Temporary protection in Spain for Ukrainians: 2028 guide
By the Relocatia editorial team· published · last reviewed
In short
- The EU has extended temporary protection for people displaced from Ukraine until 4 March 2028.
- Since 31 July 2026, new applicants must, where relevant, show they have complied with their military obligations in Ukraine. People already protected before that date who stay in the same country are not affected.
- Protection includes the right to work, public healthcare and school for children; registering on the padrón is a legal duty and unlocks local services.
- Protection is temporary by design. Plan a move to a stable residence permit early — which route fits depends on your time in Spain, work and family.
Temporary protection (protección temporal) gives people displaced from Ukraine a legal status in Spain that includes the right to work, access to public healthcare and schooling for children. In July 2026 the EU extended it until 4 March 2028 and added a new requirement for new applicants. This guide covers what protection gives you, what changed, and how to plan for what comes after.
How long temporary protection lasts
Temporary protection is an EU-wide status, so its end date is set by the Council of the EU. On 30 July 2026 the Council adopted Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1912, extending protection until 4 March 2028. The previous decision had set 4 March 2027.
In Spain, the validity of the residence card (TIE) issued to protection holders is extended by Spanish ministerial orders. Orden INT/96/2026 extended existing cards until 4 March 2027 without the need for a new card. At the time of this review no Spanish order matching the new EU date of 4 March 2028 had been published in the BOE — check the Portal de Inmigración for updates, and ask us if your employer or bank questions your card.
The new rule for new applicants (from 31 July 2026)
Since 31 July 2026, people applying for temporary protection for the first time must, where relevant, show that they have complied with their military obligations in Ukraine. The EU Asylum Agency lists evidence of lawful departure from Ukraine or official documents — such as records from the Reserv+ system — confirming exemption from or compliance with military duty as possible proof. The requirement does not apply to people who already held protection on or before 30 July 2026 and keep it continuously in the same member state.
What protection gives you day to day
- Work: you can work as an employee or be self-employed.
- Padrón: Spanish law (Ley 7/1985, art. 15) obliges everyone who lives in Spain to register in the municipality where they usually live. Registration is also what most local services ask for.
- Healthcare: with protection you can access the public health system; the health card (tarjeta sanitaria) is issued by your region’s health service.
- School: children are enrolled in school like any other resident child.
- Social Security number: needed to work and for healthcare; it can be requested online through the Social Security’s Import@ss portal.
Planning a stable status after protection
Temporary protection ends when the EU decides it ends, whatever your circumstances. A stable residence permit does not. Spain’s immigration regulation (Real Decreto 1155/2024) sets out several routes, and which one is open to you depends on facts that are specific to your family: how long you have lived in Spain, whether you work and on what contract, whether you study, and your family ties.
| Route | What it is based on | Worth asking about if… |
|---|---|---|
| Arraigo (sociolaboral, socioformativo, social, familiar, segunda oportunidad) | Ties built in Spain — work, training, family or integration — under RD 1155/2024 | you have been in Spain for some time and have a job offer, a course or family here |
| Employee or self-employed residence and work permit | A job contract or a viable business | you have a stable job or run your own business |
| Family reunification or EU-family residence | A close relative with legal residence, or an EU citizen relative | your spouse, partner or parent holds a stable permit or is an EU citizen |
Each route has its own conditions, and some of them interact with protection in ways that need checking case by case — for example, how time spent under protection is treated, or whether you may hold protection while another application is pending. Get that assessed by a licensed immigration lawyer before you apply, not after. Our guide to choosing a residence route compares the main options side by side.
This is general information, not legal or tax advice for your case. Rules change — check the review date and the sources, and make decisions with a licensed professional.
Frequently asked questions
Until when is temporary protection valid?
The EU has extended it until 4 March 2028 (Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1912). In Spain, existing TIE cards were extended to 4 March 2027 by Orden INT/96/2026; a further Spanish order is needed to match the 2028 date.
Does the military-obligations rule affect me if I already have protection?
Not if you held protection on or before 30 July 2026 and keep it continuously in Spain. It applies to people applying for the first time from 31 July 2026.
Can I switch from temporary protection to another permit?
Many people do, through routes such as arraigo or a work permit. Whether a given route is open to you, and when to apply, depends on your circumstances — that is exactly what the free initial assessment is for.