Moldova extends temporary protection for Ukrainians until 1 March 2027

By a decision of 28 January 2026, the government of the Republic of Moldova extended the operation of the temporary protection mechanism for displaced persons from Ukraine. The status is now valid until 1 March 2027. Moldova set its own national term, aligning it with the extension of temporary protection in the European Union (EU Implementing Decision 2025/1460, which extends protection in the EU until 4 March 2027).

The main change that every Ukrainian in Moldova should be aware of: from 2026, status extension no longer happens automatically. To retain temporary protection, the beneficiary must submit a renewal application themselves. Previously the status was extended automatically — now this requires a separate action on the part of the status holder.

How and when to renew the status

The renewal application is submitted exclusively online through the official government platform protectietemporara.gov.md. The procedure is free of charge and does not require a personal visit to an office (except for specific cases described below).

The window for submitting renewal applications in 2026 was defined as follows:

• Start of application intake: 1 February 2026
• Final submission deadline: 30 April 2026

According to the General Inspectorate for Migration (IGM), failure to meet the application deadline leads to automatic termination of the temporary protection status. Therefore, missing the window of 1 February – 30 April 2026 is critical. At the same time, the government officially notes: even after the status is terminated, it remains possible to submit a new application for temporary protection.

What happens to the status while the application is being processed

Official sources confirm: during the period of submitting the application and its processing, the temporary protection status is retained, and the documents held by the beneficiary remain valid. That is, while the application has been submitted and is under review, the person does not lose the legal basis for residence, the right to work, study and access to medical and social services.

Mandatory fingerprinting for children who turned 14

Mandatory fingerprinting (dactyloscopy) applies to child beneficiaries who turned 14 in the period from 1 March 2023 to 1 January 2026. The legal representatives of such children are notified of the need to provide biometric data; on the appointed day, they must appear together with the child at an IGM office, bringing the originals of identity documents.

Who else is covered by temporary protection

In addition to citizens of Ukraine, other categories of persons are also entitled to temporary protection in Moldova. These categories were already added during the previous extension (from March 2025) and remain in force — they are not new to the 2026 decision. They include, in particular:

• persons and members of their families who are not citizens of Ukraine but hold permanent residence permits issued under the legislation of Ukraine;
• stateless persons recognised as such by the Ukrainian authorities;
• children born after 24 February 2022 to parents who are citizens of third countries or stateless persons living together with a citizen of Ukraine.

What to do if you missed the deadline

If you did not submit a renewal application within the set period, the status may have been automatically terminated. This is not a dead end: according to the government's official clarifications, after termination you can submit a new application for temporary protection. Contact the General Inspectorate for Migration of Moldova directly to clarify your situation and further steps. Information and contacts can be found on the official IGM website (igm.gov.md) and on the UNHCR help page for Moldova.

Why this matters

Temporary protection is a legal basis for residence in Moldova that grants the right to remain in the country, work, study and use social and medical services. The shift from automatic extension to an application-based one means that responsibility for retaining the status now rests with the beneficiary themselves. Follow the official IGM announcements regarding the application deadlines for the next periods.