Austria Extends Temporary Protection for Ukrainian Refugees Until March 2024

According to the government, since March of this year, when the directive on temporary protection first came into force, Austria has allowed more than 90,000 people displaced from the war in Ukraine to stay and register in the country.

The government also added that the legal stay for Ukrainians in Austria is documented by an identity card issued to these displaced persons. The same has emphasised that these identity cards will remain valid until March 2024.

“The competent authority for ID cards for displaced persons is the Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum. ID cards for displaced persons have now been reissued with validity until March 2024 and are produced by the Austrian State Printing Office,” the statement issued by the government reads.

The government has also revealed that since March almost 88,900 identity cards have been issued to Ukrainian refugees.

At the same time, around 56,000 people displaced by the war from Ukraine are currently receiving basic care in Austria. Meanwhile, more than 67,000 people expelled from the Ukrainian war are registered in the central registry.

Last month, Swiss authorities also decided to extend the directive on temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees until March 4, 2024.

In this regard, the Swiss Federal Council noted that the country will provide temporary protection to persons in need as long as they are exposed to serious danger.

In addition, in the same month, Finland also announced that the government has proposed to improve the extension of temporary protection for refugees from Ukraine.

As Finland’s Ministry of the Interior explains, if the law on foreigners were to be changed, it would ensure the validity of residence permits issued by the country’s authorities for those who qualify for temporary protection as long as the temporary protection is effective at the EU level.

Moreover, the Ministry emphasised that with the change, Finland will be able to issue the first residence permits directly for the entire period of validity of the temporary protection. Thus, persons who already have a residence permit will not need to apply for an extension separately.