Czechia Stops Granting Temporary Protection to Ukrainian Men of Draft Age
Czechia has become the first EU country to say it will no longer automatically grant temporary protection to newly arrived Ukrainian men aged 23–60, requiring proof of military duty completion. The measure applies to applications filed after 5 August 2026.
Czechia tightens rules for Ukrainian refugees
Czechia has announced it will stop granting temporary protection to Ukrainian men of military mobilization age, defined as 23 to 60. This makes it the first European Union member state to introduce such a policy, according to Deutsche Welle.
Interior Minister Lubomír Metnar said new applicants will only be eligible if they confirm through the "Reserv+" app that they have fulfilled their military obligations. The condition applies to initial and renewed applications as well as those filed for family reunification. Ukrainian men who already hold temporary protection and have kept it continuously since the decision took effect will not be affected.
Metnar said the move is expected to cut the number of new arrivals by tens of percent and reduce pressure on Czech healthcare and social welfare systems. Data from Novinky.cz show that more than 393,000 Ukrainian refugees currently live in Czechia, with women making up the majority until 2025. However, in the past year, men have dominated among new applicants: roughly 21,200 Ukrainian men aged 18 to 65 arrived in the country over the last twelve months.
EU-wide implications
The European Union recently extended temporary protection for Ukrainians until March 2028, allowing those who fled Russia's full-scale invasion to reside and work across member states. But the Council's decision indicates that newly arrived men will no longer receive the status automatically if they cannot prove they have met their military duties under Ukrainian law.
The requirement reflects Ukraine's current defense needs. EU countries are expected to determine which documents Ukrainian men must provide. The new rule applies only to applications submitted after 5 August 2026.
