Temporary protection for Ukrainians fleeing war extended until 4 March 2028

Temporary protection for Ukrainians fleeing war extended until 4 March 2028

Temporary protection for Ukrainians fleeing Russia's war of aggression has been extended. On 30 July 2026, EU countries agreed to extend the temporary protection status granted to those fleeing Ukraine by one year. Temporary protection for Ukrainians fleeing the war will continue until 4 March 2028.

The EU Member States are committed to providing temporary protection to Ukrainians for as long as there is a need for protection. Temporary protection was introduced in the EU after Russia launched its war of aggression in March 2022. Protection is granted to Ukrainians and their family members.

The EU decided that, going forward, temporary protection will be granted only to new applicants who satisfy their military obligations under Ukrainian law, such as military service. Applicants will have to prove they left Ukraine legally, for example by showing a passport with an exit stamp or other official document.

These new conditions only apply to new applicants for temporary protection. They do not apply to people already benefiting from temporary protection in the EU. People already benefitting from temporary protection in Finland do not need to take action because of this decision.

A Government decision on the matter is scheduled be made on 6 August 2026.

Grounds for granting temporary protection still exist

Temporary protection is based on the EU Directive on Temporary Protection. It makes it possible to provide protection to a limited group of people in a swift process that is less complex than the asylum procedure. A person may be granted temporary protection in one Member State at a time.

The grounds based on which temporary protection was originally introduced still exist. The situation in Ukraine remains unstable and difficult to predict. The number of Ukrainians granted temporary protection in the EU and Schengen area remains high, about 4.4 million, with about 50,000 currently residing in Finland.

Preparations also under way to phase out temporary protection

Though temporary protection was extended to March 2028, preparations are also being made at the EU level to eventually phase it out. As the name suggests, this protection is a temporary measure and is intended to end when circumstances in Ukraine allow.

In the summer of 2025, the Council approved exit recommendations as part of preparations to phase out temporary protection. No class of residence permit specifically for Ukrainians is being prepared at the EU level. More permanent stays in the EU will require applying for existing types of national residence permits, such as permits based on work, study or family ties. A total of about 7,500 Ukrainians have already done so in Finland. A total of 4,300 Ukrainians have been granted a residence permit on the basis of work and 2,800 on the basis of family ties.

Inquiries:
Tuuli Tuunanen, Chief Specialist, tel. +358 295 488 658, [email protected]