4.27 million Ukrainian citizens had received temporary protection status in the European Union at the end of November 2023, according to Eurostat data in January. EU countries have extended the period of protection for Ukrainians until 2025, which provides access to legal employment.
Experts of the Migration Platform EWL analyzed legalization and employment procedures for work in Germany, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Romania, Poland and the Netherlands — the most popular destinations for both seasonal work and refugees.
Germany
Ukrainians who come to Germany apply for a temporary residence permit Aufenthaltstitel on the basis of the Law on the Legal Status of Foreigners. You can find a job in the country after receiving this permit.
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— In fact, at the moment — this is the only way for Ukrainian citizens to work in Germany without knowledge of the language and experience, — noted the director of the legalization department of the EWL Migration Platform Maria Kuzenko.
Although the German Embassy in Ukraine informs on its website about the possibility of issuing German visas for Ukrainian citizens at German foreign missions located in neighboring countries of Ukraine, practice shows that this does not apply to workers without qualifications.
Romania
Every citizen of Ukraine can receive temporary protection status in Romania, regardless of whether he was in Ukraine at the start of a full-scale war.
Unlike many EU countries, Romania does not refuse temporary protection if a person has already enjoyed asylum in another EU country or has visas or residence permits in other European countries.
Temporary protection gives Ukrainians the right to work without additional permits, as well as the right to stay for one year in the country with the possibility of extension.
— Ukrainians can find employment in Romania on the basis of a biometric passport and work for three months without obtaining temporary protection status. And then — apply for a residence permit based on the availability of work. With such simple rules of legalization, Romania seeks to compete for Ukrainian workers with other European countries, — said Maria Kuzenko, Director of the Legalization Department of the EWL Migration Platform.
Poland
Poland has not yet made a decision on extending the period of stay of Ukrainian citizens after March 4, 2024. The employment procedure remains unchanged until this date.
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Citizens of Ukraine who have legally entered Poland since February 24, 2022 and have temporary protection can work without obtaining foreigner work permits.
Ukrainians can now legally stay and work in Poland if the last day of legal stay falls on the period from February 24, 2024, regardless of whether they have PESEL UKR before March 3, 2024.
Czech Republic
Ukrainians who have received temporary protection in the Czech Republic have free access to the labor market. Citizens of Ukraine who lived before February 24, 2022 and left Ukraine after a full-scale invasion can apply for it. As confirmation, you need a stamp in your passport about crossing the border after February 24, 2022.
It is important that you do not have a current visa or residence permit in another EU country. The Czech Republic does not accept Ukrainians who have already received temporary protection in another European country. There are no employment opportunities with a biometric passport in the Czech Republic.
— Czech Republic — the only European country that does not issue temporary protection to Ukrainians who, after a full-scale invasion, spent more than two weeks in other EU countries. Or a citizen of Ukraine must confirm that he did not receive protection in another country, but was as a tourist or visiting relatives, having active biometrics, — noted Maria Kuzenko.
In fact, Ukrainians who have temporary protection in this country, and those who came to the EU for the first time after a full-scale invasion from Ukraine and for the first time receive temporary protection in the Czech Republic have the opportunity to work in the Czech Republic.
Lithuania
Temporary protection status can be obtained by citizens of Ukraine who came to Lithuania for the first time due to the outbreak of hostilities on the territory of Ukraine (after February 24, 2022).
An important nuance is that this status can be obtained by a citizen who was living at the time of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, but does not have temporary protection status, a current residence permit or visas in other EU countries.
But there is an alternative — obtaining a residence permit in Lithuania for humanitarian reasons. It can be received by a Ukrainian who was not in his homeland at the beginning of full-scale aggression, but cannot return home.
When submitting documents, a citizen of Ukraine must indicate why he cannot return to the territory of his state. It is important not to have residence permits, visas or temporary protection status in other EU countries.
Having a temporary protection status or type allows Ukrainian citizens free access to the Lithuanian labor market.
Netherlands
Temporary protection status in the Netherlands can be obtained by citizens of Ukraine who left after November 26, 2021 and did not have open residence permit visas as of February 22, 2022. Also those Ukrainians who left before November 27, 2021 and have been legally living in the Netherlands all this time, which they can document.
After receiving a BSN (identification number, like PESEL in Poland) and Dutch temporary protection (passport sticker from the IND — Dutch Immigration and Naturalization Service), Ukrainians have free access to the labor market and can find employment without additional permissions.
