Does temporary protection allow free travel if visa-free days are over?

The visa-free entry regime to many European countries for Ukrainians since 2022 has played an important role. With its help, many families have found safe shelter abroad and were able to get their lives back on track. The issue of crossing borders is still relevant for citizens with temporary protection status. Its validity has been extended by many EU countries. Will it affect the ability to travel around Europe, and what changes are predicted for 2025, we will discuss in this article.

Temporary protection status in 2024

Ukrainian refugees, entering the EU, receive temporary protection status, on the basis of which they can legally reside, use medical and educational services, and find employment. The status is assigned for 1 year with the possibility of extension. In the current period, temporary protection is valid until the beginning of March 2025.
According to the current rules, Ukrainian refugees can enjoy most social benefits on an equal basis with Polish citizens. At the same time, they are entitled to free accommodation in social housing with meals, and assistance from charitable organizations.

At the same time, many countries carefully monitor compliance with the norms of behavior of refugees. In particular, they may be deprived of temporary protection status in the event of a long absence from the country of residence. Such risks threaten people leaving a European country for a period of more than 3 months.

Features of the visa-free regime for Ukrainians during the war period

Registration of the temporary protection status "ukr" does not affect the conditions of the visa-free regime. According to them, citizens of Ukraine have the right to freely enter the countries of the Schengen zone without additional permits.

The visa-free rules provide the right to stay in European countries for 90 days for every six months. To determine the available visa-free days, you can use the online Schengen calculator located on the EU information website. When calculating, it is important to remember that the visa-free period is not reset at the beginning of the calendar year, but is calculated within a flexible period of 180 days.

Features of Traveling with Temporary Protection

Ukrainian citizens with temporary protection status should remember that it does not replace a Schengen visa. The status allows travel within the Schengen zone for short periods of up to 90 days. To settle in a new European country for a long period, a person must obtain a special permit or a new temporary protection status. In this case, the temporary residence permit in the previous country is cancelled. You should notify government agencies of your decision to move in advance.

If the visa-free period (90 days) has expired, you must take the following steps:

• apply for a Schengen visa using the standard procedure;
• extend temporary protection;
• check the rules of stay in the destination country on the websites of the migration service and embassy, ​​as they may differ in different European countries.

The above procedures are simplified for Ukrainian refugees given their difficult social situation, lack of access to some documents and regulatory authorities. Most processes can be completed remotely electronically.

A biometric passport gives the right to travel without a visa. If the document is of a standard type, upon entry into the Schengen area the border service must issue a short-term visa for 15 days.

Consequences of overstaying the visa-free regime

Refugee status does not cancel the rules for crossing the European border. Ukrainian citizens are advised to closely monitor the permitted period of stay in Schengen, as well as promptly renew the status of temporary protection. Violation of the rules is fraught with fines, difficulties in obtaining a visa in the future, up to a temporary ban on entry into the Schengen countries.

A new electronic system for crossing the European border ETIAS will be launched in 2025. The updated rules will apply to all citizens of countries that are not part of the Schengen Agreement. According to it, to enter the EU, you must submit an electronic application and pay a one-time fee of 7 euros.

Read also: The best European countries for employment of Ukrainians

How to travel around the EU with Polish temporary protection status

When leaving Poland for a period exceeding 30 days, a Ukrainian loses temporary protection "ukr", the reasons for staying in the country and all benefits, allowances are canceled. The period of free stay in temporary accommodation centers will be reduced to 120 days. After their expiration, you will have to partially pay for accommodation: in the period from 120 to 180 days - in the amount of 50% of the total cost, and over 180 days - cover 75% of housing costs. Social benefits for Ukrainians will also be gradually abolished - family benefits, free medicine and access to educational services.

You can live in Poland without the status of "ukr" - on the basis of a residence card, visa or under the terms of a visa-free travel. The validity of the permit is currently extended until September 30, 2025. At the same time, from the date of departure from Poland, it will be canceled and you will have to re-issue documents to visit the country again. For this reason, it is recommended to obtain the "Ukr" status in order to travel freely around Europe for a month, provided that you have a biometric passport and a DIIA.pl form. The latter is an identity card for Ukrainians with the status of a refugee who left Ukraine due to a full-scale invasion. It gives the right to travel around the Schengen countries, based on the following legal grounds:

• official clarification from the Polish border service, posted on their website;
• notification of European border services that the DIIA.pl certificate is one of the types of temporary residence permits that must be recognized by all EU countries, guided by Appendix 22 of the Schengen Border Guidelines.

According to the rules of the Special Statute, it is impossible to overstay a visa-free stay while in Poland, since its deadline is approved at the legislative level. Problems with legal stay are possible if you stay in another Schengen country for more than 30 days. During this time, according to Polish regulations, the temporary protection status will be cancelled, which will be reflected in the DIIA.pl certificate. Thus, the foreigner will lose the residence permit and will switch to a visa-free regime lasting 90 days minus the days already spent. Exceeding the 90-day period will mark the beginning of an illegal stay abroad. Therefore, it is important to legalize yourself in one of the European countries during the remaining visa-free period or renew the temporary protection status in Poland by submitting a second application.

Since DIIA.pl, like other types of residence permits (residence cards in Poland for work, study, entrepreneurship, family reunification) are documents for long-term stay in the country, and visa-free travel is for short-term stay, then living in Poland with temporary protection status does not affect the duration of the available visa-free travel. Its duration is reset every 90 days, providing the opportunity to travel around Europe again for no more than 30 days with a return to Poland.