Legal rights for refugees to stay in the European Union

On 3rd March 2022 the European Union introduced a temporary measure to allow refugees leaving Ukraine to enter any member country and stay for at least one year.

All 27 members of the European Union agreed to offer protection across the EU. Refugees will be given residence permits to stay in the EU for at least one year, with an automatic extension for a second year if needed.

Key information for refugees leaving Ukraine can be found here.

Train, bus & flight operators offering free transport from Ukraine across Europe

CountryTrains & flightsBuses
Poland

As of 14th March 2022, almost all public transport buses and trains in Poland are offering free travel for people with a Ukrainian passport or ID card.

RegioJet is partnering with UZ, Člověk v tísni, ČD Cargo and Rail Cargo Group to provide a free daily night train between Ukraine and Prague. The 20-coach train has capacity for 400 passengers and is also transporting humanitarian aid to Ukraine. The train operates from Kiev to Lviv, then with an overnight service departing from Przemysl at 21:30 to Prague with stops in Ostrava, Olomouc and Pardubice. RegioJet will provide free food and drink to passengers onboard the service.

PKP: free travel on all PKP trains with a Ukrainian passport or ID card.

Deutsche Bahn: free travel on all Eurocity trains from Poland to Germany.

Wizz Air: Wizz Air is supporting Ukrainian refugees by offering them 100,000 free seats on all continental Europe flights departing from Poland, throughout March 2022. As many refugees will have already started moving and might be stranded in other locations, the airline is also offering a €29.99 rescue fare on all other flights (excluding the UAE, Iceland and the Canaries), as well as a €69.99 rescue fare on all flights to the UAE, Iceland and the Canaries. Ukrainian refugees wishing to book a flight can do so by visiting: https://wizzair.com/#/rescue. Passengers will be required to provide their Ukrainian passport/ID card number when booking and at check-in.

Flixbus: free travel on all Flixbus buses in Poland.

RomaniaCFR Călători: Ukrainians can travel for free inside Romania with CFR Călători. Also, as a refugee, you can leave Romania and go to Hungary for free. CFR Călători will issue your free ticket at the border, and the conductor MAV, further on the territory of Hungary to Budapest or to the next border.

Flixbus: free travel on all Flixbus buses. Tickets from Bucharest can be requested on the Flixbus website.

Hungary

MÁV-Start: free travel from Ukraine to Hungary regardless of citizenship.

 
Slovakia

Železničná spoločnosť Slovensko: free travel on all trains with a Ukrainian passport or ID card.

Some regional bus operators (such as Bratislava and Trnava) offer free service. Check at the Slovak border as free service is on a case-by-case basis.

Czech Republic

Arriva: free travel on all trains and buses with a Ukrainian passport or ID card.

PKP: free travel on all trains with a Ukrainian passport or ID card.

České dráhy: free travel on all CD trains with a Ukrainian passport or ID card.

RegioJet: free trains and buses from Kyiv to Lviv. Free night trains from Przemyśl (Poland) to Prague, with stops in Ostrava, Olomouc and Pardubice.

 
Germany

Deutsche Bahn: free travel on all trains with a Ukrainian passport, ID card or a “Help Ukraine” ticket available at a DB Reisezentrum (DB travel centres) in any train station. DB is offering around 7,500 places daily for refugees on its trains.

Free travel for refugees on any bus in Germany with a Ukrainian passport or ID card.

Austria

ÖBB and Wiener Linien: free train travel within Austria with the 'Not-Ticket Ukraine' (Emergency-Ticket Ukraine) and a Ukrainian passport or ID card.

All public transport in Vienna is free for Ukrainian refugees.

 
France

SNCF: free travel on all trains with a Ukrainian passport, ID card or a “Help Ukraine” ticket available at a DB Reisezentrum (DB travel centres) in any train station. Since 12th March 2022, SNCF has added a coach on their Paris-Barcelone route reserved entirely for refugees.

Cross-border from and to France: refugees can travel for free with a Ukrainian passport or ID card from France to Belgium (Thalys), England* (Eurostar), Switzerland (TGV Lyria), Germany (Deutsche Bahn), Italy (TGV) and Spain (Renfe-SNCF).

* Refugees need to have a valid visa to enter the UK.

Free travel is available on all TER coaches in France.

Switzerland

All Swiss public transport is free with a Ukrainian passport or ID card.

TGV LYRIA: free travel on all trains with a Ukrainian passport or ID card.

SBB CFF FFS: free travel on all trains with a Ukrainian passport or ID card.

 
Italy

Ukrainian refugees entering Italy can travel for free within 5 days from their arrival on Intercity, Eurocity and regional trains by Trenitalia or on boats to reach the islands.

Trenord: free travel on all trains with a Ukrainian passport or an ID card.

Flixbus: free travel on all buses with a Ukrainian passport or ID card

MarinoBus: free travel on all buses with a Ukrainian passport or ID card.

Itabus: free travel on all buses with a Ukrainian passport or ID card and either a negative Covid test or proof of vaccination.

Netherlands

All public transport across the Netherlands, including NS trains, is free with a Ukrainian passport or ID card.

 
Belgium

SNCB: free travel on all trains with a Ukrainian passport, an ID card or a “Help Ukraine” ticket available at a DB Reisezentrum (DB travel centres) at any train station.

Thalys: Thalys accepts Ukrainian refugees with a compensation fare issued in railway stations.

  • Available only on the following 3 destinations: Brussels - Paris, Germany - Brussels, Germany - Paris
  • One way only
  • On a booking horizon of 2 days (sliding)
  • On presentation of a Ukrainian passport, Ukrainian identity card or Ukrainian residence permit
  • In second class only

Eurostar*: free travel on all trains with a Ukrainian passport or ID card.

*Refugees need to have a valid visa to enter the UK.

 
United Kingdom

National Rail: free travel on all trains in the UK with a Ukrainian passport or ID card, and proof of arrival to the UK (boarding pass or train ticket). Ukrainian refugees will have 48 hours to complete their journey after arriving in the UK.

Eurostar: free travel on all trains with a Ukrainian passport or ID card from any Eurostar station in Europe to London St Pancras International.*

*Refugees need to have a valid visa to enter the UK.
 
Spain

Renfe and Renfe-SNCF: free travel to/from France & Spain, and within Spain on all trains with a Ukrainian passport or ID card.

Ukrainian refugees arriving in Barcelona by plane or train can travel on the tube for free.

 
Finland

VR: free travel on all trains with a Ukrainian passport or ID card.

OnniBus: free travel on all buses with a Ukrainian passport or ID card.

Denmark

DSB: free travel on all trains with a Ukrainian passport or ID card.

 

Portugal

CP (Comboios de Portugal): free train transport to Ukraine citizens who enter Portugal, with a Ukrainian passport or ID card.

 

 

 

The information provided on this page does not, and is not intended to, constitute any legal or professional advice. All information, content and materials available on this page are for informational purposes only. Information on this page may not constitute the most up-to-date legal (or other) information. This page contains links to other third-party websites. Trainline bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of the third-party sites. Such links are only for the convenience of the reader, user, or browsers. Trainline does not recommend or endorse the contents of the third-party sites.

Countries

Here you can find details of free transportation, accommodation and support available for refugees across Europe, per country.

Poland

Poland welcomes refugees from Ukraine and is providing free accommodation and support. 

Polish government website for the latest news: gov.pl

Romania

Romania is helping refugees from Ukraine by providing free travel, accommodation, and other forms of support within the country.

For the latest information, please check Romania’s government website.

Hungary

On 24th February 2022, the Hungarian government passed a decree to ensure all Ukrainian nationals and other third-country nationals lawfully residing in Ukraine who enter Hungary shall be entitled to temporary protection.

UNHCR Hungary

Menedék – Hungarian Association for Migrants

Hungarian Police – information on border crossing

Slovakia

Slovakia is helping Ukrainian refugees with free travel and a temporary stay of 90 days. For the latest advice please visit the Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic website.

Czech Republic

The Czech Republic is helping Ukrainian refugees crossing from Ukraine to Czech Republic with free travel and accommodation.

Germany

Germany’s national train operator, Deutsche Bahn, has created a ticket called “Help Ukraine” which allows refugees to travel to any station across the country free of charge.

Austria

Austria is helping refugees leaving Ukraine by providing free travel, accommodation, and support within the country.

A hotline has been set up by the Federal Chancellery for central questions for Ukrainian refugees. Consultations are offered in German and Russian in addition to Ukrainian. The hotline can be reached at +43 1715 1051 - 120

For the latest information, please check Austria’s government website.

France

SNCF supports refugees leaving Ukraine by offering free train tickets throughout France.

For more information, visit the French government website

Switzerland

Switzerland is supporting Ukrainian refugees with free travel, accommodation and support within the country. 

For the latest information, please check Switzerland's embassy website.

Italy

Italy welcomes refugees from Ukraine by granting a one-year residency permit. For the latest advice, please check the Italian Government website.

From 3rd March 2022, Ukrainian refugees can contact the authorities directly at emergenza.ucraina@comune.roma.it

The Italian police & government have prepared a brochure with everything Ukrainian refugees need to know when entering Italy. It can be found here.

Netherlands

From 1st March 2022, anyone showing a Ukrainian passport or ID card can access all public transportation in the Netherlands for free, including all trains operated by the national train operator NS. 

For the latest advice please check the government website of the Dutch government.

Belgium

SNCB supports refugees leaving Ukraine by offering free train tickets throughout Belgium and in border areas. For more information on the current situation, visit the Belgium government website

United Kingdom

On 14th March 2022, the UK Government launched the "Homes for Ukraine" scheme. It allows allow individuals, charities, community groups and businesses in the UK to bring Ukrainians to safety – including those with no family ties to the UK. Phase One of the scheme will allow sponsors in the UK to nominate a named Ukrainian or a named Ukrainian family to stay with them in their home or in a separate property. Apply here: https://homesforukraine.campaign.gov.uk/

Ukrainians who currently possess work, study or visit visas in the UK will have their visas temporarily extended.

Spain

Free travel for Ukrainian refugees on all Renfe and Renfe-SNCF trains around Spain and to/from France. A Ukrainian passport or ID card must be shown at Renfe sales points, service centres or ticket offices.

Link to the Spanish Government website

Finland

Like other countries in Europe, Finland is extending their residence permit to one year (and possibly two) which gives people access to education, housing, the labour market and social welfare assistance.

Sweden

Information on Ukrainian refugees heading to Sweden can be found here:

https://www.migrationsverket.se/English/About-the-Migration-Agency/The-situation-in-Ukraine.html

Denmark

From 17th March 2022, new legislation allows Ukrainian refugees to apply for temporary residency in Denmark for up to 2 years. They can start working, go to school and receive social benefits soon after arriving.

A website has been set up by the Danish Government for Ukrainian refugees entering the country: https://en.kriseinformation.dk/

Portugal

The Portuguese immigration and borders service has launched a new website, that enables all Ukrainian citizens and their households, as well as any foreign citizen living in Ukraine, to make an online request for temporary protection of one year, extendable for two periods of six months: https://sefforukraine.sef.pt/