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Short answer
If you came to Germany because of the war in Ukraine, you usually hold a residence permit under section 24 of the Residence Act (AufenthG). It allows you to live and work here. The EU has extended temporary protection until 4 March 2028. So far, these residence permits in Germany have been extended automatically, without an application.
Step by step
Check your document
Look at your residence permit: does it say section 24 AufenthG? An older expiry date is not necessarily a problem. The last extension until 4 March 2027 applied to all permits that were still valid on 1 February 2026, without a new document.
Read letters and meet deadlines
For the previous automatic extensions you did not have to apply. Still, read every letter from the immigration office and respond to deadlines. We will work out with you how Germany implements the extension until 2028.
Keep proof at hand
Employers, landlords or authorities do not always know about the automatic extension. Show your document and point to the extension by law. We can help you explain it.
Think ahead
Protection under section 24 is temporary. If you want to stay long term, for example for work or training, get advice early about other residence permits.
Documents you need
- Passport or ID card
- Residence permit (card) or supplementary sheet
- Registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung)
- Letters from the immigration office
Deadlines and costs
Protection until: 4 March 2028 (Council of the EU implementing decision of 30 July 2026).
Automatic extension: most recently until 4 March 2027 for permits valid on 1 February 2026.
New since 2026: men of conscription age who leave Ukraine after the new rule takes effect must prove they were allowed to leave. People who already have protection are not affected.
Common pitfalls
- Your employer asks for a new document because the date on the card has passed
- The housing office asks for a permit valid for at least one more year
- After moving to another city, the immigration office there is responsible
- Before travelling abroad or to Ukraine, check the consequences for your protection