France: Temporary Protection for Ukrainians Extended to 4 March 2027 — What Changed with the APS and the €100 Tax
France
In short. The EU extended temporary protection for Ukrainians to 4 March 2027. In France the APS is valid for 6 months and is renewed online in advance. From 1 May 2026 — a €100 tax from the second renewal (the first two issuances are free of charge). ADA (financial support) is retained.
- Temporary protection for displaced persons from Ukraine has been extended through 4 March 2027 inclusive — Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1460 of 15 July 2025.
- In France protection is confirmed by an APS permit marked «bénéficiaire de la protection temporaire» valid for 6 months, renewed online via démarches-simplifiées.
- Submit your APS renewal application in the window before expiry (in many prefectures — no earlier than 3 weeks before expiry); check the exact deadline on your prefecture's website so you neither apply too early nor get a refusal.
- From 1 May 2026 the APS is subject to a €100 tax — but only from the second renewal; the first two issuances remain free of charge.
- ADA financial support and full medical coverage are retained for beneficiaries of temporary protection.
- Temporary protection does not prevent a switch to a more stable residence permit (work, study, family) — this is raised during renewal.
The Council of the European Union has extended temporary protection (protection temporaire) for persons displaced from Ukraine by another year — through 4 March 2027 inclusive. The decision was adopted on 15 July 2025 (Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1460) and extends the protection introduced from March 2022. It covers the period from 5 March 2026 to 4 March 2027.
For Ukrainians in France this means that your status and the related rights (residence, work, healthcare, financial support) remain valid. But there are several practical changes to the permit renewal procedure that are worth knowing about.
Who this applies to
Temporary protection in France extends to the following categories:
- Ukrainian citizens who resided in Ukraine before 24 February 2022;
- persons who held international or national protection in Ukraine;
- holders of a valid permanent residence permit in Ukraine;
- family members of the persons listed above.
The APS permit: 6 months and renewal
In France temporary protection is confirmed by a temporary residence permit — the APS (autorisation provisoire de séjour) marked «bénéficiaire de la protection temporaire». It is issued for 6 months and renewed as long as protection is in force.
The renewal application is now submitted online via your prefecture's démarches-simplifiées portal. It must be submitted in the window immediately before expiry: for example, in the Gard department renewal is processed no earlier than 3 weeks before the current APS expires — you cannot apply too early either. Check the exact deadline and the appointment-booking procedure on your prefecture's website, because the procedure differs by department; do not delay, in order to avoid a gap in your rights.
For renewal you usually need: a valid (expiring) APS, a document confirming your identity and citizenship, proof of residence (usually no older than 6 months) and photographs of the required format.
What changed: the €100 tax from 1 May 2026
From 1 May 2026 France introduced a tax on the issuance and renewal of the APS. For beneficiaries of temporary protection it is €100, but it is charged only starting from the second renewal — the first two APS issuances remain free of charge.
Please note: the interpretation of this rule may differ in individual prefectures, so confirm the exact amount and the moment of payment for your case directly with your prefecture before submitting the application.
ADA financial support
Beneficiaries of temporary protection can still receive financial support ADA (allocation pour demandeur d'asile) through OFII — on the same terms as asylum applicants. The amount depends on family composition. The basic daily rate for one person is €6.80, for two — €10.20, for three — €13.60 (then +€3.40 for each additional person). If state housing is not provided, €7.40 per day is added. These amounts are valid as of 1 April 2026; the official page notes that the data is updated, so check the current rates at service-public.gouv.fr.
Switching to a more stable status
Holding temporary protection does not prevent you from obtaining an ordinary residence permit (titre de séjour) — for example, on the basis of work, study or family. When you submit the APS renewal application the prefecture collects information about your situation in order to direct you, if necessary, to the appropriate permit. If you already have grounds for switching to «droit commun», it is worth considering this path as more stable than the 6-month APS.
What comes next
The current decision is in force until 4 March 2027. The EU institutions are discussing a possible further extension of protection after that date (approximately until March 2028), but a new Council decision has not yet been adopted. Follow updates on the official websites of the prefectures and OFPRA.
How to prepare documents for the APS and more
For APS renewal, applications to OFII and switching to other permits you often need photographs that meet French requirements (35×45 mm, neutral background). The Anfas.Pro service will help you prepare document photos that meet official standards for €4.99.
Related guides
Official sources
- EUR-Lex — Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1460 (продовження до 4 березня 2027)
- Conseil de l'UE — пресреліз про продовження тимчасового захисту
- Préfecture des Alpes-Maritimes — APS: перша заява та поновлення (податок 100 € з 1 травня 2026)
- Préfecture du Gard — отримання та поновлення APS для українців
- Service-public.gouv.fr — розмір допомоги ADA
- OFPRA — інформація про тимчасовий захист для українців
Questions
- Until what date has temporary protection for Ukrainians in the EU been extended?
- Through 4 March 2027 inclusive. This is set out in Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1460 of 15 July 2025, which covers the period from 5 March 2026 to 4 March 2027.
- How long is the APS valid in France and how do you renew it?
- The APS «bénéficiaire de la protection temporaire» is issued for 6 months and renewed as long as protection is in force. The application is submitted online via your prefecture's démarches-simplifiées portal — in the window before expiry (in many prefectures, for example in the Gard department, no earlier than 3 weeks before expiry). Check the exact deadline on your prefecture's website so you do not apply too early and avoid a gap in your rights.
- Do you now have to pay for the APS?
- From 1 May 2026 the APS for beneficiaries of temporary protection is subject to a €100 tax, but only starting from the second renewal. The first two issuances remain free of charge. Confirm the exact amount for your case with your prefecture, because practice may differ between departments.
- Is ADA financial support retained?
- Yes. Beneficiaries of temporary protection can still receive ADA through OFII on the same terms as asylum applicants. The amount depends on family composition and whether state-provided housing is available.
- Can I switch from temporary protection status to an ordinary residence permit?
- Yes. Temporary protection does not prevent you from obtaining a titre de séjour on the basis of work, study or family. During APS renewal the prefecture collects information about your situation in order to direct you, if necessary, to the appropriate permit.
- What will happen after 4 March 2027?
- The current decision is in force until 4 March 2027. The EU institutions are discussing a possible further extension (approximately until March 2028), but a new Council decision has not yet been adopted. Follow updates on the official websites of the prefectures and OFPRA.