EU extends Ukrainians' temporary protection until March 2028, with updated conditions

The European Union has extended its temporary protection policy for Ukrainians displaced by Russia's ongoing war until March 2028, according to the Finnish Interior Ministry. The decision was made on Thursday, with EU nations agreeing to extend the protection for an additional year. The policy was instituted following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in late February 2022.

Under the revised conditions, temporary protection will only be granted to new applicants who fulfill their military obligations under Ukrainian law, including military service. Applicants will need to demonstrate they left Ukraine legally, for instance by presenting a passport with an exit stamp or other official documentation. The updated rules will only apply to new arrivals and will not impact those already residing in Finland.

In July, the European Council endorsed proposals to terminate temporary protection for Ukrainians. However, the EU has not introduced a specific residence permit category for Ukrainian nationals. To secure more permanent stays in the EU, applicants must apply for existing national residence permits based on work, study, or family ties. Finland has already processed approximately 7,500 such applications from Ukrainians, with 4,300 granted based on work and 2,800 on family ties.

The Finnish government is expected to make a final decision on the matter on August 6. The extension of the temporary protection policy until 2028, rather than 2027 as initially announced, was emphasized in a revised release from the ministry.