Requesting temporary protection
Last update
Temporary protection status is a specific protection status applied at EU level for people who have fled the war in Ukraine. It is available to anyone who was a resident of Ukraine before 24 February 2022 and who arrived in Luxembourg on or shortly before 24 February 2022.
Who is concerned
Temporary protection is applicable to displaced persons from Ukraine since 24 February 2022 as a result of the military invasion by the Russian armed forces that began on that date, and who fall into one of the following categories:
- Ukrainian nationals residing in Ukraine before 24 February 2022;
- stateless persons, and nationals of third countries other than Ukraine, who were granted international protection or equivalent national protection in Ukraine before 24 February 2022;
- family members of the persons referred to in points 1. and 2., irrespective of the nationality of the family members.
The following are considered family members insofar as the family was already present and residing in Ukraine before 24 February 2022:- a person's spouse;
- the unmarried minor children of the persons referred to in points 1. or 2., or their spouse, whether they are legitimate, born out of wedlock or adopted;
- other close relatives who were living in the family unit at the time of the circumstances surrounding the mass influx of displaced persons and who were wholly or mainly dependent on a person referred to in points 1. or 2.;
- stateless persons and nationals of third countries other than Ukraine, who can prove that they were legally residing in Ukraine before 24 February 2022 on the basis of a valid residence permit issued in accordance with Ukrainian law, and who are unable to return to their country or region of origin in safe and durable conditions.
Prerequisites
To be eligible for temporary protection, the person must have been resident in Ukraine before 24 February 2022 and must have left the country since 24 February 2022, or shortly before (i.e. persons who fled Ukraine shortly before 24 February 2022, when tensions were rising, or who found themselves in the territory of the Union (e.g. on holiday or for professional reasons) just before that date and who, due to the armed conflict, are unable to return to Ukraine).
Excluded persons
The following persons may be excluded from temporary protection:
- persons where there are serious reasons for considering that:
- they have committed a crime against peace, a war crime or a crime against humanity, as defined in the international instruments drawn up to make provision in respect for such crimes;
- they have committed a serious crime under ordinary law outside the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg before being admitted as beneficiaries of temporary protection;
- they have been guilty of acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations;
- persons where there are reasonable grounds for regarding them as a danger to national security or, having been convicted by a final sentence for a particularly serious crime, that they constitute a threat to the community of Luxembourg.
How to proceed
Submitting the application
All displaced persons arriving in Luxembourg from Ukraine are requested to contact the General Department of immigration of the Ministry of Home Affairs by submitting their personal details on a form.
The personal data form is available under 'Online services and forms.
Subsequently, in order to submit their application for temporary protection, the persons concerned will receive a summons with which they have to present themselves at the 'Guichet Unique Ukraine', located at 12-14, avenue Emile Reuter in Luxembourg, which is open every Thursday from 8.00 to 11.30. They must come in person, and present their identity documents.
During the appointment, the personal data of the applicant will be recorded. The conditions for granting temporary protection are also checked by the General Department of immigration and identity checks are carried out by the Grand Ducal Police.
If the conditions for granting temporary protection are met, a provisional temporary protection certificate is issued. The beneficiary of temporary protection must then request an appointment with the General Department of immigration in order to obtain a biometric card. These documents allow its holder to remain on Luxembourg territory, but do not confer a right of residence in accordance with the legislation on the entry and residence of foreigners.
Validity period
The temporary protection document is valid until 4 March 2026.
Format of the document issued to show the temporary protection status
Beneficiaries of temporary protection already present in Luxembourg
These individuals currently hold a certificate printed on secure paper, which remains valid until its expiry date of 4 March 2025. In the coming weeks, these individuals will receive a letter containing information on the procedures to be followed to renew their temporary protection and to obtain a new document in the form of a biometric card. For administrative and technical reasons, these letters will be sent in several batches between 29 November 2024 and 7 February 2025. Biometric cards will be valid from 5 March 2025.
Beneficiaries of temporary protection arriving on or after 5 December 2024
As soon as they obtain their status, beneficiaries of temporary protection will have to start the procedure to obtain a biometric card. The card is valid from the date their status is granted. While they wait for their biometric card and in order to prove their status as beneficiaries of temporary protection, the beneficiaries will receive the following documents:
- the agreement of the temporary protection; and
- a certificate printed on secure paper that is valid for a limited period of 2 months.
Rights granted
Beneficiaries of temporary protection are exempted from applying for a temporary work permit and can therefore freely access the Luxembourg labour market without the need for a specific permit, for as long as their temporary protection is valid. The persons concerned can also register as job seekers with the National Employment Agency (Agence pour le développement de l'emploi - ADEM).
Children also have the right to access the education system (Pdf, 127 Kb) under the same conditions as Luxembourg residents. School attendance is mandatory in Luxembourg between the ages of 4 and 18. Information on the schooling of children is available from the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth.
Beneficiaries of temporary protection have access to the material reception conditions provided by the National Reception Office (Office national de l’accueil - ONA), including accommodation, food and clothing, as well as a monthly allowance and access to medical care.
Beneficiaries of temporary protection may apply for family reunification with their family members who were granted temporary protection in another Member State as well as with their family members who have not yet entered the territory of a Member State.
Beneficiaries of temporary protection may renounce this protection at any time in order to return voluntarily to their country of origin. In this case, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg will take the necessary measures to make this return possible.
Beneficiaries of temporary protection also have the possibility to apply for international protection at any time.
Online services and forms
Who to contact
-
Ministry of Home Affairs General Department of immigration - Department for refugees
- Address:
-
26, route d'Arlon
L-1140
Luxembourg
Luxembourg
B.P. 752 L-2017 Luxembourg
- Phone:
-
(+352) 247 84565
from 9.00 - 12.00 and 14.00 - 16.00
- Fax:
- (+352) 247 84050
- Email address:
- immigration.asile@mai.etat.lu
Closed ⋅ Opens tomorrow at 8.30
- Wednesday:
- 8.30 to 12.00
- Thursday:
- 8.30 to 12.00
- Friday:
- 8.30 to 12.00
- Saturday:
- Closed
- Sunday:
- Closed
- Monday:
- 8.30 to 12.00
- Tuesday:
- 8.30 to 12.00
Service for new arrivals: Monday to Friday from 8.30 - 12.00; Extension desk: only by appointment.
Related procedures and links
Procedures
Links
Further information
-
Arrivals in Luxembourg - Ukraine
on the website of the Ministry of Family Affairs, Solidarity, Living Together and Reception of Refugees
-
L’Éducation nationale accueille les élèves ukrainiens
on the website of the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth
Documents
Pdf • 127 Kb
