Greece Extends Temporary Protection for Ukrainians until March 2024

Greece has extended the temporary protection status for Ukrainians for an additional six months.

This is reported by ekathimerini. 

The decision was made by Greece's Minister of Migration and Asylum, Dimitris Kairidis.

The previous six-month period of this status expired on September 4th. Now, Ukrainians will continue to benefit from temporary protection in Greece until March 4th, 2024.

For Ukrainians seeking asylum in Greece, the Ministry of Migration and Asylum operates an information portal available in Ukrainian, English, and Greek languages.

Greece has provided shelter to 25,000 refugees from the conflict in Ukraine. These refugees have access to state healthcare and education, as well as the right to temporary housing in Sintiki.

Long-term accommodation requests can be made at facilities such as Serres II in Northern Greece and Elefsina in the Attica region. Financial assistance is not provided, but humanitarian aid can be obtained from charitable organizations.

According to the Temporary Protection Directive, displaced individuals have the right to stay in a European Union member state for up to one year without requiring an entry permit. If the situation in Ukraine does not improve, this period can be extended to up to three years. However, the directive can be terminated when the situation normalizes. Temporary protection is granted to Ukrainians who cross the border of a European state and request permission to reside from local authorities.

Individuals with temporary protection status have the option to move to EU countries where they are most comfortable or where their relatives live. In addition to the right to reside, they have access to education, housing, social security, employment, and medical services. The advantage of this status is that its holders can start working immediately and, if necessary, return to their home country, while applying for refugee status typically takes about six months during which leaving the country where the asylum request was submitted and seeking employment is not permitted.

Ukrainians can enter Greece freely with a biometric passport for up to 90 days; a regular passport requires a visa. Those without documents are processed at the Promachonas border crossing, where they receive the necessary documents from Ukrainian embassy personnel. Within 90 days of entry, Ukrainians are granted temporary protection for one year, with the right to work, study, and receive medical assistance.

To apply for refugee status, one can visit the Reception and Identification Centre. Working is not allowed within the first six months after registering an application. Upon receiving a positive decision, immigrants are granted a residence permit for three years.

As previously reported by The Gaze, according to the EU Asylum Agency, the number of asylum requests registered in EU countries, Norway, and Switzerland in the first half of this year increased by 28% compared to the same period last year, anticipating that the number of asylum applications may exceed one million by the end of the year.