The Council of the EU extended temporary protection for Ukrainians until March 4, 2028
The Council of the European Union adopted Decision 2026/1912 extending temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees until March 4, 2028, with new requirements. Starting August 5, 2026, authorities may require proof of legal departure from Ukraine and compliance with military obligations when granting status. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine (Остапова Анастасія) citing European Commission, according to the portal PromPolitInform.
The adopted decision does not imply automatic loss of rights for men who already reside within the member states of the European Union. A clear exemption is provided for such individuals to protect their current legal status.
Conditions for those who already hold status
According to European legislation, the new conditions do not apply to people who held temporary protection in a specific EU country as of August 4, 2026, inclusive. The main requirement for retention is the continuous maintenance of this status within the same country.
Thus, the mere introduction of additional checks does not serve as grounds for revoking previously issued documents. However, the situation differs in cases where the status was lost and a person applies for it again.
Document verification during processing
The new rules primarily affect Ukrainians who submit initial applications for temporary protection after August 5, 2026. Competent authorities of the host country may demand evidence of lawful crossing of the Ukrainian border.
Foreign passports with corresponding border stamps or other data on crossing through official checkpoints can be used for this purpose. In addition, the availability of documents confirming exemption from military obligations or their fulfillment is checked.
Admissible evidence and the Reserve+ application
Explanations by the European Commission state that the absence of a stamp in the passport is not considered an unconditional ground for refusal. Applicants may submit other official papers, in particular electronic documents generated through the Reserve+ mobile application.
The final decision on each package of documents is made by national bodies of the state where the person applied. In the absence of confirmations of legal departure, applicants may be denied temporary protection.
Consequences of prolonged absence and deportation
Receiving a refusal within this procedure does not entail an automatic deportation decision. Individuals with appropriate grounds may apply for international protection through a separate procedure.
Relevant agencies advise paying special attention to prolonged trips to Ukraine. A long absence from the EU country may lead to deregistration and loss of residence permits in accordance with national legislation.
Photo: RBC-Ukraine
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