Ireland

If you have temporary protection status in Ireland you can travel to Ukraine for a short visit without losing your status. Generally, you are required to continue to reside in Ireland apart from reasonable periods of absence for holidays, or exceptional family circumstances or commitments outside of Ireland arising from business or employment here. Any absences from Ireland in a calendar year, either a single absence or cumulative absence, should not exceed 90 days. Absences beyond that period of time may affect your current permission in Ireland. Any extended travel for humanitarian reasons will be considered on a case-by-case basis. For more information please see the website of Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration. 

If you decide to return to Ukraine permanently, you should attend Citywest Convention Centre (Garter Lane, Saggart, Dublin 24, D24 KF8A) to voluntarily withdraw your temporary protection status in Ireland. Should you wish to return to Ireland, or the EU, you will be able to seek to avail of temporary protection again in Ireland providing you meet the relevant criteria set out under EU Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/382 (Temporary Protection Directive). 

You will no longer be able to avail of assistance in Ireland. 

You must attend Citywest Convention Centre to voluntarily withdraw your temporary protection status in Ireland and notify any relevant Departments who are providing you support, such as accommodation. You should also contact your local Intreo Centre to inform them before you decide to leave Ireland in terms of social welfare. More information on your local Intreo Centre is available here.

Citywest Convention Centre is located at Garter Lane, Saggart, Dublin 24, D24 KF8A.

In general, there is no entitlement to retain social benefits when outside of Ireland. For specific requests, individuals should contact your local Intreo centre first.  

You should contact the Department of Justice at [email protected] requesting to voluntarily withdraw your temporary protection permission where you will be guided through the process. You should inform the Department of Social Protection (local Intreo centre) before you intend to leave the country. Information can be provided at that point should you subsequently make the decision not to return to Ireland.  

Ukrainians will continue to be able to visit EU countries, to include Ireland without visas, staying up to 90 days within each 180-day period. 

The host should contact the Department of Social Protection. Here are the contact details: 

Address: 

ARP Scheme, Department of Social Protection, Cork Road, Waterford, X91 EH04 

Email: 

[email protected]  

Phone number: 

0818 70 80 90 

If you are not a citizen of Ukraine and you are staying in Ireland with a visa, you can return to Ukraine using your residence permit in Ukraine. If your permanent residence permit in Ukraine has expired, you should contact the Ukraine authorities in Croatia to verify whether you need to extend your residence permit. The contact details are as follows: 

The Embassy of Ukraine to Ireland

ireland.mfa.gov.ua

16, Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, Ireland D04 NY31

Ukrainian citizens can enter Ukraine with one of the following documents:

1. Passport of a citizen of Ukraine for travel abroad (International passport)
2. Diplomatic passport of Ukraine
3. Service passport of Ukraine
4. Seaman’s identity card
5. Crew member’s certificate

The internal passport (ID card) is not included in this list. Therefore, it cannot be used to return to Ukraine. Instead, it is necessary to issue either an international passport or a certificate for returning to Ukraine. The conditions and deadlines for the production of these documents vary.

A certificate for returning to Ukraine grants the right to enter Ukraine. This document is issued by diplomatic missions or consular institutions of Ukraine abroad.

A certificate for returning to Ukraine is issued by the Embassy of Ukraine to Ireland on the day of application. The production of this document is usually a paid service.

An international passport can currently be issued at the Embassy of Ukraine to Ireland. However, when ordering this service, it should be noted that the process of producing and issuing an international passport lasts from 3 to 6 months. The production of this document is a paid service. 

If you or your relatives plan to return to Ukraine, but do not have a valid passport (the passport has expired, lost your passport or arrived in Ireland only with an internal passport or birth certificate), then you need to obtain a document from the consulate of Ukraine that will allow you to cross the border.

To do this, you need to contact the nearest consular office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and issue a certificate of return to Ukraine (the so-called “white passport”). The Embassy of Ukraine to Ireland is located in Dublin and can issue such a certificate. This type of service is urgent and does not require a prior appointment.

Anyone leaving the country can ask their healthcare provider for a copy of their medical records. The request should be made directly to the health provider. 

Any records held by the Health Service Executive (HSE) can also be requested by way of a data subject access request and freedom of information request.  

The following link provides information on how to make such requests from the HSE.

You should inform the school principal (senior management) that you are returning to Ukraine and no longer need to have your child enrolled in the school. You can do this by sending a letter or email to the school. You can also ask the school for a letter confirming your child’s education level in Ireland that will assist with recognition of their qualifications in Ukraine.  

Children require parental permission, and under the age of 16 need to be accompanied by an adult. Children above 16 years old are subject to the same entry rules as adults and need the required documents to cross the border (a biometric passport or a certificate for return to Ukraine). Unaccompanied children should speak to their Tusla social worker if they wish to return to Ukraine.  

It is recommended your keep your Irish bank account open for at least few months in case you are owed any monies from any organisations or need to make payments. You should also inform your bank of your updated address in Ukraine. If you decide to return to Ukraine permanently you should contact your individual bank to close your bank account.  

If you were receiving any benefits/social assistance you should contact your local Intreo office if you decide to return to Ukraine permanently. If you were paying tax in Ireland you should contact Revenue (Irish Tax and Customs) to inform them you are leaving Ireland. More information on how to contact Revenue is available here.

Please check FAQ ‘On return to Ukraine’ for services available in Ukraine.

During the martial law in Ukraine the procedure of entry with pets is simplified.  The pet must have:

• An identification document issued by the EU member state – pet passport or international veterinary certificate.
• Microchip
• Vaccination against rabies and rabies antibody test
• A carrier used for your pet should be comfortable and allow access to food and water.

For more information, please visit State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection. Please also contact your local veterinarian to learn about the requirements for pet transportation within EU.