On 5 August 2026, the EU Council's decision to extend temporary protection for Ukrainians by another year — to 4 March 2028 — entered into force. At the same time, a new condition was introduced: from 31 July 2026, temporary protection is granted only to those who have fulfilled their military obligations in Ukraine — but this condition applies only to new applicants, not to those already benefiting from protection. Here's both changes in order.

How long was protection extended, and when did this take effect?

Under Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1912 of 30 July 2026, which entered into force on 5 August 2026, the duration of temporary protection for displaced persons from Ukraine was extended by one year — to 4 March 2028. Before this decision, protection was guaranteed until 4 March 2027; that date has now been pushed a year further out.

The temporary protection mechanism has been active since March 2022 and has already been extended several times. According to the Council of the EU, as of 31 May 2026, 4.38 million people who fled Ukraine were benefiting from protection across the EU — more than 4 million people have passed through the scheme in total since 2022.

Do current UKR status holders need to do anything?

No. The extension applies to everyone already benefiting from temporary protection in the EU — the status and all the rights attached to it (legal residence, access to the labour market, medical assistance, social welfare, education for children) continue automatically until the new date, with no need to file a new application.

Based on the previous extension (from 4 March 2026 to 4 March 2027), Poland did not issue new zaświadczenie forms — previously issued documents simply remained valid by operation of law, with an appropriate annotation. We expect the same approach for the extension to 2028, but at the time of writing we haven't found a separate official clarification from the Office for Foreigners specifically mirroring the 2027 mechanism for 2028 — check gov.pl/web/ochrona for the current status.

Important: don't confuse this extension with a separate, far more urgent deadline. Some UKR status holders are required to confirm their identity in person at a gmina office by 31 August 2026 — otherwise their status will be lost from 1 September, regardless of the general extension to 2028.

Who does the new military-obligation condition apply to?

This is the most important — and most commonly misunderstood — part of the decision. The condition states that temporary protection is granted only to those who have fulfilled their military obligations in Ukraine. But it applies only when two conditions are met at the same time:

In other words, if you're already under temporary protection in Poland (or any other EU country), this condition doesn't concern you at all, regardless of your age or sex. It's aimed at people applying for temporary protection for the first time after 31 July 2026.

How is compliance with the military obligation proven?

The Council's official wording gives two examples of supporting documents: a passport with an exit stamp confirming legal departure from Ukraine (legal departure itself is treated as evidence of having fulfilled the obligation), or a separate document — paper or electronic — confirming exemption from, or compliance with, the military obligation.

Press coverage also mentions specific exempt categories: people with disabilities deemed unfit for service, fathers of three or more children under 18, and people providing full-time care to seriously ill relatives. We found this detail in news reporting rather than in the Council's primary decision text — if this is relevant to your situation, the exact list of categories and how to prove them is worth confirming individually.

How does this fit into the EU's broader plan for temporary protection?

Extension to 2028 doesn't mean the temporary protection mechanism will run indefinitely. In September 2025, the Council already agreed on a recommendation for a gradual, coordinated transition from temporary protection to longer-term legal statuses — based on employment, education, or family grounds, where applicable — alongside preparation for an orderly return and reintegration in Ukraine once conditions allow. The extension to March 2028 should be read in that context: as another step in a managed process, not as an open-ended guarantee.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to file a new application to extend my protection to 2028?

No, if you're already benefiting from temporary protection — the extension applies automatically, without a new application. If your zaświadczenie shows an expiry date on paper (for example, 4 March 2026 or 2027), it's still valid — the term has been extended by law, not by replacing the document.

I'm a man of military age already in Poland under temporary protection since 2022 — does the new military-obligation condition affect me?

No. The condition applies only to new applicants who apply for protection after 31 July 2026, and doesn't apply to anyone already under protection continuously since a date before and on 30 July 2026 — regardless of age or sex.

If I leave Ukraine after 31 July 2026 and apply for temporary protection for the first time, what will I need?

Under the official wording of the decision — proof of having fulfilled the military obligation: for example, a passport with a stamp confirming legal border crossing, or a document confirming exemption or compliance. The exact list of accepted documents for your situation is worth confirming before you leave or right after arrival — this is a case where getting advice in advance is genuinely worthwhile.

Is 2028 the final date, or will protection be extended again?

Formally, only the date of 4 March 2028 is guaranteed. The EU is simultaneously preparing a coordinated transition from temporary protection to longer-term statuses, so a further extension isn't guaranteed — but there's no decision to end the mechanism in 2028 either. It's worth following the news and, where relevant, considering alternative long-term residence grounds in advance.

Let's check how this affects you personally

If you're not sure whether the new condition applies to you, or you have a zaświadczenie showing an expired date on paper and aren't sure it's still valid — we'll go through your specific situation in a free consultation.

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Sources

Before taking any specific action, we recommend a final review with a relocy.pro lawyer — this article describes the general mechanism as of the publication date; individual circumstances should be verified separately.