Belgium: temporary protection extended to 4 March 2027 — how to renew the A card in 2026

Ukrainians under temporary protection in Belgium can plan the coming year more calmly: the European Union has officially extended temporary protection for those who fled the war until 4 March 2027. This decision applies to all EU countries, including Belgium. At the same time, protection in Belgium is not extended "on its own" — to keep your legal status, the residence card (A card) must be renewed in person at your commune.

What exactly has changed

On 4 June 2025 the European Commission proposed extending temporary protection for Ukrainians. On 13 June 2025 the Council of the EU reached a political agreement, and on 15 July 2025 it formally adopted the implementing decision. As a result, temporary protection has been extended until 4 March 2027 — a year beyond the previous deadline (4 March 2026). This gives millions of Ukrainians in the EU legal certainty at least until spring 2027.

For Belgium, this means a new cycle of A card renewal. Each A card is issued for a limited term and tied to the date of 4 March. Therefore, cards that were valid until 4 March 2026 need to be replaced with new ones — valid until 4 March 2027.

When and where to renew the A card

According to the official portal of the City of Brussels, from 5 January 2026 persons with temporary protection can contact the commune of their place of residence (the city administration) to apply for renewal of the residence card — the A card. The renewed card will be valid until 4 March 2027.

Please note: the renewal does not happen automatically. The automatic extension of the status does not mean automatic renewal of the card itself. To avoid losing your status and the rights associated with it (access to the labour market, social support, children's schooling), you need to come to your commune in person. In most communes, appointments are handled by prior booking — online or by phone with the relevant administration.

What documents are needed

To renew the A card, you usually prepare the following set:

• a valid passport;
• your current A card, which you are renewing;
• a recent photo on a white background that meets biometric requirements.

The document photo is a formal but important requirement: if the picture does not meet the standards (background, size, position of the face), the commune may not accept it, and you will have to come back. You can prepare a correct photo on a white background to Belgian document requirements in advance online via Anfas.Pro, so as not to waste time on site.

How much it costs and how long to wait

The fees for producing the card and the timeframes depend on the specific commune. For example, in the City of Brussels the standard-procedure fee is 30 euros (for persons over 12) or 12 euros (for children under 12), and production takes about 1–2 weeks. There is also an express procedure — around 150 euros: the card is ready the next day if the application is submitted before 3 p.m. In other communes the amounts and timeframes may differ, so we recommend checking them directly with your administration.

What you should do right now

1. Check the expiry date of your current A card.
2. Book an appointment at your commune in advance — there can be a long queue in January–February.
3. Prepare your passport, A card and a photo on a white background in good time.
4. Check with the commune the current fee and production time for the card.

The extension until 4 March 2027 is still a temporary status, not a permanent one. The EU is in parallel preparing measures for a smooth transition after temporary protection ends, so keep an eye on updates from official sources and your commune.