EU decision: Protection for Ukrainians extended until 2028

The news from Brussels in mid-July 2026 brought a collective sigh of relief to millions of people affected and many HR professionals: EU member states had agreed to extend temporary protection for refugees from Ukraine until March 4, 2028. This theoretically granted almost 4.5 million people another two years of legal security. However, a closer look quickly reveals that this formal protection status is a deceptive security – especially for highly skilled professionals , academics, and companies that rely on long-term planning. As a law firm specializing in immigration and visa law, we witness in our daily practice just how much the bureaucratic screws are currently being tightened. In this article, we examine why automatic protection under Section 24 of the German Residence Act (AufenthG) is often a dead end and why employers and international talent should no longer postpone the transition to regular residence permits .

What new requirements will the EU decision bring by 2028?

Although the extension of temporary protection until 2028 is primarily being communicated as a relaxation of restrictions, the decision is accompanied by a significant tightening of regulations. For the first time, a strict verification requirement for lawful departure applies . In particular, Ukrainian citizens of military age who leave after the effective date of the decision must now prove that their departure has been authorized by the Ukrainian authorities. The primary proof is the departure permit issued via the Ukrainian app "Reserv+".

In our consulting practice, we observe this change very clearly: While many immigration authorities are not yet conducting comprehensive checks of military service documents in existing cases, the authorities are becoming stricter month by month . Incomplete or unclear documentation is increasingly leading to significant delays in proceedings or inquiries regarding family reunification. Those who rely solely on temporary protection expose themselves to growing bureaucratic uncertainties.

Why is remaining under Section 24 of the Residence Act dangerous in the long term?

The residence permit title under Section 24 of the German Residence Act was intended as a quick emergency solution. However, it poses serious disadvantages for qualified workers – whether software developers , engineers, or project managers – as well as for German HR departments.

The reason: Protection under Section 24 of the German Residence Act (AufenthG) is a temporary emergency permit . It offers no sustainable prospect of a later permanent residence permit (Section 26 Paragraph 4 AufenthG) and regularly creates administrative hurdles for international business trips or visa applications for third countries (e.g., for business trips to Great Britain or the USA ). Furthermore, the political leeway is limited. Should the situation change, the status ends abruptly. Based on our legal practice, we therefore strongly advise switching from Section 24 AufenthG to a regular work permit as quickly as possible.

What problems arise when switching to the EU Blue Card?

The strategic shift from Section 24 of the Residence Act to a The EU Blue Card (§ 18g AufenthG) or a residence permit for skilled workers with academic training (§ 18b AufenthG) sounds simple in theory – but in practice it often proves to be an obstacle course.

Common stumbling blocks that we regularly address in our law firm:

• Limited recognition of university degrees: Initial applications often fail due to a lack of formal certificate evaluations from the ZAB (Central Office for Foreign Education) or due to discrepancies between the degree and the specific job description.

• Salary thresholds and employment agency: Although the salary limits for the EU Blue Card have been lowered, immigration authorities require a meticulous examination of working conditions, which without legal guidance often leads to delays of several months.

• Blocking effects and misunderstandings on the part of case workers: Quite a few case workers in the municipalities are overwhelmed by the interface between the humanitarian status under Section 24 of the Residence Act and the economic permits under Sections 18a/b/g of the Residence Act. They mistakenly demand departures or reject applications because the previous residence is incorrectly assessed.

As a law firm, we safeguard the process: We check the qualification certificates in advance, prepare the employment contract in a legally sound manner, and handle communication with the authorities to ensure the change of career path is completed without interruption of employment.

How does the law firm protect employers and skilled workers from bureaucratic red tape?

It is expected that the Federal Ministry of the Interior will again regulate the extension until 2028 by amending the Ukraine Residence Permit Continuation Ordinance (UkraineAufenthFGV) . This would mean that existing permits under Section 24 of the Residence Act would remain valid by law without the issuance of a new electronic residence permit (eAT).

What sounds like a bureaucratic simplification leads to chaos in practice: banks, landlords, border authorities for trips abroad, or international business partners often do not accept expired plastic cards.

As a law firm, we address these security gaps. We obtain legally sound certificates of deemed residence (§ 81 para. 4 of the German Residence Act) or official confirmation letters for our clients – both skilled workers and employers – that provide legally unambiguous proof of unrestricted work permits and travel rights.

Conclusion: Now is the time to move from temporary protection to permanent legal certainty.

The extension of temporary protection until March 4, 2028, provides valuable time – however, it is not a permanent solution. For both top foreign talent and forward-thinking employers, the status under Section 24 of the German Residence Act (AufenthG) should only be used as a stepping stone. To overcome the hurdles involved in transitioning to an EU Blue Card and to quickly avoid bureaucratic pitfalls, we, as a specialized law firm with extensive practical experience from hundreds of visa and residence permit applications, support you.