Germany Has Stopped Granting Temporary Protection to Some Ukrainians: Who Is Affected by the New Requirement
14 August 06:54
Germany has changed the procedure for granting temporary protection to certain Ukrainian citizens. The new requirements primarily apply to men who arrived after July 30, 2026, and have military obligations in Ukraine. This was reported by "Komersant Ukrainian", citing DW.
It was on this very day that the relevant provision of the EU Council’s decision took effect. According to this provision, temporary protection is granted exclusively to those who “have fulfilled their military service in Ukraine.”
To receive temporary protection, Ukrainian men will need to provide evidence that they left their homeland legally, have been discharged from military service, or have been removed from military registration.
Who Is Affected by the New Requirements
According to DW, German immigration authorities will verify the fulfillment of military obligations by men from Ukraine aged 23 to 60 who arrived in the country after the new EU decision took effect.
This primarily concerns those who are only planning to apply for temporary protection and a residence permit in accordance with §24 of the German Residence Act.
Applicants may be asked to confirm that they:
- have fulfilled their military obligations in Ukraine;
- has a legal exemption from military service;
- has been excluded from or removed from military registration on grounds provided for by law;
- has received lawful permission to leave Ukraine.
To determine exactly which documents a specific immigration office will accept, you should check directly with your local Ausländerbehörde. A single, universal list covering all situations has not yet been published.
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Why Germany Changed the Rules
The restriction is related to a new decision by the Council of the European Union, which extended temporary protection for Ukrainian citizens until March 4, 2028.
The document states that after July 30, 2026, protection must be granted to people who have fulfilled their military obligations in Ukraine and, if necessary, can confirm this.
An exception is made for Ukrainians who received temporary protection in a specific EU country no later than July 30, 2026, and have continuously maintained that status.
The Czech Republic is already actively applying this provision. In just one week, dozens of men aged 23 to 60 were denied temporary protection in that country, according to the Novinky news agency. As journalists explain, the Ukrainian men were unable to prove to Czech authorities that they had fulfilled their military service obligations in their home country.
What will happen to Ukrainians who already have §24 status?
Ukrainians who obtained a residence permit under §24 in a timely manner and continue to reside legally in Germany do not have to re-prove their right to stay simply because of the introduction of a new regulation.
The federal government’s official portal, Germany4Ukraine, explains that §24 provides for a special residence permit for people who have fled Ukraine due to the war. This is a separate legal mechanism that should not be confused with the asylum procedure.
People with valid status are advised to check:
- the validity period of their residence permit;
- whether their residence registration is up to date;
- whether they have confirmation of continuous status;
- any notifications from the local immigration office.
However, such an application is considered on a case-by-case basis. The mere fact of being subject to military service in Ukraine is not sufficient to automatically grant asylum.
The applicant must demonstrate a personal risk of persecution or other circumstances provided for by international protection law. In addition, transitioning from §24 to the asylum procedure may change the conditions regarding residence, employment, and access to social assistance.
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