Switching Protection Status in the EU: Which Documents to Translate

4.38 million people under temporary protection in the EU, a hard deadline of March 4, 2027, and no single plan for what comes next. You’re already living in one EU country but want to move to another. Or you’re thinking about switching from temporary protection to a work permit. Maybe you want to apply for asylum because temporary protection is running out. In every single one of these scenarios, you need the same thing - properly translated documents. And here’s where it gets tricky, because every country wants its own format, its own language, and its own type of certification.

This guide covers all three main transition scenarios: moving between EU countries, switching to a national residence permit, and applying for international protection (asylum). For each one - concrete steps, documents, translation costs, and common mistakes.

The Basic Rule: You Can Only Have Temporary Protection in One Country¶

Before you plan any transition, here’s the key thing - Directive 2001/55/EC allows you to hold temporary protection in only one EU Member State at a time. When you register in a new country, your protection in the previous one is automatically revoked.

Here’s the important part: the Dublin Regulation does NOT apply to temporary protection. Unlike regular asylum seekers, you have the right to freely choose your host country - this was an unprecedented EU decision specifically for Ukrainians.

But “right to choose” doesn’t mean “easy to move.” Each country has its own procedures, its own document requirements, and its own conditions. And translating those documents is the first thing you’ll deal with.

Scenario 1: Moving With Temporary Protection to Another EU Country¶

How It Works¶

The procedure looks like this:

1. Find housing in the new country and register your address (this is critical - without registration, most countries won’t even start processing your application)
2. Do NOT cancel your protection in the current country until you receive your new status (this is the most common mistake - more on that below)
3. Submit your application for temporary protection in the new country
4. After approval - protection in the previous country is automatically revoked

As one person writes on the Handbook Germany forum:

The main thing is don’t deregister from Poland before you receive your Fiktionsbescheinigung in Germany. Because if there’s a gap between the two statuses - you’re technically illegal. And that’s a completely different story.

Solid advice. Legally you can’t have two active statuses at once, but practically - hold onto the old one until the new one appears.

Which Documents Need Translation When Moving¶

Document	Translation Language	Certification	Notes
Biometric passport	Usually not needed	-	Accepted as is
Birth certificate	Language of new country	Sworn translation	Mandatory for children
Marriage certificate	Language of new country	Sworn translation	For family reunification
Proof of previous protection	Language of new country	Standard translation	Certificate from previous country
Medical documents	Language of new country	Depends on country	For chronic conditions
Children’s school records	Language of new country	Standard translation	For school enrollment

Note: since 2016, EU Regulation 2016/1191 eliminated the apostille requirement for civil status documents (birth, marriage, death) between EU Member States. But this only applies to documents issued by EU countries. For Ukrainian documents, apostille is still required.

We covered apostille and legalization in detail in a separate guide.

Countries Where Re-Registration Is Easier¶

Not all countries treat “repeat” refugees the same way:

• Slovakia - officially allows re-registration even if you had protection in another country
• Portugal - accepts all Ukrainian refugees regardless of previous EU status
• Germany - will register you, but the process can take 2-4 weeks, requires address registration (Anmeldung)
• Czech Republic, Austria, Poland - may be stricter, check previous status through EU databases

As EUAA states in its FAQ:

A beneficiary of temporary protection may move to another Member State and register there. The Member State where the person was previously registered will be informed and the previous temporary protection will be automatically revoked.

So the mechanism exists, but there’s a big gap between “can” and “easy.” Always consult with an immigration lawyer in the new country before making the move.

Scenario 2: Switching From Temporary Protection to a National Residence Permit¶

This is the most pressing scenario - temporary protection runs until March 4, 2027 and won’t be extended further. Time to prepare. Each country offers its own transition paths, and documents for each are different.

Germany: From Section 24 to a Work Permit¶

According to Migrando, only about 14,000 Ukrainians in Germany have actually changed their status over three years. Out of 1.26 million. That’s less than 1.2% - meaning the vast majority haven’t even started the process.

Transition options:

Permit Type	Requirements	Salary	Documents to Translate
EU Blue Card (§18g)	Recognized degree + job	from 45,300 EUR/year	Diploma, transcript, employment contract
Skilled worker with degree (§18b)	Recognized degree + job offer	No minimum	Diploma, work references
Skilled worker with vocational training (§18a)	Recognized training + job offer	No minimum	Certificates, diplomas
Experienced worker (§19c)	Professional experience + job	from 40,770 EUR/year	Employment record, references

Critical point: all documents must be translated by a sworn translator (beeidigter Übersetzer) into German, English, or French. Plus, when filing your application, you’ll need to sign a declaration giving up your Section 24 status - meaning there’s no going back.

Translation costs in Germany: 39-60 EUR per page for certified translation. A full document package (diploma + transcript + employment record + certificates) can cost 300-600 EUR.

If you need a quick translation as a first step - you can upload your document to ChatsControl and get a translation in minutes. It’s handy for understanding what’s actually in your documents before visiting a sworn translator.

Czech Republic: Special Long-Term Residence Permit ZDP¶

The Czech Republic made one of the most progressive moves - Lex Ukraine VII (adopted February 11, 2025) introduced a special long-term residence permit (ZDP - zvláštní dlouhodobý pobyt) valid for 5 years.

Requirements: - Continuous TP residence for at least 2 years - Employment with minimum annual income of 440,000 CZK (~17,600 EUR), +110,000 CZK per additional family member - No state humanitarian aid received since July 2024 - Valid health insurance - For children aged 6-14: proof of school attendance in Czech Republic

Documents to translate: - Passport (usually no translation needed) - Proof of income (translate to Czech) - Health insurance (translate to Czech) - School certificate for children (translate to Czech) - Criminal record certificate (translate to Czech)

Fee: 2,500 CZK (~100 EUR) for adults, 1,000 CZK for children under 15.

Poland: From PESEL UKR to Karta Pobytu¶

Poland is transitioning from its special law for Ukrainians to the general EU system. Karta pobytu (residence card) is the next step for those who want to stay.

Key points: - Requires continuous temporary protection for at least 1 year - From January 2026 - full online submission via MOS system - Processing time: 3-6 months - All foreign documents require sworn translation (tłumaczenie przysięgłe)

Documents to translate into Polish: - Birth certificate - Marriage certificate (if applicable) - Diploma or school certificate - Work references - Criminal record certificate

Austria: Rot-Weiß-Rot Karte Plus¶

Since October 1, 2024, temporary protection holders can apply for the Rot-Weiß-Rot Karte Plus.

Requirements: - Officially employed for at least 12 months out of the last 24 - German language proficiency at A1 level - Lived in Austria for at least 2 years - Financially self-sufficient

After getting the RWR+, you can work without additional permits and stay after temporary protection expires. After 5 years - a path to permanent EU residence.

Netherlands: Transition Document¶

The Dutch government announced a “transition document” valid for 3 years for those under temporary protection. Details expected in spring 2026. Documents in the Netherlands are accepted in Dutch, English, French, or German.

Scenario 3: Switching to International Protection (Asylum)¶

You have every right to apply for asylum at any time, even while under temporary protection. It’s a separate process based on your individual circumstances (not group-based like temporary protection).

When It Makes Sense¶

• Temporary protection is ending and you don’t qualify for any national residence permit
• You have individual circumstances of persecution (not just war)
• You need long-term, stable status

What Happens to Your Temporary Protection¶

According to the European Commission:

Beneficiaries of temporary protection have the right to apply for international protection at any time. If the asylum application is rejected and temporary protection is still in force, the temporary protection status automatically revives.

So you don’t lose anything - if asylum is denied and temporary protection is still active, it automatically comes back. That’s an important safety net.

Documents to Translate for an Asylum Application¶

The list depends on the country, but the basic package includes: - Identity document (passport, ID card) - Birth certificate - Any documents proving persecution or threat - Medical reports (for physical or psychological injuries) - Military documents (if applicable) - Country of origin information materials

We covered how to prepare documents for a BAMF interview in Germany in a separate article. If you’re in a situation where documents are lost or destroyed - there are options with alternative evidence.

Comparison Table: Translation Requirements by Country¶

Country	Translation Type	Languages	Cost Per Page	Apostille for Ukr. Docs
Germany	Beglaubigte Übersetzung (sworn)	DE, EN, FR	39-60 EUR	Required
Poland	Tłumaczenie przysięgłe (sworn)	PL	25-50 EUR	Required
Czech Republic	Úřední překlad (official)	CZ	20-40 EUR	Required
Austria	Beglaubigte Übersetzung (sworn)	DE	40-65 EUR	Required
Netherlands	Beëdigde vertaling (sworn)	NL, EN, FR, DE	35-55 EUR	Required
France	Traduction assermentée (sworn)	FR	30-50 EUR	Required
Spain	Traducción jurada (sworn)	ES	39+ EUR	Required
Italy	Traduzione giurata (sworn)	IT	30-50 EUR	Required

For all EU countries, civil status documents (birth, marriage, death) issued by other EU Member States don’t require apostille. But for Ukrainian documents, apostille is mandatory.

Common Mistakes When Switching Between Statuses¶

1. Canceling Protection Before Getting a New Status¶

The worst thing you can do is cancel temporary protection in one country and only then apply in another. Between the two statuses, you’ll have zero legal protection - you can’t work, receive benefits, or even legally stay in the country.

2. Applying for Protection in Multiple Countries at Once¶

This doesn’t work. EU databases (Eurodac, VIS) are synchronized, and a double application will be detected. This can create serious problems with future applications.

3. Using an Old Translation for a New Country¶

A German translation doesn’t work for Poland. A French translation doesn’t work for Czech Republic. Each country requires translation in its own language (with some exceptions - the Netherlands accepts 4 languages). Don’t cut corners on translation - it’s the foundation of your entire case.

4. Forgetting About Document Expiry Dates¶

A criminal record certificate is usually valid for 3-6 months. Medical certificates - even less. If you translated a document a year ago and plan to submit it now - check if it’s still current.

5. Not Verifying Translator Requirements¶

In Germany, your translation must be from a beeidigter Übersetzer (listed on justiz-dolmetscher.de). In France - from a traducteur assermenté. In Poland - from a tłumacz przysięgły. A translation by “just any translator” won’t be accepted.

What Happens After March 4, 2027¶

March 4, 2027 is the absolute maximum for temporary protection under the Directive. No further extensions are possible.

The EU Council adopted a recommendation on September 16, 2025, calling on Member States to offer Ukrainians national residence permits based on employment, education, or family circumstances.

But a recommendation isn’t a law. Each country decides for itself. And the situation is quite fragmented right now:

• Czech Republic - already launched ZDP (special 5-year residence permit)
• Austria - RWR+ for those who are employed
• Germany - transition paths formally exist, but less than 1.2% have actually used them
• Netherlands - announced a 3-year transition document
• Other countries - haven’t announced clear plans yet

As the European Policy Centre notes:

The transition plan is unambitious and risks creating fragmentation, unequal treatment, and increased secondary movements toward countries with better transition deals.

The longer you wait, the higher the risk of ending up in limbo. Start preparing your documents now.

How Much Does the Entire Transition Cost: A Realistic Budget¶

Expense	Minimum	Maximum	Notes
Translation of main documents (5-8 pages)	150 EUR	500 EUR	Depends on country and language pair
Apostille per document	10-30 EUR	50 EUR	If ordering from Ukraine
Diploma recognition (if needed)	100 EUR	300 EUR	Anabin, ENIC-NARIC
Administrative fees	50 EUR	200 EUR	Residence permit application fee
Language certificate (if needed)	100 EUR	250 EUR	A1-B1 depending on country
Total	410 EUR	1,300 EUR

If you need to translate documents from Ukraine and time is short, ChatsControl can help with a preliminary translation - upload your file, get results in minutes, then decide whether you need a sworn translator to finalize it.

Step-by-Step Preparation Plan¶

1. Now: Figure out your scenario - moving, switching to a work permit, or asylum
2. Now: Gather all original documents from Ukraine (if anything is missing - order through Diia or DP “Document”)
3. 6-9 months before deadline: Get apostille on every document that needs one
4. 4-6 months out: Order sworn translation of your documents in the target country’s language
5. 3-4 months out: Submit your diploma recognition application (if needed)
6. 1-2 months out: Submit your application for the new permit

Don’t wait until the last minute. Sworn translation takes 3-7 business days, diploma recognition takes 1-6 months, and permit processing takes another 2-6 months. The math is simple: if you don’t start now, you risk not making it in time.

FAQ¶

Can I have temporary protection in two EU countries at the same time?¶

No. Directive 2001/55/EC clearly prohibits this. When you register in a new country, protection in the previous one is automatically revoked. But it’s important NOT to cancel your protection yourself before receiving new status in another country - keep both processes running in parallel.

Does time under temporary protection count toward permanent residence?¶

It depends on the country. In Czech Republic, the 5-year ZDP can lead to permanent residence. In Austria, the RWR+ opens a path to Niederlassungserlaubnis after 5 years. In Germany, time under Section 24 usually does NOT count toward Niederlassungserlaubnis - you need to switch to a different permit first.

How much does it cost to translate a full document package for the transition?¶

Between 150 and 500 EUR depending on the number of documents, language pair, and country. Sworn translation of a birth certificate runs 30-60 EUR. A diploma with transcript (10+ pages) costs 150-300 EUR. Add apostille (~10-50 EUR per document) and admin fees. A realistic budget for the entire process is 400-1,300 EUR.

If my new status is rejected, do I lose temporary protection?¶

If you applied for asylum and got rejected while temporary protection is still active - it automatically comes back. But if you signed a declaration giving up temporary protection (as required in Germany when switching to a work permit) - there’s no going back. So weigh the risks carefully before signing.

Do I need an apostille on every Ukrainian document?¶

For most EU countries - yes, apostille is needed on all Ukrainian documents. Exception: since 2016, civil status documents (birth, marriage, death) issued by EU Member States don’t need apostille. But since your documents were issued by Ukraine (not an EU member), apostille is required. More details in our apostille guide.