- December 29, 2025
- 11:00 pm
- Israel
The Israeli Population and Immigration Authority has decided to extend the collective protection status for Ukrainian citizens in the country. However, contrary to international practice and the expectations of refugees, the extension period turned out to be extremely short — only three months, until the end of March 2026.
This was reported on December 28, 2025, by newsru.co.il. The editorial office of the publication sent a letter to the Ministry of Internal Affairs for clarifications: in particular, why people who, according to them, did not apply for asylum and continue to stay in Israel as tourists received SMS invitations to “settle refugee status,” and whether attendance at the appointed slot is mandatory.
What exactly happened at the end of December
Amid the extension of collective protection, many Ukrainian citizens received SMS about an appointed meeting at the Ministry of Internal Affairs branch in Bnei Brak — regardless of where they actually live. The messages stated that attendance is needed for “further consideration of the request for refugee status.” The publication separately emphasizes: most of those who received such SMS did not submit documents for obtaining the “blue paper”.
The text also notes that the slots, judging by the message samples, were allocated automatically — while people living far from Bnei Brak were assigned a time at 08:00 in the morning, which is problematic for many.
Contrast with international practice
The publication compares the terms of extending collective protection in different countries amid the ongoing war:
in the European Union the regime is extended until March 2027,
in the United Kingdom — for two years,
in the USA — for six months,
while in Israel the extension is until March 31, 2026.
What the Ministry of Internal Affairs replied to the editorial request
According to the publication, the response from the Population and Immigration Authority came more than a week late, already after the holidays, and did not contain clarifications on key issues.
In the response, the department stated the following (quote from the publication):
“In accordance with the procedure instructions regarding refugee status applicants and within the registration process, messages were sent via SMS to all applicants, including those from Ukraine. These messages ask them to appear at the branch in Bnei Brak for registration, identification, and acceptance of the request.”
How many Ukrainians are currently in Israel — and who received SMS
The material provides an estimate: according to various data, there are between 20 and 26 thousand Ukrainian citizens in Israel who arrived after the start of the full-scale Russian invasion. However, not everyone received SMS.
Lawyer Alex Zernopolsky, whose words are also cited in the publication, suggests: the invitation to the specialized “refugee” branch in Bnei Brak was mainly received by those who previously filled out a questionnaire for the Ministry of Internal Affairs, considering it a registration procedure — but subsequently, these forms could have been interpreted as a request for refugee status.
Position of the lawyers
The law office of Alex Zernopolsky, specializing in immigration law, publicly stated on December 28, 2025, that such decisions by the Ministry of Internal Affairs contradict the principles of collective protection and can be challenged in court.
“Change in the practice of extending ‘blue papers’ for Ukrainian citizens
Ukrainian citizens who applied for refugee status began to receive such papers after an interview at the Ministry of Internal Affairs. They are still blue, but WITHOUT the possibility of working, and employers who hire such holders of 2A5 may face sanctions.
This decision by the Ministry of Internal Affairs contradicts the rights of Ukrainian citizens in Israel under collective protection until 31.03.2026. And of course, it has the potential to be contested in court. But that’s a whole different story…
Are you a Ukrainian citizen who received an SMS about an appearance in January at the Ministry of Internal Affairs for an interview on the issue of seeking refugee status?
If you do not want to receive a similar decision that limits your rights, it is not recommended to visit the Ministry of Internal Affairs branch, due to the risk of receiving the same decision with a work ban.There is no reason to fear deportation, regardless of attendance or non-attendance, until the end of collective protection.
If you applied for refugee status with the help of a lawyer, we recommend getting individual consultation on this issue.
Advice for those planning to obtain status in Israel as a family member or under other circumstances – do not wait until the end of March, do not wait for anything, start preparing to open the case now. Each case requires the preparation of a document package, without which it is impossible to open the case, and this can take weeks and months. You need to use your time effectively while you are legally in Israel.
Your Lawyer Zernopolsky “
The editorial office of NAnews — News of Israel | Nikk.Agency will continue to monitor official clarifications from the Ministry of Internal Affairs regarding the distribution and practice of extending documents for Ukrainian citizens.