Ukrainians in France are switching en masse from temporary protection status to refugee status

Despite temporary protection until 2027, thousands of Ukrainians are applying for asylum in France. Learn more about why this is happening

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In 2025, the number of Ukrainians applying for refugee status in France increased significantly. In the first five months of the year, more than 7,000 applications were received, representing an increase of almost 87% compared to the same period in 2024. For comparison, 12,031 applications were submitted in 2024, and only 3,250 in 2023.

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Why are Ukrainians switching from temporary protection to refugee status?

Although temporary protection in France is valid until 2027 and offers a number of advantages (a six-month residence permit with the possibility of extension to three years, the right to work, social assistance), more and more Ukrainians consider it insufficiently stable.

The reasons for this choice are:

- reduced state support for refugees from Ukraine;

- a shortage of affordable housing;

- problems with employment, especially in provincial regions;

- overcrowded temporary accommodation centers, especially hotels.

Of the approximately 75,000 to 80,000 Ukrainians with temporary protection, only about 20,000 have permanent jobs and can afford to rent housing on their own. The rest depend on state or municipal programs, which are currently being cut back.

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Cuts in housing support: people are trapped

Senator Nadia Sologub stressed that the hotel accommodation situation is becoming critical: the government plans to cut the number of places by more than half. People are receiving messages from prefectures en masse informing them that their stay is coming to an end, with no clear alternative. The only option is often to apply for refugee status in order not to be left homeless.

However, this step has consequences: unlike temporary protection, refugee status prohibits returning to Ukraine, even for a short period. And despite the fact that it opens the way to long-term residence (from 4 to 10 years), for many it is a psychologically difficult decision.

Instead of temporary solutions, a search for a stable future

Experts note that at the beginning of the full-scale war, most Ukrainians hoped to return home quickly. But after three years of war, more and more people are seeking a more reliable and long-term legal status in their country of residence.

For many, applying for refugee status is a necessary but rational choice: stable housing, a long-term residence permit, and the opportunity to legalize their status in a new society.

In such conditions, the Ukrainian community in France faces difficult life decisions, where the choice between temporary protection and refugee status is not just a legal issue, but an attempt to preserve dignity and stability in times of uncertainty.

Reminder! Temporary protection for Ukrainians will most likely be extended until 2027, but at the same time, the EU is preparing return and integration strategies for citizens. Find out what new initiatives the European Commission is proposing and what will change for Ukrainians in the EU.

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