In Ukraine, there are two legal statuses that provide for international protection: refugee status and the status of a person in need of complementary protection.

Who is an asylum seeker?

An asylum seeker is a person who has expressed a desire to apply for recognition as a refugee or a person in need of complementary protection to the relevant state authorities of Ukraine.

Who is a refugee?

In accordance with the requirements of international law, Ukrainian legislation defines a refugee as a person who

• is not a citizen of Ukraine and,
• owing to well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, citizenship (nationality), membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his/her nationality and
• is unable or unwilling to enjoy the protection of this country due to such fears.

Who is eligible for complementary protection?

According to Ukrainian legislation, a person in need of complementary protection is a person who is not a refugee but needs protection due to a threat to life, safety and freedom in his/her country of origin due to fear of the death penalty, torture, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, or generalized violence in a situation of international or internal armed conflict, or systematic violation of human rights.  

Attention: If the reasons for your departure from your country of nationality or inability to return to your country of origin do not meet the above definitions, then you do not have sufficient grounds to be recognized as a refugee or a person in need of complementary protection in Ukraine.