EU extends temporary protection through 2028, but not for everyone. Who will be denied protection?
Temporary protection for Ukrainians in European Union countries will remain in effect until March 4, 2028. At the same time, the EU has changed the rules for those who are just applying for this status.
It was announced by the European Council.
The new rules will apply only to Ukrainians who apply for temporary protection after the decision takes effect. People who already have this status in EU countries will continue to enjoy it under the previous terms.
What documents will be required from new applicants?
From now on, Ukrainians applying for temporary protection for the first time must confirm that they have fulfilled the requirements of Ukrainian law regarding military duty.
To do so, they may provide:
- a passport with a stamp confirming lawful departure from Ukraine;
- a paper or electronic document confirming the fulfillment of military service obligations or lawful exemption from them.
Jim O’Callaghan, Ireland’s Minister for Justice, Home Affairs, and Migration, stated that the EU continues to support Ukraine but at the same time seeks to take its defense needs into account.
“The signal is clear: we continue to stand by Ukraine. And as part of our support, we also want to make sure Ukraine can defend itself. This is why our temporary protection scheme respects Ukraine’s legitimate needs,” he said.
Why the EU changed the rules?
The European Union introduced the Temporary Protection Mechanism in March 2022 following the start of russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It allows Ukrainians to legally live, work, and study in EU countries without going through the standard procedure for obtaining a residence permit.
Currently, more than 4 million Ukrainians are benefiting from this mechanism. Prior to this decision, the program was set to end on March 4, 2027.
As a reminder, the European Commission recently proposed changing the rules on temporary protection for Ukrainians in EU countries. If the proposal is approved, newly arrived men of military age who do not have permission from Ukrainian authorities to leave the country will no longer be able to obtain temporary protection.