What awaits Ukrainian refugees in Europe in 2025?

  • December 26, 2024
What awaits Ukrainian refugees in Europe in 2025?

The war has forced millions of Ukrainians to leave their homes in search of safety. Europe has become the place where people have found refuge, but over time the conditions of being in the country are changing. Definitely 2025 will bring legislative and social changes that will have a significant impact on the lives of Ukrainians in Europe. It is worth familiarizing yourself in advance with the key innovations and how these changes will affect everyday life.

Government initiatives planned for next year in some European countries may both simplify the life of some refugees and create new difficulties due to tighter restrictions or new requirements. What exactly are the challenges and opportunities awaiting Ukrainian citizens in Europe next year?

Poland: new CUKR card for Ukrainians

Poland remains the country with almost the largest number of Ukrainian refugees. The authorities continue to develop new schemes to regulate the situation of Ukrainians staying in the country on the basis of PESEL UKR. 

The key innovation for 2025 will be the CUKR household card, which will effectively replace the current temporary UKR-type status. CUKR is an updated document that allows Ukrainian refugees to:

  • get employed without additional documents, which significantly simplifies the conditions for finding a job;
  • obtain official status on the territory of Poland for three years.

The introduction of this document is a response to the long-term challenges associated with the influx of Ukrainians and the desire to systematize their legal status. In order to obtain the CUKR status, it is necessary to first obtain a PESEL UKR, current as of 04.03.2024. This condition is key for the consideration of the application. The paperwork will be processed only through an online platform, which is currently being developed by the Polish government. 

An important change is also the limitation on the maximum period of stay of Ukrainians outside Poland. Those who receive a CUKR card will be able to leave the country, but their absence should not exceed six months within a year. If this period is violated, the document may lose its validity. Citizens of Ukraine with PESEL UKR may reside in Poland legally until 09.2025.  

Germany: changes in social benefits and tightening of requirements

The German government plans to introduce a number of innovations aimed at improving integration and encouraging able-bodied refugees to actively seek employment. Germany provides Ukrainians with social payments in the form of “Bürgergeld”, the amount of which depends on the category of persons:

  • from 18 years old - 563 € monthly;
  • up to 18 years of age - 471 €;
  • 357 € for children.

Already in January, the government will introduce new rules governing support for able-bodied migrants. If a person who is not working refuses the offered job or employment program, his payment will be reduced by 30% for 3 months.

The rationale behind this decision is that the high level of welfare payments may reduce the motivation of refugees to seek employment. It is expected that the reduction of financial assistance will encourage Ukrainians to participate more actively in labor activities, which will help to integrate faster into the labor market. 

changes in social benefits

Innovations for refugees in the Czech Republic 

Here it is planned to update the conditions for foreigners, allowing a long stay in the country. It will be called “dlouhodoby pobyt”. It should not be confused with another document, which in Czech legislation belongs to the category called “trvaly pobyt”. The introduction of this permit will allow foreign citizens, in particular Ukrainian refugees, to reside legally in the Czech Republic longer - up to 5 years.

To obtain the permit, Ukrainians who have been employed in the Czech Republic for the last 2 years and meet a number of requirements will need to apply. However, it is mandatory to hand over personal information, as well as confirm your ability to cover your living expenses. Key conditions for obtaining “dlouhodoby pobyt”:

  1. The application is available for persons who have been working in the Czech Republic for two years.
  2. One has to undergo a biometric data submission procedure.
  3. Families will have their financial situation checked, particularly those with children.
  4. Husband and wife must apply at the same time.
  5. The permit eliminates the need for annual visa renewals for temporary stays.

It is expected that documents for the permit can be submitted as early as mid-2025. The move will make it much easier for Ukrainian refugees to stay and integrate in the Czech Republic, and will give them the opportunity to work legally without the need to extend temporary visas.

Britain extends visa validity period for Ukrainians

The British government has decided to change the period of validity of residence permits for Ukrainians who arrived from 2022. This allows them to stay in the country for another 18 months. At the moment there are up to 200,000 Ukrainian citizens in Britain who have been granted temporary status.

The start of visa extension applications is 04.02.2025. Documents must be submitted no later than 28 days before the visa expires. Processing of the request may take up to eight weeks. During this period refugees will not be able to leave the UK, but their legal status will remain in force and they will have all the rights they had before. 

Staying in the UK as a refugee does not count towards the total period required to apply for permanent residence. This means that the period of residence with temporary protection is not added to the ten years required to apply for permanent residence.

Read also: What documents are required to travel abroad

Extension of free travel for Ukrainians in Lithuania

Vilnius will not introduce drastic changes. The city council recently decided to continue the period of free public transportation for Ukrainian refugees for the next year. This was a continuation of an initiative launched in Lithuania in March 2022. Such measures have become an important support for Ukrainians who have been forced to seek refuge abroad due to the war.

In addition to Vilnius, similar decisions to extend reduced fare were made in other large cities of the country. Since February 2022, Lithuania has accepted up to 89,000 Ukrainians. As of today, the situation is as follows:

  • 62% of working-age refugees have found legal employment - that's more than 34,000 people;
  • by the end of this year all Ukrainians in Lithuania must replace their residence permits.

Temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees in Lithuania was extended until 04.04.2026. In addition, the European Union has approved the decision to extend this protection in other EU countries as well. This makes the situation much easier for Ukrainians who are now on the territory of Europe.

free-travel

Changes for Ukrainians in Slovakia

Since 01.03.2025, the conditions of stay for newly arrived Ukrainian refugees in Slovakia are changing. Now they will be able to live in refugee centers for only 60 days instead of 120, as it was before. Accordingly, housing allowance will be provided only during this period. This is a significant reduction in social support for new arrivals, which reflects the trend of increasing restrictions in European countries for refugees. However, vulnerable groups will not be affected by these changes. Pensioners over 65, children under 5, and single carers of children will continue to receive the help they need under the usual conditions. 

Ireland is limiting aid in 2025

What should Ukrainians in Ireland expect? From March 2025, new restrictions on refugee housing will come into effect in this country. According to the new rules, persons who have recently arrived in the country will not be provided with housing at the expense of the state. The government plans to limit the number of people who enjoy free housing.

The first to be evicted from public housing will be those Ukrainians who have lived in it the longest. In addition, restrictions may be introduced for those whose income exceeds the established level. Such measures are aimed at reducing budget expenditures and encouraging Ukrainians to live more independently in Ireland after their arrival due to the war.

The changes planned to be introduced in Europe for Ukrainian refugees are intended to facilitate integration and reduce the financial burden on states. Nevertheless, for many refugees this will be a major challenge, as reduced aid and restrictions on state housing will force them to seek new opportunities to live and work. This can be both an incentive for self-sufficiency and an additional stress for those who have not yet adapted to the new conditions.

On the other hand, such measures are intended to reduce the pressure on the public budgets of countries hosting refugees. It is essential that these changes do not leave the most vulnerable groups - pensioners, children and people with special needs - without support. After all, it is important to help people adapt to the new conditions so that they find stability in a new country.


Elena Chernenko

Elena Chernenko

Elena is a recognized expert in the bus transportation industry. With a deep understanding of the industry and a wealth of experience, Elena has earned a reputation for reliability working with both large carriers and private companies. Her expertise includes route planning, safety analysis and efficiency of transportation solutions.

In her blog, Elena offers professional advice, reviews current market trends and shares her experience to help readers better understand the world of bus transportation.

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