Temporary protection, work, study: what Ukrainians should know about France and UK

Advocacy
18:36 Tue 01.04.25 2148 Reviews
Print

What is the procedure for obtaining temporary protection status in France and the UK? When can it be refused and is it possible to appeal such a decision? What are the options for legalization and change of status? What about employment, education and business opportunities?

The Ukrainian National Bar Association held a large-scale seminar on the legal issues of Ukrainians' stay in the French Republic and the United Kingdom. The event brought together experts in immigration law, lawyers, and hundreds of participants who were looking for answers to questions related to the legal status of Ukrainians abroad.

The key issues included the possibility of transition from temporary protection to refugee status, subsidiary protection, or obtaining a residence permit under programs for workers, entrepreneurs, and family categories.

Maryna Semenova, the representative of the UNBA in the French Republic, explained the procedure for applying for temporary protection in this country, emphasized common mistakes to avoid, and explained what documents confirm the grounds for granting the status. She also spoke about the peculiarities of integration into French society, the possibilities of receiving social assistance and a program for Ukrainian entrepreneurs that allows them to run their own business in France.

M. Semenova recommended to be careful when filling out applications for temporary protection and to avoid common mistakes that can lead to rejection. She also advised Ukrainians to check the latest changes in French legislation and to seek legal advice.

Tatyana Laidlaw, a solicitor with 20 years of experience in immigration law, focused on the legal aspects of Ukrainians' stay in the UK. She explained the difference between temporary protection status and other types of immigration status and advised to contact lawyers in advance, as British immigration law is changing and some programs may have a limited duration. The solicitor placed a special emphasis on the possibilities of obtaining work visas and the benefits of studying in the UK for further legalization. T. Laidlaw advised to contact specialized lawyers before the expiration of visa programs to avoid the risk of losing legal status. She also recommended paying attention to programs for students and professionals, which can become the basis for long-term residence in the country.

Oleksandr Chernykh, the representative of the UNBA in Scotland, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, highlighted the issue of long-term prospects for residence in the UK and France, explaining what changes in legislation may affect Ukrainians in the coming years. He also spoke about practical cases of appeals against status refusals and emphasized the importance of collecting the most complete package of documents when submitting applications.

O. Chernykh emphasized the importance of collecting a full package of documents confirming the grounds for residence and work, as this significantly increases the chances of a positive outcome. He also recommended that Ukrainians closely monitor possible changes in migration programs in order not to miss new opportunities.

Popular news

Protecting the rights of service members: The UNBA and the Military Ombudsman have agreed on cooperation

Interaction

Protecting the rights of service members: The UNBA and the Military Ombudsman have agreed on cooperation

Servicemembers, reservists, conscripts during training exercises, members of local community volunteer units, and other individuals covered by the Law «On the Military Ombudsman» should have better access to professional legal assistance.

9:59 Fri 27.03.26 136
Reform without data and advocacy: what the Ministry of Justice’s launch has revealed

Rule of Law Roadmap

Reform without data and advocacy: what the Ministry of Justice’s launch has revealed

The Ministry of Justice hosted the first meeting of the working group on bar reform. But instead of professional preparation of legislative changes, we saw exactly what Armada Network Director Dale Armstrong had spoken about the day before in Kyiv: not reform, but a struggle for control over the agenda through a narrow circle of “stakeholders” who create an echo chamber of influence for themselves.

16:42 Mon 23.03.26 162
Advocacy, European integration and the limits of intervention: an American report presented in Kyiv

Rule of Law Roadmap

Advocacy, European integration and the limits of intervention: an American report presented in Kyiv

Following its presentation in Brussels, the report «The Ukrainian advocacy in the context of the rule of law and European integration» made its way to Kyiv. It highlighted critical issues both in understanding the very nature of the self-governing profession and in the emergence of a «shadow market» surrounding the Ukrainian advocacy.

15:26 Fri 20.03.26 170
ETAIDF and MMC: where the system fails

Discussion

ETAIDF and MMC: where the system fails

The new system for assessing a person’s daily functioning and the practice of undergoing medical-legal examinations have already raised numerous questions — ranging from unclear procedures to difficulties in appealing decisions. These issues were examined by advocates during the roundtable discussion «Problematic issues of the ETAIDF and MMC», organized by the UNBA Committee on the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities and the All-Ukrainian public organization «Human rights union of persons with disabilities».

13:58 Thu 19.03.26 132
Access to the advocate profession: a subgroup has identified the direction of change

Rule of Law Roadmap

Access to the advocate profession: a subgroup has identified the direction of change

On Monday, March 16, a meeting was held of the subgroup «Access to the profession and training of advocates. Organizational forms of legal practice» of the Working Group on the implementation of the Rule of Law Roadmap.

18:14 Wed 18.03.26 125
Organization of advocacy: subgroup agrees on approaches to regulatory reform

Rule of Law Roadmap

Organization of advocacy: subgroup agrees on approaches to regulatory reform

On March 13, a meeting was held of the «Organization of the advocacy and self-government» subgroup of the Working Group on the implementation of the Rule of Law Roadmap regarding bar reform. The event was conducted via videoconference.

18:03 Mon 16.03.26 144
Where does legal information end and legal assistance begin?

Abroad

Where does legal information end and legal assistance begin?

Law firms find themselves in a dilemma: they want to make the most of artificial intelligence, but at the same time, more and more people are entrusting their legal matters to large language models. And this, as experts point out, entails countless risks.

15:56 Fri 13.03.26 106
During a search of an advocate's office in Kyiv a telephone was seized and personal records were examined

Guarantees of the practice of law

During a search of an advocate's office in Kyiv a telephone was seized and personal records were examined

Detectives from the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine conducted a search of the office of a Kyiv law firm as part of criminal proceedings under Part 1 of Article 366-2 (False Declaration) and Article 368-5 (Illegal Enrichment) of the Criminal Code.

15:02 Thu 12.03.26 103

Надішліть файл із текстом публікації у форматі *.doc, фотографію за тематикою у розмірі 640х400 та Ваше фото.

Оберіть файл