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Applying for temporary protection
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Booking an appointment in the Police and Border Guard Board's booking system
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Extension of temporary protection
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Renouncing temporary protection
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Applying for international protection
NB!
As a recipient of temporary protection status, you have an obligation to attend a A1-level Estonian language course (100 academic hours) and to take part in a compulsory one-day adaptation course. The state provides free-of-charge A1 language training in face-to-face format in different locations all over Estonia, and also as an online training. Read more and register: https://www.settleinestonia.ee/programme/temporary-protection-lang-module.
Applying for temporary protection
In accordance with the Government’s decision, Ukrainian citizens and their family members who fled the country after the Russian military aggression started on 24 February are granted temporary protection in Estonia, which means they receive an Estonian residence permit valid for one year.
Temporary protection gives Ukrainian citizens and their family members the same rights as Estonian residents have. Should the war in Ukraine continue, it will be possible to extend the temporary protection if necessary. Along with applying for temporary protection, the war refugee will also get an Estonian personal identification code. Applying for temporary protection is not compulsory for war refugees but will afford them the same access to different services and benefits as Estonian residents have.
Who will get temporary protection in Estonia?
- those Ukrainian citizens and their family members who arrived in Estonia starting from February 24, 2022.
- those stateless persons and third country citizens who lived in Ukraine before February 24, 2022 and arrived in Estonia starting from February 24, 2022, as who had international protection in Ukraine, as well as their family members
A family member of a war refugee is their spouse or partner, underage unmarried child and other close relatives who lived in the same household and were the dependents of the war refugee. Family members are deemed to be family if the family was staying and the family's place of residence was in Ukraine even before February 24, 2022.
Temporary protection does not extend to Ukrainian citizens or their family members who lived or stayed in Estonia before February 24, 2022.
Temporary protection applied for before August 13, 2025, is valid until March 2026.
Temporary protection applied for from August 13, 2025, is valid until March 2027.
Temporary protection for Ukrainian war refugees
Yes, but this depends on whether her temporary protection is valid and in which country it has been granted. One cannot have temporary protection status in two countries at once but the person under temporary protection has the right to choose in which country she is exercising her rights.
No specific limit has been placed on the deadline or number of visits. It is allowed to travel back home in order to assess the situation there. The important part is the temporary nature of the visit. Should it become necessary to assess the length of the visit, the proportionality with the length of the residence permit might be taken into account (the length of the residence permit granted based on temporary protection is one year).
No, an application for temporary protection can be submitted only at the service offices of the Police and Border Guard Board. The necessary information and the possibility to book and appointment can be found on the web page of the Police and Border Guard Board.
Temporary release from the visa obligation:
- Ukrainian citizens are allowed to remain in Estonia even if their visa or other basis for stay has expired or is about to expire. There is no need to specifically apply for the extension of the visa or other basis for stay.
- citizens of other countries: if a person has difficulties returning to his country of residence and thus a need to stay in Estonia longer than his current legal grounds allow (e.g. a limited visa-free period or a visa is about to expire), it is possible to submit an application to extend the period of stay. Read more about the extension of the period of stay from the web page of the Police and Border Guard Board.
Short-term employment (up to 365 days):
- if you find suitable work in Estonia, your employer can register you as a short-term employee, that is accompanied by a long-term visa (for up to 12 months). The employer can submit the application both online and at a service office of the Police and Border Guard Board, and the processing takes up to 15 days. As a short-term employee you are not eligible to the temporary housing offered to war refugees in Estonia or the social benefits (e.g. the unemployment benefit, family benefits) but you are guaranteed a stable income.
A residence permit based on international protection:
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If you need international protection, you can submit an asylum application in Estonia. The application can be submitted in any service office of the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) (more information: www.politsei.ee). Ukrainian citizens can apply for asylum with a simplified procedure and the objective of the PPA is to conclude the procedure in one month (the maximum processing time is up to six months, which is definitely not necessary in the case of Ukrainian war refugees). The status of international protection is granted on various bases:
- if you are in danger at home due to a war or some other serious threat, you can receive the status of subsidiary protection and a temporary residence permit valid for one year. It is possible to extend this for two-year periods.
- if you have reason to fear persecution in your home country based on your race, religion, ethnicity, social group or political beliefs, you can receive refugee status and a temporary residence permit valid for three years. It is possible to extend this for three-year periods.
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The assistance regarding reception is the same for all types of international protection (i.e. refugee status, subsidiary and temporary protection). This means that you are entitled to work, receive services and benefits from the Estonian state on equal basis with the local residents. This includes housing organised in an accommodation facility or elsewhere, if necessary, and assistance in finding a permanent place of residence after receiving protection. For Ukrainian citizens, the Estonian state is ensuring housing and subsistence for four months just like they do for war refugees that have applied for temporary protection.
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Generally, it is not allowed to work during the processing of the asylum application, but if there was a prior legal basis for it, it is also allowed to continue working during the processing of the international protection application (i.e. if the person has a valid registration of short-term employment). If the person did not have a preceding right to work, he is not allowed to work in Estonia before receiving international protection.
Temporary protection is a residence permit for living in Estonia and does not automatically grant the right to work in other countries. If you wish to start working in another country, you have to find out the rules for working at a particular country and apply for the permits necessary for that.
Renouncing temporary protection
Temporary protection is a type of international protection, but it is short-term and people should return to their country of origin upon expiry of the decision of the Council of the European Union (provided the hostilities cease and the decision is not extended). You can waive temporary protection if you wish to return to your home country. In that case, it is sufficient to inform the Police and Border Guard Board.
If you have obtained temporary protection from one European country, there is no reason to ask for it in other countries.
Booking an appointment in the Police and Border Guard Board's booking system
- In order to apply for temporary protection on the basis of the Council of Europe Decision, it is obligatory to book an appointment at a service office.
- You can book an appointment on the Police and Border Guard Board's website https://broneering.politsei.ee/.
- Select the service: Applying for temporary protection (Ukraine)
- Select the appropriate location: Applications for temporary protection under the Council of Europe Decision can be lodged at the service offices of Tammsaare (Tallinn), Pinna (Tallinn), Tartu, Pärnu and Jõhvi.
- Appointments can be booked on dates indicated in bold in the calendar. There are no appointments available on dates indicated in grey. The earliest appointment that can be booked is for the next working day (depending on the availability). It is possible to book up to 3 months in advance and days become available on a day-by-day basis.
- The booking must be made with the correct personal data right away and cannot be changed later. NOTE: The appointment can only be used by the person in whose name the appointment has been made.
- One adult with any minor children may use a single appointment for applying.
Renewal of residence permits granted under temporary protection
If your residence permit is about to expire, you can renew it in the self-service environment of the Police and Border Guard Board https://asylum.politsei.ee/. Submit the application for extending your residence permit one to three months before the expiry date of your residence permit.
To submit the application in the self-service environment, you need:
- internet connection
- personal identification number and the details of your residence card.
In order to extend temporary protection, it is necessary that you visit a PBGB service office of your choice and get a new photo taken in a speed capture kiosk, in addition to submitting an online application. See the location and opening hours of the PBGB service offices here.
A person applying for an extension of temporary protection must have completed or enrolled in the adaptation programme and can be registered here: www.settleinestonia.ee/programme
You will receive an extended residence card from a service office of the Police and Border Guard Board of your choice.
Temporary protection applied for before August 13, 2025, is valid until March 2026.
Temporary protection applied for from August 13, 2025, is valid until March 2027.
Extension of temporary protection
Having or extending temporary protection is not obligatory. Every Ukrainian citizen has the right to remain and live in Estonia even without applying for temporary protection but in that case she will not have a residence permit or the social guarantees that come with it.
You can submit the application to extend temporary protection at the self-service web portal asylum.politsei.ee starting from December 3.
We ask that the recipients of temporary protection visit the Police and Border Guard service offices already in October and November and take a new photo for the document in the digital kiosk. For extending temporary protection, the document photo needs to be taken before the application is submitted in the self-service portal
Attention! If your temporary protection residence permit has already expired, you can only submit an application to extend temporary protection at on location the Police and Border Guard Board service office.
It is possible to apply for the extension of temporary protection at the self-service portal starting from December 3.
We ask that the recipients of temporary protection visit a service office of the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) in October and November already and take a new photo for the document at the digital kiosk -- the document photo needs to be taken before submitting the application at the self-service portal. You can find the locations and the opening hours of the service offices at the politsei.ee web page.
In order to extend temporary protection, it is necessary to submit an electronic application at the self-service portal asylum.politsei.ee. When submitting the application, you will be asked for your personal identification code and your residence permit card information, and you can indicate the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) service office from which you wish to receive your new residence permit card. If necessary, an extension application can also be submitted on the spot at the PPA service office (you can download the application forms for reading and filling out beforehand from the politsei.ee web page). In certain cases there might be need to ask additional questions from you. If this is the case, you will be contacted specifically.
You can extend temporary protection at the self-service portal starting from December 3. It is recommended to submit the extension application no later than a month before the residence permit expires.
- For extending temporary protection it is necessary to take a document photo before submitting the application at the self-service portal: we ask that the recipients of temporary protection visit a service office of the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) already in October and November and take a new photo for the document at the digital kiosk. You can find the locations and opening hours of the service offices from politsei.ee.
- Submit an application to extend temporary protection at the PPA self-service portal asylum.politsei.ee. NB! When submitting an application, make sure enter an e-mail address that you yourself read.
- After submitting the application at the web portal you will receive the confirmation that your application has been accepted on your e-mail, along with a reminder that protection is extended only after the applicant has also taken a new photo of themselves at the PPA service office
- Once the extended residence permit card is ready, you will receive an e-mail informing you that you can go and pick up your residence permit card at the Police and Border Guard service office you chose.
Good to know!
- If necessary, the extension application could also be submitted on the spot at the PPA service office (the application forms can be downloaded for reading and/or prior filling from the politsei.ee web page).
This depends on the moment that the temporary was applied for:
- temporary protection that was applied for until September 9, 2023 is valid for one year after which it is necessary to submit a new application to extend it.
- temporary protection that is applied for starting from September 10, 2023 will be valid until March 3, 2025.
Extending the temporary protection residence permit is free for Ukrainian citizens.
Upon submitting an application you have to indicate from which service office of the Police and Border Guard Board you wish to receive your residence permit card. If you wish to change the document receival location later, you have to pay for it.
A person's place of residence has to be registered in the population register in order to extend temporary protection. A place of residence can be registered at the local government. In order to register a place of residence, you must present a document attesting to the use of the space (e.g. a lease contract) or consent of the owner of the space. If there is a lease contract, that is sufficient and there is no need to present the owner's consent as well.
If you are moving from one town, city district or local municipality to another, you also have to update your information at the population register. This is necessary in order for the local municipality to be able to plan kindergarten and school places, pay subsistence and home leasing supports.
Yes, you are. It is possible to apply for temporary protection even without a valid travel document: the order in force allows for identifying a person or checking their identity based on other evidence as well. However, foreigners who have the status of temporary protection in Estonia are not issued alien's passports. Thus, if you wish to travel, you have to tur back to Ukraine for obtaining a new passport, as according to the new rules, the Ukrainian Embassy is no longer issuing passports. The Estonian residency permit is not a travel document.
Applying for international protection
People who left Ukraine earlier but cannot return because of the war can stay in Estonia without a visa. In addition, they can apply for international protection. While the procedure for international protection usually takes up to six months, it is conducted in a simplified manner for Ukrainian citizens and lasts for about a month.
Ukrainian citizens seeking international protection are provided with accommodation and subsistence for four months in the same way as war refugees seeking temporary protection. If they so wish, the applicants may live independently elsewhere, for example with acquaintances or relatives.
The right to work in Estonia during the one-month procedure depends on whether the person previously had a legal basis to do so. If the person was in Estonia already before the war and was working on the basis of a registration of short-term employment, he or she may continue to work during the procedure for international protection. If the person did not previously have the right to work, he or she may not work in Estonia before being granted international protection.
An application for an extension of a residence permit for international protection can be submitted via PBGB self-service portal at asylum.politsei.ee if the period of validity of the residence permit expires in less than four months.
We strongly advise you not to travel to the Russian Federation – in certain cases, this may lead to the revocation of your residence permit.
Last updated: 16.12.2025
