For IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) from October 22, the accounting rules have changed: existing documents do not need to be replaced.
A new law, №4924-IX on the rights of internally displaced persons, comes into effect on October 22. Confirmation of the status of an internally displaced person will be provided by an extract from the Unified Information Base, while previously issued documents remain valid. Notification of a change of residence must be made within 30 days; prolonged absence from Ukraine – more than 90 consecutive days or 180 days per year – may result in removal from the register.
The new Law of Ukraine No. 4924-IX «On ensuring the rights and freedoms of internally displaced persons», which updates the rules for registering, confirming status, and receiving state support for IDPs, comes into effect on October 22.
Instead of the proof of registration, a person's status will be confirmed by an extract from the Unified Database of Internally Displaced Persons – in electronic or paper form. Documents issued before the law came into effect will not become invalid simply due to changes in the rules, so there is no need to reissue existing documents.
To relocate or return to a previously abandoned place of residence, IDPs will have 30 calendar days to notify. Information about the place of residence will also be used to assess the needs of displaced persons and determine the necessary assistance.
The law provides for an online portal for internally displaced persons (IDPs): through it, individuals can access information about their personal data and state support, as well as use certain services remotely. The practical procedures for using the service are still to be determined by the government.
The grounds for removal from the register have been determined – among them, providing knowingly false information, the death of a person, and other circumstances stipulated by law. The prolonged stay abroad is also regulated separately: absence from Ukraine for more than 90 consecutive days or more than 180 days in total during a year may be grounds for removal from the register, although for certain circumstances, the law provides exceptions.
Housing assistance remains one of the types of state support for internally displaced persons (IDPs), and the specific amounts, conditions, and procedures for its provision will be determined by separate government decisions. To ensure that IDPs have housing, an information and analytical system will be created, containing information about state, municipal, and, with the consent of owners, private properties suitable for IDPs to live in. The law provides guarantees for certain categories of IDPs regarding overdue loan payments, including protection from the imposition of fines, penalties, and other property sanctions in cases provided for by law.