Guide for Asylum Application in Spain for Ukraine

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Guide for Asylum Application in Spain for Ukraine


These are the procedures awaiting Ukrainian asylum seekers in the EU. After months of heightened tensions, on February 24, Russia attacked Ukraine, launching an invasion of the latter by land, air, and sea.

The attacks, which began on Thursday at 5 a.m. local time, approved by Russian President Vladimir Putin as a «special military operation,» have been considered the largest by one state against another in Europe since World War II, SchengenVisaInfo reports.

While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged Ukrainian citizens to be ready to defend the country from Russian forces that may appear, neighboring countries of Ukraine are preparing for an influx of immigrants.

The attacks, which began on Thursday at 5 a.m. local time, approved by Russian President Vladimir Putin as a «special military operation,» have been considered the largest by one state against another in Europe since World War II, SchengenVisaInfo reports.

While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged Ukrainian citizens to be ready to defend the country from Russian forces that may appear, neighboring countries of Ukraine are preparing for an influx of immigrants.

What asylum application procedures await Ukrainians?

All Ukrainians interested in applying for international protection are eligible to do so, with all the rights and obligations related to such status.

Ukrainians planning to submit an asylum application are eligible to remain on the territory of the Member State, including in border or transit areas, for the duration of the asylum procedure, receiving detailed information in a language they understand.

Once the application for international protection is made, it must be registered, meaning to record the applicant’s purpose of seeking asylum in EU countries. Then, EU countries must show which authorities are responsible for registering asylum applications according to national legislation.

Competent authorities in EU countries are obliged to ensure that applicants have the opportunity to submit the application as soon as possible.

«EU countries must designate which authorities are responsible for receiving asylum applications according to national legislation (Article 6(1) DPA). However, if a person refrains from submitting their application, the deciding authority may decide to suspend the procedure,» states the European Asylum Agency.

However, rules may differ within EU countries as some Member States set additional rules for individuals interested in applying for asylum.

Applying for Asylum for Ukrainians in Spain

Applicants must be informed when applying for international protection.


After applying for international protection, the applicant must be informed at least of the following:

  • The procedure to follow.
  • Their rights and obligations during the procedure.
  • The possible consequences of not fulfilling the obligations and not cooperating with the relevant authorities.
  • The timeframe of the examination process.
  • The means available to the applicant to meet the requirement of providing elements to support their asylum application.

The possible consequences of an explicit or implicit withdrawal of the application. As soon as a person who applied for international protection must submit the application after the registration phase, detailed information on how and where to submit the application must be provided to the applicant, as well as the consequences of not submitting the application.

“It is essential that applicants receive information to ensure a fair and effective asylum procedure. Applicants must know their rights and obligations and understand the different stages of the procedure to present their claims as fully as possible and meet their obligations,” emphasized the Agency.

It is also important that Ukrainians interested in international protection in EU countries are informed and understand the stages of the asylum application filed.

  • Purpose and expected outcome of registration.
  • Confidentiality in the international protection procedure.
  • The registration procedure for asylum is free.
  • Practical steps during the registration process.
  • Procedures for determining the EU country responsible for examining the asylum application filed.
  • Document revealing the applicant’s status.
  • How and where to submit the asylum application if registration and submission are done separately.
  • Shortly after, a registration interview is arranged.

“A registration interview is arranged to collect reliable data from an applicant at the beginning of the procedure. Since you may be the first person representing the asylum procedure that the applicant knows, it is important to approach the interview with a neutral attitude to enhance cooperation, establish a trustful atmosphere, and provide accurate information,” the Agency stated.

Ukrainian citizens planning to apply for asylum in EU countries are encouraged to provide all necessary documents to authorities to determine or verify their identity and nationality.

“Such documents include identity and travel documents (i.e., an ID card and/or passport), family documents (e.g., a family book, birth certificates, death certificates, and/or marriage certificates), documents related to residence and travel routes, and any documentary evidence that could support the asylum application (e.g., a membership card to an alleged political or civil society organization or an arrest warrant),” emphasized the Agency.

Additionally, applicants are urged to submit their original documents. If the asylum seeker does not have the original documents but has copies, they are encouraged to state the reason why the original document is not available and how the applicant was eligible to obtain copies of these documents.

Regarding the biometric data collected during the registration and accommodation stage, it includes both photographs and fingerprints. Depending on the national setup, additional types of biometric data may be collected, including iris scanning or voice recording.

Within three days from the submission of an asylum application, the applicant must be provided with a document or asylum application card free of charge, accrediting the applicant’s asylum status and certifying that they are authorized to stay in the EU country where they have applied for asylum while their application is being examined.

More EU countries issue the application period for a specific period of time, after which it will be renewed if the applicant is still authorized to stay in the country.

“A subsequent application means a new application for international protection submitted after a final decision has been taken on a previous application, including cases where the applicant has explicitly withdrawn their application and cases where the decision-making authority has rejected an application following its implicit withdrawal in accordance with Article 28,” the statement said.

How to apply for asylum in Spain for Ukrainians:

To request international protection in Spain, you need to be in Spanish territory or at one of its borders:

  • At Spanish borders (airport, port, or land border): inform the National Police or Civil Guard that you want to request international protection.
  • In territory: go in person to the Police Stations or Immigration Offices authorized for this purpose. Usually, you need to request an appointment in advance.
  • Or in an Internment Center or Penitentiary Center: inform the Center’s Director that you want to request international protection.

How to request international protection in Spain:

Once you inform the authorities that you want to request international protection, they will schedule an individual interview where they will collect:

  • Your personal, family, educational, professional data, etc.
  • The travel route from Ukraine to Spain.
  • The reasons for requesting international protection: It is important that if, in addition to the war, you fear for your life or your rights for other reasons (political, religious, ethnic, due to your nationality, your profession, your sexual orientation, gender identity, you are a victim of gender violence…) you explain it in detail.

This interview is entirely confidential, and you have the right to the assistance of a lawyer and an interpreter. For more information, we provide you with further details in our article on applying for asylum in Spain.

Number of asylum applications in EU countries submitted by Ukrainians:

According to the figures provided by the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) in 2021, Ukrainians submitted a total of 5,301 asylum applications for the first time in EU countries, while no repeated applications were recorded.

The figures published by EASO also revealed that 480 Ukrainians had refugee status as of November 2021, a total of 491 had subsidiary protection status, while a total of 7,353 negative decisions were issued.

EASO data also show that the number of first-time applications submitted by Ukrainians in EU countries in 2020 was 4,944, while in 2019, before the spread of the coronavirus and its new strains, the number was 8,091.

While in 2014, the number of first-time applications submitted by Ukrainians in EU countries was 13,745, the following year, in 2015, the number of first-time applications reached its peak, during which a total of 19,585 asylum applications were registered by authorities of EU countries.

Can Ukrainians seek refuge in Spain?

Immigration Grants and Asylum Policy

The situation is changing very rapidly, and new government announcements may render this information outdated. Any changes since the date of this article should be reflected on the main Ministry of the Interior websites regarding the immigration and asylum position for Ukrainians.

If you are a Ukrainian citizen seeking free legal advice, or you are an immigration lawyer who can volunteer to provide it, try reaching out to the Ukraine Advice Project.

Forms of Protection in EU Countries

There are at least two forms of protection that can be obtained in EU countries: refugee status and «subsidiary protection.»

In accordance with the 1951 Geneva Convention, refugee status is a form of protection granted to any person who, due to their «well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, is outside the country of their nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, unwilling to avail themselves of the protection of that country.»

«Subsidiary protection» is granted to those in need of protection but do not qualify as refugees under the Geneva Convention. Such protection is granted to individuals who have applied for asylum due to «a threat to life, safety, or freedom in the country of origin due to fear of the death penalty or execution of a death penalty, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, or widespread violence in situations of international or internal armed conflict or systematic human rights violations.»

Decisions on granting refugee status or «subsidiary protection» involve granting the right to long-term residence in the country and granting the protected person most social rights, including the right to education, work, and public health insurance. In addition to refugee status and subsidiary protection, asylum seekers may obtain various forms of temporary protection.

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