Germany has extended temporary protection for Ukrainians until March 4, 2027: details

The German Bundesrat has passed a resolution extending temporary protection for Ukrainians until 2027. This decision is in line with EU policy and preserves the existing rights of Ukrainians in Germany. Find out who is eligible for extended protection and who is not affected by the changes

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On October 17, 2025, the Bundesrat (Bundesrat) adopted the Second Resolution on Amendments to the Regulation on the Extension of Residence Permits for Ukrainians.

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What does this mean?

Now, all Ukrainians who have a residence permit under § 24 Abs. 1 Aufenthaltsgesetz (Aufenthaltserlaubnis zum vorübergehenden Schutz) will automatically receive an extension of their permit until March 4, 2027.

This decision is in line with the EU Council Decision of June 25, 2024 (Durchführungsbeschluss (EU) 2025/1460), which extended temporary protection throughout the European Union until the same date.

Who is affected by the extension?

The extension of temporary protection applies to:

- Ukrainian citizens;

- their family members — in accordance with Articles 2(1)-(2) of Decision (EU) 2022/382;

- stateless persons (Staatenlose) who had international or national protection in Ukraine before February 24, 2022.

The following persons are also eligible for automatic extension of their residence permits (§ 24 Abs. 1 AufenthG) until March 4, 2027:

- stateless persons;

- citizens of other third countries (Drittstaatsangehörige) who were legally residing in Ukraine as of February 24, 2022, and had a permanent residence permit (dauerhafter Aufenthaltstitel).

This applies to those who cannot safely return to their country of origin due to the war.

Who is not eligible for a permit extension?

The resolution does not apply to:

- third-country nationals who resided in Ukraine before the war but did not have international or national protection status;

- stateless persons who were in Ukraine with a temporary permit without official status;

- those who have already been refused a permit extension since June 2024 — in accordance with § 24 Abs. 1 AufenthG and Article 2 Abs. 3 of Decision (EU) 2022/382.

For these categories, the application of § 24 AufenthG has been suspended and no new residence permits will be issued.

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When does the new regulation take effect?

All permits valid as of February 1, 2026, will be valid until March 4, 2027.

No applications or requests need to be submitted to the Ausländerbehörde (Foreigners' Registration Office) — the extension will take place automatically.

The regulation will come into force on the day after its official publication in the Bundesgesetzblatt (Federal Law Gazette).

What does this mean in practice?

Ukrainians in Germany remain under protection until March 4, 2027.

There is no need to personally extend the permit at the immigration office.

The decision will reduce the administrative burden on the state.

The document is fully compliant with EU legislation.

If you need assistance at any stage of the migration process, you can contact our migration law specialists for advice on problematic issues, assistance with completing the necessary documents, or full legal support.

Reminder! The federal states of Germany continue to provide shelter and assistance to Ukrainian refugees. However, some categories of migrants may encounter difficulties upon entry. Find out more about the addresses of refugee camps and their accommodation conditions in October 2025.

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