Many Ukrainians in Germany are holding a residence permit with a date in the past printed on it – while hearing that their protection runs until 2028. Both are true, but at different levels: the EU has extended the period, while in Germany the card’s validity still rests on a national ordinance.
What did the EU decide?
The Council of the EU extended temporary protection to 4 March 2028 through Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1912. Member states reached political agreement on 15 July, adopted the decision formally on 31 July and published it in the Official Journal on 4 August. The extension applies from 5 March 2027. There is one new condition: anyone applying for protection from 5 August 2026 must show they have met, or are exempt from, their military obligations to Ukraine – which mainly affects men of conscription age. People who already hold protection are not affected. According to the European Parliament’s research service (EPRS), 1.29 million beneficiaries lived in Germany at the end of June, about 29 per cent of the EU total.
And what applies in Germany officially?
A residence permit under Section 24 of the Residence Act that was still valid on 1 February 2026 continues to apply until 4 March 2027 under the Ukraine Residence Permit Continuation Ordinance – “without individual extension”, including conditions such as the right to work. That is the wording of the official ordinance text, last amended on 22 October 2025.
The City of Munich confirms it: no visit to its immigration service is needed and the continuation is free of charge. A new card is issued only in exceptional cases, such as urgent travel outside the Schengen area; you apply online and, according to the city, processing takes 10 to 12 weeks. The Berlin immigration office likewise says new cards are not being issued, the extension is recorded in the central register of foreign nationals and Schengen border authorities have been informed.
One contradiction remains: some districts and portals report that the German extension to 2028 is already in force. We could not find that in the consolidated official ordinance text we checked on 10 November; the “Ninth Ordinance” cited there appears to be the one on entering without a residence permit (UkraineAufenthÜV), not the continuation ordinance. So 4 March 2027 is documented, while 4 March 2028 so far applies at EU level.
Our assessment, with high but not complete confidence: Germany will follow suit. Last year the Council’s July decision was followed by an amending ordinance in the Federal Law Gazette on 27 October 2025. It would be unusual if Berlin did not adjust the date before 4 March 2027 – but it has not been promised yet.
In practice: if your permit was valid on the cut-off date, you need to do nothing now. We suggest keeping the immigration office’s notice, or the ordinance page, to hand for employers, landlords or travel. It is different if you arrived after 1 February 2026 or had no valid permit on that date: then you need to apply at your local immigration office. Holders of a Fiktionsbescheinigung should get in touch before it expires. New arrivals should also note that Germany does not grant protection if another EU country already has, and that since 5 August 2026 proof of military obligations is required. In Munich the immigration service can be reached on 089 233-45238 (Ruppertstraße 19); to register as a war refugee you can walk in Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm, at Dachauer Straße 122.
Sources: Gesetze im Internet (UkraineAufenthFGV), City of Munich, EPRS, Berlin Immigration Office, Ukrainian Cabinet
