ADVERTISEMENTWith the war in Ukraine entering a new phase, the number of Ukrainians heading to Europe to seek asylum appears to be in decline.
Currently, the EU hosts over 4.3 million Ukrainian refugees, with 254,000 others in the UK alone, and tens of thousands more across other extra-EU countries.
February saw the lowest number of new asylum decisions (41,435) made by the EU since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, according to Eurostat, a 25% drop since February 2024.
Germany has the highest share of Ukrainian refugees, nearly 1.8 million, or 27.3% of the bloc’s total.
Two weeks ago, Berlin became the latest European capital to announce changesto asylum allowances and other benefits for this group of asylum seekers.
So what’s the state of play in other countries?
Hungary: No more accommodation for western Ukrainians
Hungary cancelled state-funded accommodation for Ukrainian refugees coming from western parts of the country, which it now officially considers safe.
According to the Hungarian Helsinki Committee, around 3,000 refugees, mostly women and children, were affected.
However, Hungary also extended Temporary Protection cards until 4 March 2026, regardless of the validity date physically displayed on the card.
Temporary Protection recipients get 22.800 HUF (around €55) monthly, with an additional 13.700 HUF (around €34) per child.
Poland: Host allowance and refugee payment discontinued
Poland, the country with the second highest number of Ukrainian refugees, recently extended the legal stay period for asylum seekers who left Ukraine after 24 January 2022 to 30 September 2025.
However, people hosting or offering food to Ukrainian refugees are no longer eligible for cash compensation. Accommodation can still be arranged with the local authorities.
Also, a one-offPL300 payment (around €70) that refugees could previously receive has been terminated.
Nonetheless, Poland allows Ukrainians to get a personal ID number, meaning they are entitled to work and get free medical care. Ukrainian children still may receive 800 PLN, just like Polish children, but only if they fulfil their school attendance requirements.
Norway: Child benefits tightened over ‘unsustainable’ arrivals
Norway was one of the first European countries to tightenbenefit schemes, aiming to tackle what it called an unsustainable number of arrivals shortly after the beginning of the full-scale invasion.
ADVERTISEMENTThe government cut child benefits and restricted the opportunity for people with temporary collective protection to travel between Ukraine and Norway.
It also limited the use of hotels as asylum reception centres, and warne refugees who want to access the country’s National Insurance Scheme that they would need to meet residency duration requirements.
Slovakia: Cuts to accommodation and allowances
At the beginning of March, Slovakia enforced new rules for Ukrainians who arrived after 28 February 2025. The maximum time for which they are eligible to stay in asylum facilities was cut down to 60 days from the previous 120, and this accommodation allowance is now available only for their first 60 days in the country.
Deputy Interior Minister Peter Krauspe explained this by saying that Ukrainian refugees generally secure work and housing within two months of arriving in Slovakia.
ADVERTISEMENTHowever, these changes won’t apply to vulnerable groups, including children under the age of five, people over 65 and single parents of young children.
Estonia: Six-month deadline for housing aid
Every Ukrainian refugee household can claim a lump €1,200 reimbursement to cover rental costs. But new rules require that the reimbursement application be submitted within the first six months after the first residence permit was granted.
In addition to compensation for rental costs, refugees can also be reimbursed for translation services of up to €3,200 per family, and €1,600 per single individual, within two years.
Estonia also grants children under 19 an allowance of €80 for the first and second child in the family, and of €100 for the third and next child in the family, up to €650 per month in case of seven children.
ADVERTISEMENTThere is also a parental allowance for parents who sought refuge in Estonia with a child under one and a half years of age. It amounts to €820 per month for up to 545 days.
Austria: A1 German level required for Red-White-Red Card Plus
Austria has extended Ukrainian refugees’ residence rights until 4 March 2026. Ukrainian refugees with the so-called Blue Card can now apply for the Red-White-Red Card Plus (Rot–Weiß–Rot–Karte plus), which allows them to live and work in Austria.
Requirementsinclude an A1 level of German, providing proof of income, and a record of having worked in Austria with full insurance for at least 12 months in the last 24 months before applying.
Ireland: Homeowner allowance to be cut by 25%
Ireland is planning to cut a tax-free payment for people hosting Ukrainian refugees from €800 to €600 in June.
ADVERTISEMENTThe scheme has however been extended through to March 2026. Ireland had previously cut the allowance for each Ukrainian refugee from €232 a week to €38.80.
Belgium: Flanders phases out subsidy for sleeping hubs
Belgium’s Dutch-speaking region of Flanders announced the end of subsidies for private sleeping spots after 1 January 2025.
On the other hand, public authorities with at least five Ukrainian refugees will receive a €1,000 lump sum for each asylum seeker hosted, if they host at least five and are registered as a hosting spot by 1 January 2025.
Germany: Incoming refugees to be supported under a different benefit system
Ukrainian refugees who entered Germany after 1 April 2025 will no longer receive the Citizen’s Allowance (Bürgergeld).
ADVERTISEMENTThey will be supported under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act (Asylleistungen) instead.
It is currently unclear if changes to the Ukrainian refugees settled before this date will also see changes to their benefits in the future.
However, these changes are not formally in place yet, pending the agreement of Germany’s new coalition government: they have already been approved by the centre-right Christian Social Union (CSU), but still need to be rubber-stamped by its sister party, the Christian Democrats (CDU), and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD).
The coalition is due to be signed on 30 April, if all three parties agree.
ADVERTISEMENTUkrainian refugees were the first to qualify for Citizen’s Allowance and were granted residency status within the EU without having to apply for asylum first, unlike refugees from countries such as Syria and Afghanistan.
Under the Citizen’s Allowance, single individuals receive €563 per month, whereas asylum seekers receive €441, which is loaded onto a payment card.
Refugees also receive less money if sharing accommodation, although housing costs are still covered.
Bürgergeld is funded through taxes collected by the federal government, whereas asylum support is provided by states and municipalities.
ADVERTISEMENTBulgaria: Deadline to renew temporary protection card nears
Bulgarian authorities extended temporary protection status for Ukrainian refugees till 4 March 2026. However, temporary protection cards that have already been issued must be renewed by 30 April 2025.
Ukrainian refugees are granted financial aid of BGN 375 (€190), temporary shelter, advocacy, as well as therapy and rehabilitation.
Czech Republic: Strict requirements for new residency scheme
Last month, Prague approved a new long-term residence scheme available to Ukrainians who earn over CZK 440,000 (€17,551) gross annually, have been living in the country under temporary protection for at least two years, and haven’t received benefits since last July.
Authorities said the measure aims to push refugees to integrate further and become self-sufficient. But NGOs and the Ombudsman’s Office are concerned that many refugees will be left out as they don’t meet these conditions.
ADVERTISEMENTNormally, all new Ukrainian refugees are granted aCZK 5,000allowance (€200) in cash for up to a maximum of five months.
Italy: Accommodation services extended until end of 2025
The monthly allowance for Ukrainian refugees in Italy is €300 per adult, plus another €150 for each accompanied minor under 18. Refugees are hosted in hotels or private accommodations across the country. However, reception services will be available nationwide until 31 December 2025, according tothe country’s Civil Protection Department.
Refugees who still need housing past February 2025 may also be relocated to a different region from the one where they initially settled.
France: Renting support on top of accommodation allowance
Ukrainian refugees in France receive an ADA (Asylum Seeker Allowance) at the beginning of the month through a payment card, and are eligible to receive around €426 a month.
ADVERTISEMENTThere is a basic amount of €6.80 per dayfor a single person, plus another €7.40 pécule for those asylum seekers who weren’t provided with accommodation.
Support is also available for renting private housing or finding a dedicated accommodation centre. Arrangements are also in place for Russian and Belarusian nationals “threatened in their country because of their positions in the conflict”.
United Kingdom: Jobless refugees can apply for Universal Credit
Ukrainian refugees living in the UK are eligible for both one-off and ongoing financial support through various welfare schemes.
Through the Homes for Ukraine scheme, for example, each asylum seeker with a sponsor in the UK can receive a one-off payment of £200 upon arrival, while the host can claim £350 a month for the duration of their Homes for Ukraine visa.
ADVERTISEMENTAsylum seekers with children, meanwhile, can receive £26.05 a week for their eldest or only child, £17.25 for each additional child, and financial support for childcare if the children are not in school yet.
Jobless or low-income people can apply for Universal Credit, a single-payment benefit whose size depends on the family situation and housing costs.
Spain: Employment assistance and €400
Spain has approved a€400 allowance for each adult Ukrainian refugee, plus €100 per minor, for a duration of six months.
Applicants must have a social security number and “no resources to cover their daily needs”. The country also provides health insurance and labour market integration support.
ADVERTISEMENTNetherlands: Higher food allowance for solo refugees and smaller families
In the Netherlands, both adults and children are eligible for a monthly subsistence allowance for clothing and food, as well as an extra allowance that can be used for public transport, visiting family or taking part in sports.
However, once a refugee aged 18 or older gets a job, the allowance stops for all family members.
As of the beginning of 2025, the clothing allowance is €62.66, and the extra allowance is €77.16.
Meanwhile, refugees who do not get their meals at a municipal reception centre see their budgets vary. Smaller families get more money per person than larger families.
ADVERTISEMENTFor instance, a solo refugee or an adult in a two-person family receives €252.18, while an adult in a four-person family receives €189.13.
The allowance is paid by the municipality where the individuals are registered and can be deposited directly into their bank account, onto a money card, or in cash.
Portugal: Temporary protection status
Ukrainians with refugee status in Portugal will be granted a temporary protection title, which automatically includes a temporary residence permit, a tax identification number, a social security identification number, and a national health service user number.
The temporary protection title will allow them to be entitled to the social integration income (RSI) as long as their monthly income is up to €237.25 and their combined financial assets, such as bank deposits, shares, bonds, postal savings certificates, participation securities and units in collective investment institutions, do not exceed €30,555.60.
ADVERTISEMENTAn RSI applicant will receive €237.25, with an additional €166.88 for a second adult.
For refugees with children under the age of 18, there is an added amount of €118.63 per child.
Ukrainian refugees can also apply for unemployment benefits to compensate for involuntary job loss. This benefit amounts to €522.50 for beneficiaries living in a household or €418 for single beneficiaries.
Portugal has a dedicated platform for refugees from Ukraine to look for a job (“Portugal for Ukraine”) and a support line available in Ukrainian.
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