Temporary protection

• Ukrainian citizens residing in Ukraine before February 24, 2022 and members of their families;
• Nationals of other third countries (other than Ukraine) and stateless people who have used their right to international protection or another equivalent type of national protection in Ukraine before 24 February 2022, and members of their families;
• Persons with foreign citizenship or statelessness who left the territory of Ukraine as a result of hostilities and entered and remained on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria, if they explicitly state that they want to enjoy the status of temporary protection.

• The procedure takes 5 to 15 minutes and temporary protection is provided immediately
• Temporary protection is granted upon oral request to the Border Police, the State Agency for Refugees or other bodies of the Ministry of Interior (migration, police), to people who meet the conditions above.

• Right to stay on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria;
• Right to written information in plain language about the rules and conditions of temporary protection; 
• If you are granted temporary protection, you receive: 
  – Right to registration card of a foreigner who has been granted temporary protection – for the term of protection;
  – Right to reunite with one’s family;
  – Right to work and professional training;
  – The right to education for students and the right to access kindergarten for children under 6 years of age;
  – The right to appropriate accommodation;
• Right to social assistance;
• Right to medical care in emergencies
  – People from vulnerable groups – children under 18, unaccompanied children, pregnant women, single parents with minors, the elderly and people with disabilities, serious health problems, mental disorders victims of trafficking or suffering torture, rape or other severe forms of violence – have the right to full medical care as Bulgarian citizens. 

The EU has issued instructions that people running from the war in Ukraine who have been granted temporary protection in one European country but then transferred to another European country, must obtain a new permit and document from them (the European country they decide to move to) as people under temporary protection.

In practice, this means that Ukrainians registered for temporary protection in Bulgaria could decide to move to another European country. There they will have the opportunity to re-register and enjoy the rights that the respective state gives to people under temporary protection.