---
title: "Beyond Temporary Protection: How Ukrainians Can Obtain Residency in Europe — Countries, Deadlines, and Requirements"
description: "Temporary protection for Ukrainians in the EU has been extended until March 4, 2028, but 28 countries already have programs for transitioning to a full residence permit. We analyze the conditions, deadlines, and requirements in Poland, the Czech Republic, Ireland, Austria, Germany, Spain, Greece, and other states."
date: 2026-11-07T17:30:34.901Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/residence-permit-for-ukrainians-in-europe-transition-from-temporary-protection
tags: [ukraine, eu-migration, residence-permit, temporary-protection, ukrainians-in-europe]
author: "Alexander Buran"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Beyond Temporary Protection: How Ukrainians Can Obtain Residency in Europe — Countries, Deadlines, and Requirements

![A woman with a suitcase stands at the airport entrance, preparing for travel or relocation.](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/07/vnzh-dlya-ukraincev-v-evrope-perexod-so-vremennoy-zashity/vnzh-dlya-ukraincev-v-evrope-perexod-so-vremennoy-zashity-1.webp)

## Key Points

- Temporary protection for Ukrainians in the EU is extended until March 4, 2028, and in Greece until March 4, 2027.
- Transition programs for residence permits exist in 28 countries, most of which are available to Ukrainians.
- Poland issues the CUKR card for 3 years, the Czech Republic a five-year permit under Lex Ukraine, Ireland a 2-year Stamp 4.
- Austria, Slovenia, Germany, Spain, Slovakia, Lithuania, Estonia, Portugal, and Greece offer their own status-change mechanisms.
- Financial thresholds and requirements for income, language, and length of stay are set individually in each country.

Temporary protection for Ukrainian citizens in EU countries has been officially extended until March 4, 2028, providing basic rights to stay, work, and access social support. However, for those who have already found employment, adapted, and plan to build a long-term future in Europe, this status remains dependent on future decisions from Brussels. According to Wave (RBC.ua), transition programs from temporary protection to standard residence permits exist in 28 countries worldwide, and in most of them, they are available to Ukrainians. Moving to such a status removes dependence on the Temporary Protection Directive, increases stability, and opens a path to permanent residency or citizenship.

### Why switch from temporary protection to a residence permit?

Temporary protection is an "emergency" mechanism: it grants the right to stay, work, and use basic services, but it does not guarantee a long-term future. Once the directive's validity is reviewed, the status may change. Obtaining a standard residence permit, by contrast, secures the right to reside for several years, regardless of the future of temporary protection. For Ukraine, this is especially relevant amidst the ongoing war: more and more citizens are seeking a more sustainable legal status. However, each country manages this transition through its own rules, with varying timeframes, grounds, and financial requirements.

### Poland and Czech Republic: From CUKR to a Five-Year Permit

Poland has introduced a special temporary residence card, CUKR, for Ukrainians residing in the country with PESEL UKR status. Its main goal is to allow a transition to standard living conditions for a term of three years. A fixed minimum income for the card is not set; the key conditions are having an active PESEL UKR status on a specific date, continuous stay in the country for a set period, and updating personal details with local authorities. The Czech Republic, meanwhile, acts within the framework of the Lex Ukraine legislative update, issuing a special five-year residence permit to financially independent and economically active Ukrainians with open access to the labor market. Applicants must have lived under temporary protection for at least two years, have no debts or criminal records, renounce social benefits, and confirm their pre-tax annual income — the specific threshold is determined individually.

### Ireland, Austria, and Slovenia: Different Transition Models

Ireland operates the Temporary Protection Transition Scheme, which allows a move from temporary protection to a Stamp 4 permission for two years with a possibility of further extension. Austria offers Ukrainians the Red-White-Red Card Plus, which grants the right to reside and unrestricted access to the labor market without being tied to a specific employer; key requirements include official employment or insured self-employment for at least 12 months over the last two years, as well as proof of German language proficiency at least at the A1 level. Slovenian authorities, in turn, allow the issuance of standard residence permits on general grounds: formal employment, study, business operations, or family reunification. There is no single fixed income threshold in Slovenia: financial requirements are calculated individually based on the ground, the minimum living standard, and the number of family members.

### Germany, Spain, and Other EU Countries

Germany has not created a separate "Ukrainian" residence permit but allows for the legal change of Paragraph 24 (temporary protection) to a standard residence permit based on general legislation (AufenthG). The Spanish government has adopted special instructions for the State Secretariat for Migration, significantly simplifying the transition for Ukrainians to full residence permits. In the Netherlands, temporary protection grants the right to work, but for long-term living after the directive expires, changing status is necessary. Slovakia offers a relatively simple mechanism to transition from temporary asylum (Dočasné útočisko) to a standard residence permit (Prechodný pobyt). Lithuania allows submitting documents for a standard permit without leaving the country, while Estonian law permits changing status to a residence permit for work, business, or study. Portugal also provides Ukrainians with temporary protection (Proteção Temporária) the opportunity to apply for a full residence permit.

### Greece and a General Conclusion: What to Keep in Mind

Greece has simplified the transition from temporary protection to a standard residence permit: Ukrainians residing in the country under temporary protection can submit documents for work, study, family reasons, and other grounds without leaving the state. At the same time, the duration of temporary protection in Greece has been extended until March 4, 2027, and the mere fact of having temporary protection does not mean automatic granting of a residence permit — each application is reviewed individually. The general conclusion for all 28 countries is the same: the transition to a residence permit requires compliance with national requirements regarding income, length of stay, language, or grounds for residency, while specific financial thresholds and lists of documents are often set individually. Therefore, before submitting an application, it is recommended that Ukrainians verify current conditions with the official migration authorities of the respective country.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [Не временная защита, а ВНЖ: как украинцам легализоваться в Европе и сколько нужно зарабатывать](https://wave.rbc.ua/ukr/trips/timchasoviy-zahist-vnzh-k-ukrayintsyam-legalizuvatisya-1793989234.html) - Primary source: list of countries (Poland CUKR, Czech Republic Lex Ukraine, Ireland Stamp 4, Austria RWR Card Plus, Slovenia, Germany AufenthG, Spain, Netherlands, Slovakia, Lithuania, Estonia, Portugal), deadlines and requirements.
- [Как украинцам получить ВНЖ в Греции: новые условия и документы](https://ura-inform.com/obshhestvo/2026/07/28/kak-ukrainczam-poluchit-vnzh-v-greczii-novye-usloviya-i-dokumenty/) - Greece: transition to a standard residence permit without leaving the country, temporary protection extended until March 4, 2027, review is individual, no automatic residence permit.

## FAQ

### Until when has temporary protection for Ukrainians in the EU been extended?

According to Wave (RBC.ua), temporary protection in the EU has been officially extended until March 4, 2028. In Greece, according to ura-inform.com, temporary protection has been extended until March 4, 2027.

### How many countries have programs for transitioning to residence permits for Ukrainians?

Programs for moving to another residence status (residence permit) exist in 28 countries worldwide, and in most of them, they are available to Ukrainians.

### For what period is the transition residence permit issued in Poland and the Czech Republic?

Poland issues the CUKR card for three years, and the Czech Republic, under Lex Ukraine, offers a five-year residence permit to financially independent and economically active Ukrainians.

### Is a fixed minimum income mandatory for transitioning to a residence permit?

No, there is no unified threshold: in Poland, a fixed minimum income is not set, in Slovenia, financial requirements are calculated individually, and in the Czech Republic and Austria, income is verified according to individual criteria.