of inaction
The absence of any action before the end of temporary protection may lead to legal restrictions. Ukrainians risk losing access to the social insurance system, municipal assistance and other forms of state support.
Although the Swedish authorities have not announced the preparation of mass deportations of Ukrainians, staying without a valid status may create a difficult situation in which access to housing, work and social services will be gradually limited. Therefore, it is necessary to plan and prepare documents in advance, because the issue of further status in Sweden is not resolved automatically, but through specific legal procedures.
