Who can obtain an internally displaced person certificate, and who cannot?

Many Ukrainians have been forced to leave their homes due to the war and move to safer regions of the country. To confirm this status, an internally displaced person certificate is required, which provides access to social and financial support from the state. Find out who is eligible for an IDP certificate and under what conditions it is issued

Legal advice for Ukrainians

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An internally displaced person (IDP) certificate is an official document confirming that a person was forced to leave their place of residence due to war or other extraordinary circumstances. It entitles the holder to receive state assistance, social benefits and privileges. With reference to the Legal Advisor for IDPs, we explain who can obtain such a certificate and on what grounds.

Grounds for obtaining an IDP certificate

1. Relocation from a combat zone or temporarily occupied territory. The certificate is issued to Ukrainian citizens who have left their places of residence in territories where active combat operations are taking place or which are temporarily occupied by Russia. It is important that no official date has been set for the end of combat operations or occupation in such settlements.

The main factor is considered to be forced displacement — when a person has left their home due to a threat to their life, destruction, violence, violation of rights or an emergency situation.

2. Loss or damage to housing. Those whose homes have been completely destroyed or rendered uninhabitable as a result of hostilities, explosions, terrorist attacks or other consequences of military aggression are also entitled to receive a certificate.

In this case, it does not matter where the house was located — the main thing is that the fact of destruction is confirmed by documents, such as an inspection report or a commission's conclusion.

Who is eligible for an IDP certificate

Anyone who meets the above criteria is eligible for a certificate, including:

▪️ children born after their family was displaced, even if they did not physically leave the conflict zone;

▪️ minors unaccompanied by parents or guardians;

▪️ teenagers with a Ukrainian passport, if their data is entered in the Unified IDP Database;

▪️ military personnel who lived or were registered in combat zones or lost their homes due to the war (except for conscripts);

▪️ students who studied or lived in dormitories in areas where hostilities took place and cannot return home;

▪️ released prisoners who were registered in the conflict zone but decided not to return there after their release.

Who is not eligible for a certificate

The right to obtain a certificate does not apply to those who have simply moved within the same occupied territory without leaving its borders.

Reminder! A compensation mechanism has been launched in Ukraine under the eOselya programme for IDPs and residents of frontline territories. Find out who is eligible for benefits, what conditions apply to housing and loans, and how to apply for compensation through Diya.