Number of Temporary Protection Recipients Stabilizes in Estonia
This year, 1,805 Ukrainian refugees have received temporary protection in Estonia, while 295 people have applied for international protection, over 80% of whom are Ukrainian citizens. The temporary protection measure has been extended until March 2027.
According to ERR, in the first five months of this year, 1,805 Ukrainian refugees received temporary protection in Estonia. During the same period, 295 applications for international protection were submitted, more than 80% of which came from Ukrainian citizens. Six applicants were Russian citizens and five were Sudanese citizens.
Temporary protection provides Ukrainian citizens and their family members with rights similar to those of Estonian residents. The measure has been extended until March 2027, with the European Union deciding on further extension or termination.
In addition to temporary protection, 211 people have been granted subsidiary protection this year. As explained by Steve Luks, head of the migration unit at the Northern Prefecture, these individuals do not necessarily face personal political persecution but flee their country due to an ongoing general threat, such as war or large-scale violence.
Luks noted that compared to the crisis at the beginning of 2022, when tens of thousands applied for temporary protection, the current figure of about 1,800 people over five months indicates that migration pressure has stabilized and is under control. This allows the state and local governments to work with arriving people more individually. The stabilization is also visible in accommodation centers, where the Vao and Vägeva centers currently house just over 40 people.
In recent years, these centers have mostly housed Ukrainians, often families striving to rebuild their lives in Estonia as quickly as possible. Jana Selesneva, director of the Vao center, said the centers operate stably, life there is calm and routine, and necessary support is provided. Over the years, the profile of residents has changed, with more families with children, leading to increased demand for support in education, language learning, and daily matters. Selesneva emphasized that the most important task remains integration, so that people understand how Estonian society works, find their place, and learn to cope independently.
