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Documents and legal status

Foreign nationals, stateless persons and people without documents

We assist with statutory procedures relating to status, documents, stay in Ukraine, identification and appeals against decisions.

Eligibility and application procedure

What you need to know

The law provides legal aid in specified procedures concerning international protection, statelessness, identification, enforced removal and obtaining identity or citizenship documents.

A missing identity document does not prevent an initial consultation

Bring any copies, photographs, official decisions or other information you have. A lawyer will identify the applicable procedure and the documents that may be obtained elsewhere.

How legal aid can help

01

Understand your rights

Receive a confidential consultation and a clear explanation of the available procedures.

02

Prepare documents

Get help with applications, complaints, claims, appeals and other procedural documents.

03

Protect your interests

Where provided by law, a lawyer may defend you or represent your interests in court and before public authorities.

Matters you can raise

International protection

Refugee status and complementary or temporary protection procedures.

Statelessness

Applications for recognition as a stateless person and appeals against decisions.

Identification and removal

Protection of detained foreign nationals or stateless persons in identification and enforced removal proceedings.

Obtaining documents

Establishing legal facts in court where needed to obtain identity or citizenship documents.

How to start

1

Choose a safe contact channel

Call, write online or visit a legal aid bureau. You may apply where you actually live.

2

Explain what happened

Tell the lawyer what decision or action you need to challenge and what documents you currently have.

3

Confirm the legal ground

The lawyer will check eligibility, explain the scope of services and identify any supporting documents.

Do not delay your first consultation because documents are missing. Bring what you have, and tell the lawyer if contacting you by telephone or message could create a safety risk.

Legal basis

The right to free secondary legal aid and its scope are defined by Article 14 and other provisions of the Law of Ukraine “On Free Legal Aid”.

View the law