“No one is canceling the status at the moment, but life in the EU may become more difficult” — an interview with an expert on the future of temporary protection

Temporary protection for Ukrainians in the EU has been extended until 2026, but can we be sure? Are changes, restrictions, and even deportations possible? Find out the answers to the hottest questions about the status, risks and scenarios for the future in an interview with Anna Fedoryshyna, migration lawyer at Visit Ukraine

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Anna Fedoryshyna is a practicing migration lawyer and an expert in the Visit Ukraine team who advises Ukrainians in Europe on a daily basis. She has an understanding of how European legislation works de jure and how it looks de facto. We turned to her to find out whether Ukrainians have any reason to worry about the status of temporary protection in the EU.

Can temporary protection be canceled earlier than in 2026?

"It is worth explaining a key point right away: no EU country can unilaterally cancel temporary protection. This is a joint decision of the EU Council, which is currently in force until March 4, 2026,” explains Anna.

But this does not mean that the situation is completely stable. According to the expert, although the status itself remains formally valid, countries have some freedom of action within the framework of national legislation on the procedure for realizing refugee rights, for example, they can restrict access to certain benefits or change procedures. And as the current situation shows, some states have already begun to narrow social guarantees and change the rules of stay for Ukrainians.

"We see how Poland is reducing the amount of assistance, and Germany wants to oblige people to work and take adaptation courses. This is not yet a cancellation, but it is a signal that the political mood is changing," adds Anna.

That is, even though the EU Directive does not allow member states to decide on the termination of temporary protection on their own, governments can:

● change the terms of payments

● deport individuals (e.g., due to criminal offenses);

● impose new integration requirements (language skills, employment, etc.).

"That is, legally, the protection will remain. But in fact, the rules may become stricter. This is already happening,” says Anna.

By the way, we talked in detail about forced return and the possibility of deportation of Ukrainians with temporary protection from the EU in our previous interview with Anna Fedoryshyna about the return of Ukrainians after the war. Follow the link to find answers to your questions.

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Which EU countries are already hinting at possible restrictions for Ukrainians under temporary protection?

Currently, most EU states have officially confirmed their readiness to comply with the current decision until 2026. At the same time, according to European Commission spokesperson Marcus Lammert, the EU is already considering the possibility of granting refugees other statuses to extend their stay in the EU. And in some countries, political discussions or statements by individual officials about the need to “revise” the conditions of stay of Ukrainians are recorded. For example:

● Germany regularly expresses concern about the burden on the social system;

● The Czech Republic is reviewing the conditions of residence and emphasizes that it will not create simplified conditions for those who want to reunite with their families after the war;

● Poland introduces restrictions on social assistance and emphasizes the need for integration into society.

"Formally, all countries are in favor of extending protection. But actions at the national level are different. And it is these actions that determine the reality for Ukrainians, because the states obviously want to reduce the pressure on public resources," says Anna.

What will happen to Ukrainians in the EU after 2026 and should we prepare now?

“When the status expires, people will automatically lose the right to legal stay, work, medical care, and social assistance,” the expert explains and adds that if a Ukrainian wants to stay abroad for a longer period, they should already prepare to apply for another status. Each country has its own alternatives for this, such as:

● employment or starting a business

● studying

● family reunification

● applying for refugee status on individual grounds.

Will there be a transition period for Ukrainians after the temporary protection is canceled?

"There is a high probability that countries will give 30 to 90 days to apply for another status or voluntarily leave. But this is not guaranteed. Everything will depend on the particular country, because EU law does not provide for such a requirement," explains Anna.

According to the expert, other possible options include:

● short-term residence permits without social assistance;

● information campaigns to help Ukrainians who want to return to Ukraine

● priority consideration of applications or simplification of procedures.

If you do not know how to proceed in your situation, plan to change your migration status, or are looking for legal grounds to stay in the EU after temporary protection expires, please contact Visit Ukraine's migration specialists to find out in advance about the available options and conditions in the chosen country.

Our lawyers provide advice on residence, employment, education, family reunification, starting a business and other possible forms of legalization. Therefore, they will help you to quickly and easily understand the requirements, prepare documents and get answers to your questions.

We remind you! In April 2025, Ukrainian migrants in the United States received letters of deportation. Later, the Department of the Interior announced that there had been a mistake. Read what grounds for deportation from the United States exist and how to avoid violating migration laws in our previous article.

Photo: Freepik

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