The new Law on IDPs: is it necessary to renew the certificate, and what will change for displaced people
On 22 October 2026, Law of Ukraine No. 4924-IX “On Ensuring the Rights and Freedoms of Internally Displaced Persons” entered into force. It replaced the law that had regulated internal displacement since 2014. The main change is that the support system for internally displaced persons (IDPs) is gradually shifting from registration and individual forms of assistance towards needs assessments, support for adaptation and integration into local communities.
Important! Not all provisions of the new Law took effect immediately. Some mechanisms require additional government decisions and the launch of new digital services.
Do IDP certificates need to be renewed
No.
All IDP certificates issued before the new Law entered into force remain valid. There is no need to register again or apply solely to replace an existing certificate. Until the new digital mechanisms become operational, people registering as IDPs for the first time can obtain a certificate through the existing procedures (Diia, an Administrative Service Centre (ASC), or a social protection authority).
Important! The entry into force of the new Law is not grounds for terminating previously approved IDP assistance payments or requiring a new application to receive them.
An extract from the database instead of an IDP certificate
The new Law provides for the use of the Unified Information Database on Internally Displaced Persons (UIDB). In the future, people will be able to obtain an extract from this database in electronic or paper form. Both formats will have equal legal force. Where legislation requires an IDP certificate, such an extract may be submitted instead. While the relevant digital service is still being introduced, there is no need to specifically replace an existing certificate with an extract.
Support based on individual needs
Under the new Law, support should depend not merely on whether a person has IDP status, but on an assessment of their needs, the extent to which those needs are being met, and their integration into their new place of residence. Local authorities are required to carry out the relevant monitoring and assessments. This means that the state should assess not only whether someone is an IDP, but also what specific support they need: housing assistance, social support, employment assistance, legal assistance, or access to services supporting adaptation in a new community. The arrangements and procedures for assessing needs and providing specific types of support will be further detailed in government decisions.
A unified housing information system
A separate section of the Law addresses housing needs. It provides for the establishment of an Information and Analytical System of Immovable Property for the Provision of Housing to IDPs. The system is intended to collect information on:
- state-owned housing;
- municipally owned housing;
- privately owned housing whose owners have agreed to have information about their properties included in the system.
Information about available properties is expected to be published through a publicly accessible interactive map. This should make it easier to find housing and enable communities to assess their available housing stock more systematically.
Strengthening the role of IDP Councils
The new Law specifically requires the authorities under which IDP Councils have been established to consider their recommendations and proposals. This does not mean that every proposal made by such councils must automatically be accepted. However, the relevant authority will no longer be able to simply leave a proposal without consideration.
Change of residence for IDPs: notification within 30 days
An internally displaced person is required to notify the relevant authorities of a change of residence or return to their abandoned place of residence within 30 calendar days of arriving at the new location or returning home. The notification may be submitted to the designated local authority or through an ASC.
Children born after displacement
A child born after the internal displacement of both parents or one of them is not considered an IDP within the meaning of the new Law solely because of their parents' status. At the same time, the state must take the birth of such a child into account when determining support for the IDP family.
What should you do now
For most people, the entry into force of the new Law does not require any urgent action. If you already have an IDP certificate:
- you do not need to renew it;
- you do not need to register as an IDP again;
- previously approved assistance payments will not automatically stop solely because the new Law has entered into force;
- existing ways of applying for services and assistance will continue to operate for the time being.
However, if you change your actual place of residence or return to your abandoned place of residence, you should pay attention to the 30-day deadline for notifying the relevant authorities of these changes.
