Austria Extends Temporary Protection for Ukrainian Displaced Persons to March 2028 with New Military-Status Requirement

The Austrian Interior Ministry quietly updated its Ukraine information portal on 29 September to confirm that the temporary protection regime under the EU Mass Influx Directive will now run until 4 March 2028 – one year beyond the current EU-wide end-date of March 2027. The extension means that roughly 96,000 Ukrainian nationals holding the blue ‘Vertriebener’ card can continue to live and work in Austria without applying for a standard residence permit. A significant new condition, however, is proof that adult beneficiaries have complied with Ukraine’s military-service obligations. Acceptable evidence includes an exit-stamp in the passport, a digital exemption certificate issued via the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence’s “Reserv+” app, or other documents showing lawful departure. The rule applies only to arrivals after 4 August 2026; those already under protection retain their status. The tighter eligibility reflects growing public debate about “draft evaders” following Kyiv’s partial-mobilisation decree. Employers of Ukrainian staff on assignment contracts should remind recent hires to gather the necessary paperwork before end-of-year residence-card renewals. Failure to do so could block access to the labour market and social benefits. The ministry also reiterated that Ukrainian holders of Austria’s Red-White-Red Card plus may shift off temporary protection altogether, gaining unrestricted labour-market access and a longer validity period. HR departments must file these conversion applications at least three months before the existing blue card expires. From a mobility-planning perspective, the 17-month horizon until March 2028 gives companies clarity to budget for ongoing housing subsidies and integration training, but the new military-status filter may complicate short-notice transfers of male employees in eligible age groups.