Germany has restricted temporary protection for some Ukrainian men

Germany has changed the rules for granting temporary protection to some men from Ukraine. The new requirements apply to Ukrainians of conscription age who arrived in the country starting from July 31, 2026: to obtain protection, they need to confirm legal grounds for leaving Ukraine or exemption from military duty.

According to data from the German Federal Ministry of the Interior, this concerns men aged 23 to 60 who are subject to the relevant requirements of Ukrainian legislation. If an applicant cannot confirm fulfilment of military duty or the existence of legal grounds for leaving, temporary protection under §24 of the German Residence Act may not be granted.

The changes are related to the European Union’s decision on the continued operation of the temporary protection mechanism for Ukrainians. EU countries agreed to extend it until March 4, 2028, but at the same time provided that for new applicants, protection should be granted taking into account their fulfilment of military obligations under Ukrainian legislation.

Who is not affected by the new rules

Ukrainian men who were in Germany before July 31, 2026 and have already received temporary protection retain their status. For them, as for other Ukrainians covered by the EU mechanism, protection is automatically extended until March 4, 2028.

Thus, this is not about revoking already granted temporary protection for all Ukrainian men. The new restriction primarily concerns those who arrive after the set date and are applying for the respective status for the first time.

Can one stay in Germany without temporary protection

If a man does not meet the new conditions for temporary protection, he can apply for asylum. The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees of Germany BAMF is required to consider such applications individually, taking into account the circumstances of the specific applicant.

At the same time, the German Interior Ministry emphasises that the military duty in Ukraine alone is not a ground for granting asylum. The decision is made within the framework of general German and EU legislation on international protection.

When is deportation possible

The German Interior Ministry did not rule out the possibility of deporting Ukrainian citizens. However, it is not an automatic consequence of a denial of temporary protection and is not applied simply because a man was unable to confirm exemption from military service.

According to the ministry’s clarification, deportation is possible with respect to Ukrainian citizens who are staying in Germany illegally and with respect to whom there are grounds provided by law for compulsory removal. In the German system, deportation is applied to a person obliged to leave the country if they do not do so voluntarily and there are no legal obstacles to return.

The new approach is applied not only by Germany. The decision was adopted at the European Union level, so member states are adapting their own temporary protection procedures. The Council of the EU explained the change as necessary to continue protecting people who fled the war while taking into account Ukraine's need for national defence.

Based on materials from: Deutsche Welle, Council of the EU, German Interior Ministry