The Council of the EU has agreed to extend temporary protection for Ukrainians for another year, until March 4, 2028. However, for those applying for the status for the first time, there will be an important new requirement related to military service.
Key point: these changes will not affect Ukrainians who are already benefiting from temporary protection in EU countries. For them, all conditions remain the same.
Who will be affected by the new rules?
The new requirements will apply only to new applicants, meaning Ukrainians who arrive in the EU and apply for temporary protection status after the decision officially takes effect.
If you already have dočasné útočisko (temporary refuge) status in Slovakia or a similar status in another EU country, nothing changes for you. The extension of your status will proceed under the old rules, without additional checks regarding military service.
The EU made this decision to balance the need to protect displaced persons and Ukraine's defense needs.
What documents will be required from new applicants?
To receive temporary protection, new applicants will need to prove that they have fulfilled their military obligations or have legal grounds to leave Ukraine.
According to the report on the Council of the EU website, this can be confirmed in one of the following ways:
- presenting a foreign passport with a stamp from Ukrainian border guards confirming legal border crossing;
- providing a document (in paper or electronic format) confirming exemption from military service, deferment, or fulfillment of military duty.
This restriction is intended to prevent those who are evading mobilization from obtaining the status.
What remains unchanged?
The temporary protection mechanism itself retains all its benefits for those who have received it. The status will continue to guarantee Ukrainians in the EU:
- the right to reside;
- access to the labor market;
- the right to housing;
- medical and social assistance;
- access to education for children.
As of the end of spring 2026, more than 4.3 million Ukrainians were benefiting from temporary protection in EU countries.
When will the decision take effect?
Currently, ambassadors of EU member states have reached a political agreement. In the coming weeks, the Council of the EU is expected to officially approve this decision. After its publication in the Official Journal of the EU, it will take effect the following day.
