Temporary protection in Italy: who is covered and how to get the residence permit

In short. Temporary protection Italy: people who fled Ukraine because of the armed conflict on or after 24 February 2022 and fall within the covered categories can ask the Questura, the police office that issues residence permits, for a temporary protection residence permit. The first issue is free, and the permit allows work, registration with the health service and study. At EU level the protection is extended to 4 March 2028; from 31 July 2026 new applicants must also show, where applicable, that they meet their military obligations in Ukraine.

This guide to temporary protection Italy sets out the rules, the dates and the practical steps: who is covered, how to apply for the permit, what it allows and how it is renewed.

Reviewed 1 November 2026. This is general information, not advice on your case: for the period after 4 March 2027 we found no published Italian rules, and practice may differ from one Questura to another.

What is temporary protection and which rules does it come from?

It is an exceptional and immediate form of protection that the European Union activates when many people displaced from a non-EU country arrive within a short time and cannot go home. It rests on Directive 2001/55/EC, transposed in Italy by Legislative Decree 85 of 7 April 2003, which leaves the practical measures to a DPCM (a decree of the Prime Minister). For people fleeing Ukraine it was activated by Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/382.

The DPCM of 28 March 2022 says who is entitled to the permit and what it involves. The permit is not the same as asylum or special protection. To see every kind of permit, go to the page on types of residence permit in Italy.

How long does temporary protection last?

Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1912, signed on 30 July 2026 and published in the Official Journal of the EU on 4 August 2026, extends the protection by one year, to 4 March 2028. The extension applies from 5 March 2027; until 4 March 2027 Decision (EU) 2025/1460 governs.

If the Council ends the protection early, the DPCM (Art. 2) provides that the permit loses effect and is revoked.

For Italian permits, Integrazione Migranti (the government integration portal) says renewals are available on request until 4 March 2027. As of 1 November 2026 we found no Italian act taking renewals to 2028: check the notices of your Questura.

Temporary protection Italy: who is covered and who is not?

The DPCM follows the categories of the EU decision. The permit is for people displaced from Ukraine from 24 February 2022 who fall into one of these groups:

• Ukrainian citizens who lived in Ukraine before 24 February 2022;
• stateless persons and third-country nationals who had international protection, or equivalent national protection, in Ukraine;
• their family members (spouse or stable partner, unmarried minor children, other relatives who live with them and depend on them: Art. 29(1)(c) and (d) of the Consolidated Immigration Act, Legislative Decree 286/1998), with lawful residence in Ukraine and documents proving the family link, validated by the consulate where possible;
• stateless persons and third-country nationals with a permanent Ukrainian residence permit who cannot return in safe and stable conditions to their country or region of origin.

According to the European Commission, people who lived in Ukraine only on a short-term basis, such as students and workers, are generally not covered. The cases in Art. 5 of Legislative Decree 85/2003 are excluded (for example, serious grounds for believing that the person committed war crimes), and so is anyone who can reasonably be regarded as a danger to State security (DPCM, Art. 4). Anyone already recognised as a beneficiary of international protection cannot access temporary protection (DPCM, Art. 3).

What if you were already in Italy before 24 February 2022? The protection is for people displaced from that date. For Ukrainians already in Italy with a special protection permit renewed under Art. 7(3) of Decree-Law 20/2023, Decree-Law 201/2025 allows a further renewal, on request, until 4 March 2027. See our guide to the special protection residence permit.

What changes from 31 July 2026 for new applicants?

Under Art. 2 of Decision (EU) 2026/1912, protection is granted only to people who satisfy their military obligations in Ukraine, presenting proof where applicable. It applies from 31 July 2026 (Art. 3); some Commission pages give 5 August 2026. It does not apply to people who already enjoyed protection in a Member State on or before 30 July 2026 and keep it without a break in that same State.

The burden of proof is on the applicant. The Commission’s FAQ names as a first level, in Member States not bordering Ukraine such as Italy, an exit stamp in the passport, as a rule dated no earlier than 90 days before the request; in doubtful cases, a verifiable official document, including an electronic one such as the Reserv+ app. Anyone who applied before the new rules and, for reasons beyond their control, had not yet obtained protection should be treated as eligible.

We found no Italian circular on how the Questura applies the rule: ask the office which documents it needs.

How do you apply for the temporary protection residence permit?

The application is made directly at the Questura of the place where you are domiciled (DPCM, Art. 2(3)). In practice:

1. Go to the immigration office with your passport or another identity document and, if you have them, documents on your residence in Ukraine, your departure date and family links.
2. Sign the declaration of presence and give your personal data and fingerprints; you are issued a tax code and a receipt.
3. Keep the receipt: it is needed to register with the local health authority (ASL) and, according to the official pages, to work while you wait for the permit.
4. The Questura calls you to collect the electronic permit, free of charge on first issue.

The official sources we read do not say whether an appointment is needed: access and required documents may vary from one Questura to another. Anyone who fears consequences from contacting the Ukrainian authorities can tell the Questura (Civil Protection leaflet, 2022).

How long does the permit last, what does it cost and how is it renewed?

The DPCM provides for a one-year permit, which can be extended automatically in six-month steps up to a maximum of one year if the Council does not end the protection. Later extensions have been set by Italian laws: for example, Decree-Law 202/2024 made permits expiring on 31 December 2024 renewable until 4 March 2026. Today Integrazione Migranti indicates renewals on request until 4 March 2027.

The DPCM makes the first issue free. For renewal and conversion, Integrazione Migranti says holders are not exempt from the contribution under Art. 5(2-ter) of the Consolidated Immigration Act, stated as between €40 and €50: ask the Questura what is due.

In general the Consolidated Act, as amended by Legislative Decree 83/2026 (applicable from 22 May 2026), requires a renewal request at least 90 days before expiry, unless other terms apply. For temporary protection we found no specific deadline: do not wait until the last moment. If your permit has expired, read our guide to the expired residence permit.

What rights does the permit give: work, health, school and travel?

• Work. The permit gives access to the labour market (DPCM, Art. 2). According to Integrazione Migranti you can work as an employee, including seasonal work, or be self-employed, and for hiring the receipt with the tax code is also enough.
• Health. From the date of the permit request you have healthcare on the same footing as Italians, by registering with the ASL (local health authority) of your domicile to get a family doctor or paediatrician; before then there is the STP code (straniero temporaneamente presente, foreigner temporarily present). See our guide to the Italian health card.
• School. The permit gives access to study, and the education of minors is on the same footing as Italian citizens. According to the official 2022 FAQs, school is compulsory from age 6 to 16 and enrolment is possible at any time.
• Travel. The European Commission says holders may travel to other EU countries for 90 days in any 180 once the permit has been issued, but protection can be held in only one country at a time. Art. 10 of Legislative Decree 85/2003, by contrast, bars leaving the national territory except under bilateral agreements, a voluntary transfer between Member States or authorisation from the issuing authority; the 2022 FAQs speak of leaving and re-entering with valid documents. Ask the Questura before you travel.

Can the permit be converted, and can family members join you?

Integrazione Migranti says that, under Law 213/2023 and Decree-Law 202/2024, the permit can be converted into a work permit, using the kit filled in at authorised post offices and according to the work actually performed. We found no other conversions in the official sources; check with the Questura whether the rule still applies on your expiry date. See which permits convert into work.

Family reunification (Legislative Decree 85/2003, Art. 6, and DPCM, Art. 1(5)) concerns only relatives who are outside the EU, and reunited relatives receive a permit of equal duration.

Can you also apply for asylum?

Yes, at any time (DPCM, Art. 3). The DPCM defers the examination until protection ends and the Questura informs the Territorial Commission, but on 1 October 2026 the EU Court of Justice (case C-249/25) held that generalised, automatic suspension is contrary to EU law; we found no Italian guidance. Applying for asylum does not stop you from applying for temporary protection; recognition of international protection, on the other hand, precludes access to it. For the general rules, see our guides to international protection and to political asylum and subsidiary protection.

What happens when the protection ends?

Legislative Decree 85/2003 (Art. 11) provides that a DPCM regulates voluntary or assisted return, forced return with respect for human dignity, and temporary stay for serious health or humanitarian reasons or for families with children at school until the end of the school year. A non-binding Council Recommendation of 16 September 2025 asks Member States to ease moves to other permits and to prepare voluntary return. We found no Italian implementing rule.

If the Questura refuses the permit, the refusal must give reasons and state the authority for appeal and the time limits (Legislative Decree 85/2003, Art. 9): check them straight away.

Frequently asked questions

How long does temporary protection last for people fleeing Ukraine?

At EU level, Decision (EU) 2026/1912 extends it to 4 March 2028, with effect from 5 March 2027. For Italian permits the official pages indicate renewals until 4 March 2027: for the period after that, check the notices of your Questura.

Is the temporary protection permit free?

The DPCM provides for electronic issue free of charge. For renewal and conversion, Integrazione Migranti says holders are not exempt from the contribution under Art. 5(2-ter) of the Consolidated Immigration Act (between €40 and €50): ask the Questura for the amount in your case.

Can I work in Italy with temporary protection?

Yes: the permit gives access to the labour market, as an employee or self-employed. According to Integrazione Migranti, for hiring the application receipt with the tax code is also enough. At expiry it may be possible to convert the permit into a work permit.

Do people applying after July 2026 have to prove their military obligations?

Where applicable, yes: from 31 July 2026 Decision (EU) 2026/1912 requires applicants to satisfy their military obligations in Ukraine. It does not apply to people who already had protection in a Member State on 30 July 2026 and keep it. For practice, ask the Questura.

Can someone with temporary protection also apply for asylum?

Yes, at any time. The DPCM defers the examination until protection ends, but the EU Court of Justice (C-249/25, 1 October 2026) held that generalised, automatic suspension is contrary to EU law. Recognition of international protection then precludes access to temporary protection. A specific case needs a legal assessment.

Official sources

• DPCM of 28 March 2022, Gazzetta Ufficiale no. 89/2022 (Italian text) – Gazzetta Ufficiale
• Legislative Decree 85 of 7 April 2003 (Italian text) – Chamber of Deputies
• Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1912 – EUR-Lex
• Council Recommendation of 16 September 2025 on the transition out of temporary protection – EUR-Lex
• Press release on case C-249/25 – Court of Justice of the EU
• FAQ on the verification process for temporary protection – European Commission
• Fleeing Ukraine: your rights in the EU – European Commission
• Temporary protection permits expiring or expired (Italian text) – Integrazione Migranti
• Permits renewable until March 2026 (Italian text) – Integrazione Migranti
• Consolidated text of Decree-Law 201/2025 (Italian text) – Normattiva
• Questions and answers for people coming from Ukraine (2022, Italian text) – Civil Protection Department
• Leaflet “Temporary protection in Italy” (2022, Italian text) – Civil Protection Department

The sources were consulted on 1 November 2026. Official Italian pages can be older than the rules: always check the current instructions of your Questura.

How can SH Immigration Specialists help?

SH Immigration Specialists can help you check the documents the Questura asks for, follow renewals and understand which other permits exist. Legal advice, appeals and representation are handled by the lawyers of SH Immigration Specialists. The outcome depends on the competent authorities. For an assessment, contact us.

This content provides general information and does not constitute legal advice.

Which other guides may help you?

• International protection in Italy
• Special protection residence permit in Italy
• Political asylum and subsidiary protection in Italy
• Italian health card for foreigners
• Residence permits that allow work and can be converted