National rules and this guide
Temporary protection for Ukraine is based on an EU legal framework, while practical administration takes place under each country’s national rules. Procedures and documents can therefore differ between countries. This guide provides independent English-language information from Newcomer Guide EU about the shared framework and how to understand the information that follows. It is general information, not legal advice, and it cannot assess your personal circumstances. Consult the national immigration authority responsible for your case for an individual decision.
How to use this guide
Use this guide to understand the EU framework and identify which details you need to confirm in the country where you live.
- It explains the EU-level context for Temporary protection for Ukraine; it does not set out every country’s laws, procedures, or administrative practice.
- National rules differ. A country’s immigration authority can explain its own application process, required documents, and how its rules apply to you.
- The guide gives general information, not legal advice. It cannot interpret your documents, assess eligibility, or predict the result of an individual case.
- Information is independent English-language material from Newcomer Guide EU. It is not a charity, official body, Rotary or Rotaract, or the former owner of this domain.
- Use the EU-level explanation as context, then check national requirements with the immigration authority in the country handling your case.
- The national immigration authority decides individual cases. Its decision, rather than a general explanation, determines how national rules apply to your circumstances.
For questions about your status or a procedure, contact the relevant national authority directly. Check its current instructions for the country where your case is being handled.
Key dates
The EU legal framework for temporary protection sets the period during which the measure applies to people displaced from Ukraine. Its timeline includes an initial activation and later decisions extending the protection period. Each milestone has a distinct legal or political role, from establishing the measure to agreeing and adopting an extension. National authorities can explain how EU decisions and their dates are applied in domestic procedures.
Activation in March 2022
Temporary protection for Ukraine was activated on 4 March 2022 by Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/382. The timeline below places that act alongside the later extension milestones.
| Date | Legal act | What it did |
|---|---|---|
| 4 March 2022 | Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/382 | Activated temporary protection. |
| 2025; extension to 4 March 2027 | Decision (EU) 2025/1460 | Extended protection to 4 March 2027. |
| 26 June 2026 | Commission proposal | Proposed a further year of protection. |
| 15 July 2026 | Political agreement | Reached agreement on a further extension. |
| 30 July 2026 | Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1912 | Extended protection to 4 March 2028, applying from 5 March 2027. |
The proposal and political agreement were steps in the process; the Council Implementing Decision set the final extension date.
Extension to March 2027
Decision (EU) 2025/1460 extended protection to 4 March 2027. In practice, this moved the EU-level end point of the protection period to that date. The decision established the extension at EU level, while national authorities explain how it is reflected in local procedures and records. Check the relevant national authority for how the date and decision apply in the country where protection is held.
Extension to March 2028
On 26 June 2026, the Commission proposed a further year of temporary protection. A political agreement followed on 15 July 2026. The Council then adopted Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1912 on 30 July 2026. It extends protection to 4 March 2028 and applies from 5 March 2027. National authorities can confirm how this decision and its dates are applied locally.
Scale of the status
The scale of temporary protection is best understood as a dated count of people holding that status, rather than a running total of everyone displaced from Ukraine. An EU-wide figure provides a common snapshot, while national registration records reflect each country’s own administrative practice. The date matters because people may register, change status or leave after a snapshot is taken. For local figures, national authorities are the relevant source.
People under protection in the EU
According to the Council of the EU, about 4.43 million people who fled Ukraine were under temporary protection in the EU on 31 July 2026. This is a snapshot of people recorded as holding that status on that date, not a cumulative count of everyone who has arrived in the EU since 2022.
The total does not include people who fled Ukraine but are recorded under another residence or protection status, or arrivals who had not registered for temporary protection by the snapshot date.
| Category | Count or treatment | Date and source |
|---|---|---|
| People under temporary protection in the EU | About 4.43 million people | 31 July 2026; Council of the EU, 2026 |
| People under another residence or protection status | Not counted in the temporary-protection total | Not included in the Council figure for 31 July 2026 |
| Arrivals not registered for temporary protection by the snapshot date | Not counted as people recorded under this status | Not included in the Council figure for 31 July 2026 |
The figure therefore measures recorded temporary-protection status holders, not every person who has fled Ukraine or every person living in the EU after leaving the country. It should not be treated as a count of applications, arrivals over time or people covered by other national arrangements.
Registration practices and the timing of administrative updates differ between EU countries, so national totals may not be directly comparable on a different date. For the latest local count, consult the competent national authorities.
What happens when protection ends
The end of temporary protection changes the legal basis on which a person may stay in a host country. EU law sets out when the temporary protection framework ends, while national law determines which residence routes may be available afterwards. The end of this status does not itself grant another form of residence. Understanding the distinction can help people identify which national rules and application procedures to check.
Legal end of the status
Article 6 of Council Directive 2001/55/EC states that protection ends when the maximum duration is reached or earlier by a Council decision. The Directive provides the EU legal framework for temporary protection, including the conditions under which the framework ceases to apply. An earlier end requires a decision by the Council; it is not an automatic consequence of an individual person’s circumstances or a decision made by a local employer, school or landlord.
When temporary protection ends, the special status and rights attached to that EU framework no longer provide the basis for residence. General national rules on protection and on foreign nationals then apply. Those rules are administered by each country and may distinguish between residence permits, applications for international protection and other lawful grounds to stay. The procedures and eligibility conditions are not identical across EU countries, so the outcome depends on the relevant national law and the person’s circumstances.
Temporary protection does not automatically turn into permanent residence. A period spent under temporary protection should not be assumed to create permanent residence rights by itself, and the end of the EU status does not issue a different permit automatically. A person who needs to remain after the framework ends must have a separate legal basis under applicable national rules, if one is available and the relevant requirements are met.
The change in legal basis can affect matters that depend on a valid residence status, including permission to work or access to particular services. The rules governing those matters are set nationally, so rights under a temporary protection arrangement should not be treated as identical to rights under a later permit or protection procedure. National authorities determine how their rules apply, including any transition arrangements established in domestic law.
Article 6 sets out the end point of temporary protection; it does not itself decide which individual national permit a person may qualify for afterwards. That question is assessed under the applicable national framework. The legal distinction is important: the EU-wide status has an end, while any continued residence must rest on a separate national route or other applicable protection status.
Other residence options
Before temporary protection ends, check which national residence routes may fit your circumstances and when applications must be made. Common options include permits based on employment, education or family ties, but eligibility and procedures differ by country.
- Employment permit: Some countries offer residence based on a job offer or employment contract, with requirements such as minimum pay, qualifications or employer sponsorship.
- Self-employment permit: National rules may allow residence for a business or independent work, sometimes requiring a viable business plan, registration or evidence of funds.
- Study permit: A student route may require admission to an approved institution, proof of sufficient resources, health coverage and an application before studies begin.
- Family reunification permit: A family route may depend on the relationship, the sponsor’s residence status, suitable accommodation and income thresholds set by national law.
- Other national permits: Depending on the country, humanitarian, research or other residence categories may exist, each with its own eligibility rules and supporting documents.
These are examples, not guaranteed alternatives: a route available in one country may not exist on the same terms elsewhere. Check the national immigration authority’s requirements and application deadlines in good time, since the authority decides whether an application meets the rules.
Review the current permit criteria, required documents and any fees through official national channels rather than relying on another country’s process. If a route requires an employer, university or family sponsor, allow time to obtain their documents before submitting an application. A separate protection application may also be governed by national procedures and eligibility tests; it is not an automatic conversion of temporary protection into another status.