The European Union is not introducing a mandatory check of the application "Reserves+" for all Ukrainians. However, new applicants for temporary protection may be asked to provide a paper or electronic document confirming the fulfillment of military obligations, exemption from them, or the legality of leaving Ukraine. This is reported by Relocate.to.
Thus, the military accounting document from "Reserves+" may become one of the confirmations, but there is no requirement to show this specific application in the EU decision.
Will "Reserves+" be required in EU countries after the decision comes into effect
EU countries agreed on July 15, 2026, to extend temporary protection for Ukrainians until March 4, 2028. At the same time, they supported additional checks for new applicants who are subject to military obligations in Ukraine.
When applying for status, migration authorities may ask for:
a foreign passport with a mark of legal departure;
an electronic military accounting document from "Reserves+";
a paper military accounting document;
confirmation of a valid deferment;
a document of removal from military registration;
certificates regarding family, medical, or other legal grounds for leaving.
The EU Council clearly stated that the confirmation can be either paper or electronic. Meanwhile, there is no universal list of documents for all states yet.
Each country will be able to detail the procedure through its migration authorities. Therefore, one country may require just a passport, while another may ask for additional confirmation of the grounds for departure.
Who will be checked during the first application for protection in the EU in 2026
The new rule will only apply to those who are applying for temporary protection for the first time after the decision comes into effect. This primarily concerns individuals who are subject to military obligations and must confirm the legality of their departure.
The requirement will not apply to Ukrainians who are already benefiting from temporary protection in the EU. They will not have to show "Reserves+" again or prove the legality of their departure just to extend their status until 2028.
This applies, in particular, to individuals who already have PESEL UKR in Poland, §24 in Germany, or similar status in the Czech Republic, Spain, Italy, and other EU countries.
The rule also does not contain an automatic prohibition for all men aged 18 to 60. Refusals may not be based on gender or age, but rather on the inability to confirm compliance with military obligations or the legality of departure.
At the same time, the final practice will still depend on the formal adoption of the decision, its publication, and the rules that individual EU countries will implement.