Germany has confirmed that beneficiaries of the EU’s mass-influx Directive fleeing Russia’s war in Ukraine will continue to enjoy temporary protection until 4 March 2028. The decision, published on 23 September 2026 after formal adoption by the EU Council, automatically prolongs residence permits, work rights and access to social services for roughly 1.1 million Ukrainians currently in Germany. The extension, however, introduces a sensitive carve-out: Ukrainians who entered the EU for the first time after 5 August 2026 and are subject to compulsory military service must now present proof that they are legally exempted or discharged. Failing that, German authorities will refuse temporary-protection status, and asylum claims based solely on draft evasion will generally be rejected. Men already in the EU remain covered, even if they reach conscription age later. For employers the message is clear—existing Ukrainian staff keep their work authorisation, but HR should verify whether newly arrived male applicants can supply exemption documents before onboarding. Universities and international schools that had been preparing contingency plans for permit expiries can proceed with enrolment for the 2026/27 academic year. Local immigration offices are expected to re-issue electronic residence titles (eAT) automatically; holders need not apply unless their passport expires. The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) will update the Germany4Ukraine information portal in multiple languages. Relocation providers should brief clients that, despite the longer protection horizon, travel bars to Ukraine for draft-age men remain in force under Ukrainian law, posing potential re-entry risks.
