Sweden: temporary protection for Ukrainians extended to 4 March 2027 — and a new option to change permit from 11 June 2026

Ukrainians staying in Sweden under the Temporary Protection Directive (Swedish massflyktsdirektivet) have received an extension of their status. On 15 July 2025, the EU formally adopted a binding decision to extend temporary protection until 4 March 2027 for all EU countries, including Sweden (political agreement in the Council had been reached earlier, on 13 June 2025). Below is what this means in practice and which new rules to pay attention to in 2026.

Status extended until 4 March 2027

Residence permits under the directive issued before 15 July 2025 were valid until 4 March 2026. The deadline for submitting an extension application expired on 4 March 2026 — it is already in the past. Permits issued on or after 15 July 2025 are granted straight away until 4 March 2027.

If you submitted an extension application on time (before 4 March 2026) and are still registered with the Migration Agency's Reception Unit, your right to housing and financial support is retained while your case is being processed — even if your in-person appointment is scheduled later.

The most important news: from 11 June 2026 you can change permit type without leaving the country

This is a key change for those planning to stay in Sweden longer. From 11 June 2026, persons with a permit under the massflyktsdirektivet can apply for another type of permit without leaving Sweden. Previously, most such applications had to be submitted from abroad.

Without leaving the country, you can now apply for:

• a work permit (as an employee, entrepreneur or researcher);
• an EU Blue Card;
• a study permit (higher education and doctoral studies).

Family members can apply for a family permit as dependants only after the main applicant has received one of the listed permits — family members cannot claim these categories on their own.

Important: you must meet the requirements of the specific permit type. You cannot hold two permits at once — once you receive the new one, you must withdraw your current permit under the directive. Switching to another basis affects your right to receive support from the Migration Agency, the employment service and social insurance — in particular housing and the daily allowance, if you are not entered into the population register.

The right to work — from age 16

A person who has received a permit in Sweden under the Temporary Protection Directive has the right to work from age 16, immediately after receiving the permit. A separate work permit is not required for this.

Population register (folkbokföring): an important change from 5 September 2025

Being entered into the Swedish population register (folkbokföring) provides a personal identity number (personnummer) and broader access to services. This is usually possible if you have held a permit under the directive for at least one year and are likely to remain in Sweden for at least 18 months from the date the permit was issued.

However, because protection has now been extended only until 4 March 2027, the 18-month condition is no longer met for new permits. Therefore, persons who received a permit on or after 5 September 2025 can, as a rule, no longer be entered into the population register. Instead of a personal identity number, they receive a coordination number (samordningsnummer) for tax and employment purposes. An exception is children born in Sweden after 4 September 2025, if one of the parents/guardians is already entered into the register.

Daily allowance (dagersättning): current amounts

The amount of the daily allowance depends on the type of accommodation and whether meals are included. Approximate amounts from the Migration Agency:

• Own accommodation or accommodation without meals: single adult — SEK 71/day; adults living with a partner — SEK 61/day per person; young people aged 18–20 living with parents — SEK 61/day per person; children aged 11–17 — SEK 50; children aged 4–10 — SEK 43; children aged 0–3 — SEK 37.
• Accommodation with meals: single adult — SEK 24/day; a couple — SEK 19 per person; young people aged 18–20 with parents — SEK 19 per person; children up to 17 — SEK 12.

For families with more than two children, the full allowance is granted for the two oldest children, and half for the others. You can separately apply for a special allowance (särskilt bidrag) — for example, for winter clothing, glasses or school supplies — based on an individual assessment.

What to do now

1. Check the date of your permit and its validity period in your Migration Agency personal account.
2. If you plan to stay in Sweden — assess switching to a work, student or family permit (available without leaving the country from 11 June 2026).
3. Check whether you are entered into the population register and whether you have a personal or coordination number — your access to services depends on this.
4. Verify all applications and exact conditions on the official websites of Migrationsverket and Skatteverket.