The European Union is getting ready to extend temporary protection for Ukrainians who have fled due to the war for another year. In Brussels, they expect that more than four million Ukrainian citizens will be able to legally remain in EU countries at least until March 2028. This was stated by the EU Special Envoy for Ukrainian issues Ilva Johansson in an interview with DW.
Temporary protection for Ukrainians in the EU may be extended until 2028
EU Special Envoy for Ukrainian issues Ilva Johansson stated that the European Commission may officially propose the extension of temporary protection for another year in the near future.
According to her, EU member states are currently discussing a common approach regarding the future of Ukrainian refugees and are already showing readiness to support such a decision.
«We do not see a peace agreement in the near future», — Johansson explained the reason for the possible extension of the program.
She also suggested that the new decision may come with «slight adjustments», but the overall mechanism of protection will remain in force.
Ukrainians in the EU are advised to switch to other types of permits
Despite the possible extension of the program, there are already open discussions in the EU about the need for Ukrainians to gradually transition to more stable legal grounds for residence.
Johansson stated that she does not consider the situation where people remain under temporary protection for five or six years in a row to be correct.
Ukrainians are advised to consider:
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work permits;
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family reunification;
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student visas;
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humanitarian or long-term status.
Such mechanisms provide a more stable legal status and less dependence on annual political decisions of the EU.
More than 4 million Ukrainians are using temporary protection
The temporary protection mechanism was activated by the EU in March 2022 after the onset 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 residence permit application procedure.
Currently, over four million Ukrainian citizens are benefiting from this status in various countries of the European Union.
For Ukrainians in the EU, this means that there is currently no risk of mass cessation of legal stay in 2027. At the same time, Brussels is increasingly signaling that temporary protection is not seen as a long-term solution for many years.
Earlier, we wrote about how to stay in Poland after the expiration of temporary protection in 2026.