The EU Council Implementing Decision 2026/1912 extends temporary protection in the EU to March 4, 2028 and requires proof of either fulfillment of military obligations in Ukraine or legality of departure for new applicants after July 31, 2026.

Germany will generally bar Ukrainian men aged 23–60 from temporary protection if they arrived after July 31, 2026 and are not exempt from military service, unless they can prove duties were fulfilled or have a valid exit/exemption document.

Overall, temporary protection now hinges on verifiable military-duty compliance and lawful exit from Ukraine, with border checks, Reserve+ documentation, translations, and national discretion shaping implementation.

Member states may interpret the rules differently due to limited centralized guidance, leading to diverse practices, including cases in the Czech Republic and Spain where authorities demand military-status verification from women.

Reserve+ data indicating military status is creating practical hurdles in protection processing, even for those not mobilized, raising concerns about discrimination and legal uncertainty.

When adjusted for population, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Cyprus show the highest per-capita shares of temporary protection recipients, signaling varying burden levels despite absolute totals.

Category B non-border countries require evidence of lawful exit, such as an exit stamp, with a 90-day rule for stamps and exceptions for extraordinary circumstances.

Although rules are gender-neutral on paper, women—sometimes with Reserve+ data—face questions about impact, as some countries request military-status to confirm non-liability for service.

Category A border countries allow a simplified check where crossing at official checkpoints suffices for protection eligibility, with border authorities handling exit verification.

There is ongoing uncertainty and a lack of unified EU guidelines, leading to chaotic refusals in some cases until clearer Europe-wide guidance is issued; Ukrainian authorities expect future standardization.

If the 90-day rule is missed or documentation is unclear, authorities may deem evidence insufficient and require further proof of military compliance or lawful exemption.

The EU maintains that temporary protection is separate from asylum processes and does not differentiate by gender, while clarifications are being issued to standardize interpretation of military status.