Overview
- Lithuania has implemented the EU decision to keep the temporary protection scheme in place until 4 March 2028 and published national rules to apply it.
- The new rule requires Ukrainian citizens who are subject to conscription to show proof they completed service or were officially released before they can receive temporary protection.
- Acceptable evidence listed by Lithuanian authorities includes legal border crossing records from leaving Ukraine, an exit stamp in the passport, or an official Ukrainian document confirming release or completion of service.
- The verification requirement does not apply to people who already held temporary protection in any EU state before 4 August 2026 or to those who applied in Lithuania before that date and are still awaiting a decision.
- About 52,000 people in Lithuania and roughly 4.4 million across the EU currently hold temporary protection and the change could reduce access for some men of conscription age while the bloc works on longer term solutions.