EU+ COUNTRIES INFORMATION

Get to know the list of European countries where the free EU+ Air Transfer program is available. Also provided below are details of the services you will be entitled to upon arrival in your chosen country.

Austria (on hold)

At the moment, Austria has temporarily suspended accepting applications for review, but it continues to accept people who arrive in their country on their own initiative. Below is information about the services provided by the Austrian authorities to refugees:

Bulgaria

Information on services provided by the Bulgarian authorities to refugees:

France (on hold)

At the moment, France has discontinued accepting applications for review, but it continues to accept people who arrive in their country on their own initiative. Below is information about the services provided by the French authorities to refugees:

Germany (on hold)

At the moment, Germany has temporarily suspended accepting applications for review, but it continues to accept people who arrive in their country on their own initiative. Below is information about the services provided by the German authorities to refugees:

Greece

Information on services provided by the Greek authorities to refugees:

Iceland

Information on services provided by the Icelandic authorities to refugees:

Ireland

Ireland is currently accepting referrals for review, but due to high demand and subsequent accommodation difficulties, there may be significant delays in processing applications. Below is information about the services provided by the Irish authorities to refugees:

Ireland does not accept families with pets as the government is unable to provide accommodation for arrivals with pets in temporary accommodation facilities.

It is advisable to possess a biometric passport to enter Ireland.

Beneficiaries must have proof that they were on the territory of Ukraine both before and at the time of February 24, 2022.

Italy

Italy is currently accepting referrals for review, but due to high demand and therefore accommodation difficulties, there may be delays in processing applications. Below is information about the services provided by the Italian authorities to refugees:

If the application is approved, it will be necessary to provide all documents requested by the Italian authorities, as well as a notarized translation for some of them. In order to have a translation notarized, you must provide original documents without lamination. If the document is laminated, notarization will not be possible.

Latvia (on hold)

At the moment, Latvia has temporarily suspended accepting applications for consideration, but it continues to accept people who arrive in their country on their own initiative. Below is information about the services provided by the Latvian authorities to refugees:

Liechtenstein

Information on services provided by the Liechtenstein authorities to refugees:

If beneficiaries carry more cash than CHF 300 per adult and CHF 150 per child when entering Liechtenstein, but refuse to hand over the excess amount to the authorities, their social assistance will be reduced by that amount or they will not receive weekly payments until the excess amount has been spent.

Bringing Pets to Liechtenstein under the EU+ Air Transfer Programme

In Liechtenstein, the accommodation of refugees and their placement in facilities is managed exclusively by Refugee Aid Liechtenstein.

If a family travels with a dog, the animal welfare center is located in Schaan. Depending on the accommodation location, families may need to use public transport for up to 40 minutes to visit their pet.

✅ Owners are allowed to visit their dog daily and may take it out for walks during the center’s opening hours, with the understanding that the dog must be returned on time.

💰 If the family is assessed as financially vulnerable under the Asylum Act (based on a submitted declaration of assets), the dog’s accommodation at the animal welfare center will remain free of charge. Otherwise, the family will be responsible for covering the related costs.

Lithuania

There are no air transfers organized to Lithuania, but the country continues to welcome people who arrive on their own initiative. Below is information about the services provided by the Lithuanian authorities to refugees:

The Netherlands

Information on services provided by the Dutch authorities to refugees:

 

Bringing Pets to the Netherlands under the EU+ Air Transfer Programme

Please note that accommodation options for families relocating to the Netherlands with pets are extremely limited. There are several hundred reception centers across the country, each with its own policy regarding pets. However, only a very small number of facilities allow animals, and due to the ongoing housing shortage, the chance of being placed in one of these pet-friendly locations is very low to none.

If a family is placed in a location that does not allow pets:

  • Animal welfare shelters may be an option, but please be aware that these organizations typically aim to rehome animals permanently, not offer temporary boarding.

  • Private animal boarding facilities (“pensions”) do exist, but they are not free and can be very expensive. In addition, they are often full, and availability cannot be guaranteed near the location where the family is placed. Families would also need to arrange this independently prior to departure, as pets cannot be accommodated in the reception centers.

Due to these limitations, it is not possible to confirm in advance whether a family will be housed in a pet-friendly facility. Families should carefully consider this before confirming their interest in relocation to the Netherlands. If a referral is accepted and space is reserved, but the family later decides not to proceed due to pet-related concerns, it could impact others awaiting relocation.

We understand how difficult this decision may be and encourage families to explore all available options in advance.

Norway

EUAA information booklets on services provided by the Norwegian authorities to refugees: in English; Ukrainian; Russian.

When submitting an application for a flight to Norway, all beneficiaries must provide the UNHCR team with the following information:

  • Places of residence from February 2022 until arrival in Moldova, and, in the case of multiple locations, the duration of residence in each.
  • Place of issuance of the international passport or document confirming the last place of residence.
  • Place of residence indicated in the internal passport.

Additionally, the following documents (for all family members) must be attached to the application:

  • Biometric passport and all border crossing stamps.
  • ID card or internal passport (for internal passports: pages 1 and 2, page with marital status, and the registration page).
  • Documents confirming residence in Ukraine on or before February 24, 2022.
  • Documents confirming the last place of residence in Ukraine (last 6 months) before arrival in Moldova.

Single third-country nationals (even with a residence permit) or families consisting solely of third-country nationals do not meet the criteria to participate in the program.

Furthermore, citizens whose last permanent place of residence was in one of the areas considered safe by the Norwegian authorities do not meet the criteria for collective protection in Norway: Cherkasy, Chernivtsi, Ivano-Frankivsk, Khmelnytskyi, Kirovohrad, Kyiv (region, not city), Lviv, Poltava, Rivne, Ternopil, Vinnytsia, Volyn, Zakarpattia, Zhytomyr.

Additionally, due to the large number of refugees arriving in Norway, there is a high likelihood of rejection for individuals with complex medical needs that require special living conditions (there are difficulties in providing housing adapted for people with special needs).

Entry with pets:
Beneficiaries are allowed to enter Norway with pets; however, pets are no longer allowed to stay in accommodation centers. Owners must cover all costs for the care of their pets in a kennel, as well as expenses for vaccines and document processing, if necessary.

According to statistics, Ukrainian refugees typically live in accommodation centers for about 75 days before being provided with permanent housing. However, families with pets often remain in reception centers longer, as it is more difficult to find suitable housing for them. The approximate cost for keeping one dog and one cat in a kennel for 75 days is 45,000 NOK (4,000 EUR) and 17,000 NOK (1,500 EUR), respectively.

Portugal

Information on services provided by the Portuguese authorities to refugees:

Spain

Information on services provided by the Spanish authorities to refugees:

Spain can accept elderly people provided that they have relatives in Spain who can financially support them.

Spain does not accept families with pets, as the government cannot provide accommodation for such families in public accommodations.

Temporary Protection in Spain – Who Is Eligible and What Documents Are Required?

To qualify for Temporary Protection in Spain, individuals must meet one of the following categories and provide specific documentation:

✅ 1. Ukrainian Nationals

  • Must have been residing in Ukraine before 24 February 2022
  • Required documents:
    • Proof of Ukrainian nationality (e.g., passport, ID card, military/service cards, certificate of citizenship)
    • Proof of residence in Ukraine before 24 February 2022 (e.g., passport stamps)

✅ 2. Third-Country Nationals or Stateless Persons with Legal Residence in Ukraine

  • Must have held a valid Ukrainian residence permit and be unable to safely return to their country
  • Required documents:
    • ID document
    • Residence permit in Ukraine
    • Statement explaining why return is not safe
    • Proof of residence in Ukraine before 24 February 2022

✅ 3. Non-Ukrainian Nationals or Stateless Persons with International or National Protection in Ukraine

  • Must have held refugee/subsidiary protection in Ukraine before 24 February 2022
  • Required documents:
    • ID document (passport, ID card, etc.)
    • Document proving protection status (e.g., travel document under Geneva Convention, stateless travel document)
    • Proof of residence in Ukraine before 24 February 2022

✅ 4. Family Members of the Above Categories

Must have lived together at the time of displacement. Includes:

  • Spouse or registered partner
    • Marriage certificate, family book, or partnership proof
  • Unmarried minor children (biological or adopted)
    • Birth or adoption certificate, family book
  • Other dependent close relatives
    • Proof of cohabitation, medical/welfare certificates

For more details and the latest updates, please consult the Spanish Government website or the UNHCR Spain Help page.

Switzerland

Information on services provided by the Swiss authorities to refugees:

At the moment, Switzerland can accept a maximum of 5 people per month (exception is families consisting of more than 5 members, in such cases the transfer is organized for the whole family regardless of the number of people). In this regard, there may be delays in processing your application.

Single citizens of third countries (even with a residence permit) or families consisting only of citizens of third countries do not meet the criteria for participation in the program.

Mixed married couples (for example, one of the spouses with the citizenship of Ukraine, and the other with the citizenship of a third country) must prove in advance that the marriage was concluded before the start of a full-scale invasion.

Also, due to the significant number of refugees who have arrived in Switzerland, there is a high probability of rejection of people with complex medical needs due to existing difficulties in their accommodation and maintenance.

Additional information relevant to pledging countries

All program participants over the age of 14 must have a national biometric passport to enter any of the pledging countries. For children 14 and under, a photo can be pasted in the passport of one of the parents. Exceptions are made only for vulnerable cases.

If your partner is not a Ukrainian citizen, you will need to confirm that your relationship began before February 24, 2022 in order for your partner to qualify for temporary protection in the country of destination.

Travelling with pets:
In case of travel with pets, please note that due to the high number of refugees, most countries are currently unable to accommodate people with pets in accommodation centers. Please check with EU+ Air Transfer unit for availability, conditions and potential additional costs when traveling with pets to a particular country.

The following may be required for travel (list may vary depending on the country selected):

1. A microchip that meets international quality standards. The pet must be chipped with a special identifier (microchip). The chip must be implanted before vaccination against rabies (otherwise such vaccination will not be counted).

2. International veterinary certificate of the European standard on the health of the animal. The animal health certificate is issued by an authorized state institution and a veterinarian, and indicates vaccination or revaccination against rabies, as well as other marks on the animal’s health status that meet the requirements of EU Regulation No. 577/2013. The certificate must be obtained no earlier than 10 days before entering the country of destination.
The certificate must be accompanied by documents confirming the information contained in the certificate, e.g. records of vaccinations, deworming, microchip installation (including its number).

3. Veterinary passport of the European Union model. As an alternative to the International Veterinary Certificate of Animal Health, cats and ferrets may travel with an EU veterinary passport. This passport must be issued by an authorized veterinarian in an EU/EEA country.

4. Rabies vaccination. Vaccinations must be given at least one year before the date of departure, but at least 30 days before the animal is brought into the EU.

5. The result of a blood test for rabies antibodies. This test must be performed at least 30 days after rabies vaccination and 3 months before importation into Europe and only in EU accredited laboratories.

6. Deworming (only for importation of dogs into Norway). The dog must be treated against Echinococcus multilocularis between 24 and 120 hours before entry into Norway.