Lithuania has extended temporary protection for Ukrainians through 2028, but there's a catch
The Lithuanian government has extended the term of temporary protection for refugees from Ukraine until March 4, 2028, but has introduced a mandatory requirement for persons subject to military service to provide proof of having fulfilled their military obligations.
To obtain or extend their status, Ukrainian citizens subject to military service must provide a certificate of completion of military service, an official document confirming discharge, or proof of lawful border crossing upon departure from Ukraine.
The new requirement will not apply to individuals who received temporary protection in any European Union member state by August 4, 2026, or who submitted a corresponding application in Lithuania by that date. According to the country’s Migration Department, as of September 6, 2026, 52,052 Ukrainians held valid permits, and the daily influx of new applications ranges from 30 to 40. The extension of the permits’ validity is intended to reduce the administrative burden on migration authorities.
This was reported by LRT.
Ukrainian authorities have appealed to the European Union with a proposal to exclude men aged 23 to 60 from the temporary protection mechanism. This refers to Ukrainian citizens of draft age who are currently in EU countries.
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