On February 26, 2025, the Government of the Republic of Moldova decided to extend the temporary protection granted to displaced persons from Ukraine for another year until March 1, 2026.
The important changes that are implemented as of March 1, 2025:
1. The categories of beneficiaries have been extended
- Temporary protection will also be granted to persons and their family members who, although not Ukrainian citizens, but hold permanent residence permits issued under the legislation of Ukraine.
-Persons who do not hold citizenship of any state and who have been recognized as stateless by the Ukrainian authorities will also be able to apply for temporary protection.
- Children born after February 24, 2022, to parents who are nationals of a third state or stateless and who live with a Ukrainian citizen will be able to apply for temporary protection. This amendment ensures the right to protection and prevents the separation of families, taking into account the best interests of the child.
- Also, families who got married after February 24, 2022, but resided in Ukraine can apply for temporary protection.
2. Documents accepted for temporary protection
To facilitate obtaining temporary protection, travel documents issued by the Consular Section of the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Moldova are also accepted. This helps those who have difficulties in obtaining other documents.
3. New rules for minors coming from Ukraine
Minors up to the age of 14 will be able to cross the state border also on the basis of their birth certificate. However, minors aged 15 and older will have to present an ordinary passport for departures abroad, identity card/passport, internal passport, including expired ones, or on the basis of the passport of the parent in which the child is registered with the photo affixed, in order to reduce the risk of fraud or confusion.
4. Clarifications on granting and withdrawal of temporary protection
Clear rules are introduced for when a person cannot be granted temporary protection or when temporary protection can be withdrawn in accordance with the Moldovan Asylum Law. The grounds for exclusion from temporary protection are stipulated in Art. 384 of Law 270/2008.
5. Obligation to inform local authorities about children starting school
Beneficiaries of temporary protection who enroll their children in educational institutions must inform the local education authorities within 5 working days by sending/mailing a written notification.
6. Voluntary relinquishment of temporary protection status
Persons who wish to relinquish their temporary protection status may submit a written request to the General Inspectorate for Migration or to the Diplomatic Missions of the Republic of Moldova abroad.
7. Crossing the state border
Adults who cross the state border with the national identity document may make only one entry/exit from/to Ukraine, except for holders of internal passports/ID cards who are residents of the border area, based on the bilateral agreement.
8. Further clarification on the status of beneficiary of temporary protection
- The registration of the applicant through the access interface of the official website temporaryprotection.gov.gov.md for the purpose of documenting identity documents for obtaining temporary protection does not confer the status of a beneficiary of temporary protection.
- The status of beneficiary of temporary protection is obtained from the date of issuance of the identity document by the General Inspectorate for Migration.
- The applicant for temporary protection is obliged, within 30 working days from the date of registration for the purpose of documentation with identity documents, to appear at one of the IGM offices or to request a mobile documentation team.
Important:
ID cards issued to beneficiaries of temporary protection will be valid until March 1, 2026.
The validity of the document can be confirmed by scanning the QR code on the back of the ID card.
We reiterate that the new changes to the mechanism of granting temporary protection do not require the presence of the beneficiaries at the Inspectorate offices.
