Extension of temporary protection for Ukrainians 2026: what changes for companies hiring them

Key data

Spanish companies that have Ukrainian workers on their payroll do not need to take any urgent action: Implementation Decision (EU) 2026/1912, adopted on July 30, 2026, automatically extends the temporary protection that has existed since 2022. Hiring remains legal, existing contracts maintain their validity, and no new ordinary work permits are required.

This decision avoids a situation that would have created a real operational problem for many employers: the unforeseen irregularity of workers who have been integrated into their payrolls for years. The extension guarantees legal continuity for both workers and the companies employing them.

What does this regulation establish?

Implementation Decision (EU) 2026/1912 extends the temporary protection regime introduced in 2022 by Decision (EU) 2022/382, which was activated in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This special regime allows beneficiaries to:

• Reside legally in any EU Member State without needing to process an ordinary visa or residence permit.
• Access the labor market without an ordinary work permit, which greatly simplifies hiring for companies.
• Access education on terms equivalent to nationals of the host Member State.
• Receive healthcare in public health systems.
• Access housing through programs enabled by public administrations.

The 2026 regulation does not modify the conditions of the regime: it simply extends it to prevent beneficiaries from falling into irregular status. Public administrations must keep operational the care and registration procedures that have been in place since 2022.

Economic and operational impact

For companies, the most relevant impact is what they do not have to do: they do not have to initiate ordinary work authorization proceedings for their Ukrainian employees, which means avoiding administrative costs, processing times, and the risk of labor relationship interruption.

Without the extension, any company with Ukrainian workers on its payroll would have had to choose between three options, all costly:

• Initiate an ordinary labor regularization process (slow and costly in management).
• Dispense with the worker, with associated dismissal costs and replacement search.
• Keep the worker in irregular status, with the risk of employer sanctions.

For public administrations, the extension means maintaining the registration and care systems already in operation, without needing to dismantle them or activate return procedures.

The impact is especially relevant in sectors with high presence of Ukrainian workers: logistics, hospitality, construction, cleaning services, and personal care.

Who does it affect?

• Companies with Ukrainian workers on their payroll: can maintain existing contracts without additional work authorization procedures.
• Companies wanting to hire new Ukrainian workers: can do so under the same simplified regime, without an ordinary work permit.
• HR departments and management firms: must verify that their Ukrainian employees' temporary protection documents are current and up to date.
• Public administrations: must maintain the care, registration, and documentation renewal procedures enabled since 2022.
• Displaced Ukrainian citizens: maintain their legal status in Spain and the rest of the EU, with access to employment, healthcare, education, and housing.

Practical example

A logistics company in Valencia has 12 Ukrainian workers hired since 2022 under the temporary protection regime. Without the extension approved on July 30, 2026, these contracts would have been in a legally uncertain situation from that date onwards.

Thanks to Decision (EU) 2026/1912, the company does not need to initiate any ordinary work authorization proceedings. The 12 contracts remain fully valid. The HR department only needs to ensure that each worker has updated documentation proving their status as a temporary protection beneficiary, issued by the competent Spanish authorities.

If the company wanted to hire a new displaced Ukrainian worker, it could do so under the same simplified regime: without needing to process an ordinary work permit with the Immigration Office.

What should companies do now?

1. Verify the documentation of Ukrainian employees: check that each worker has current documentation proving their temporary protection status issued by Spanish authorities.
2. Do not initiate ordinary work permit procedures: the extension makes any ordinary labor authorization proceedings unnecessary for these workers.
3. Inform the HR department or management firm: communicate that existing contracts maintain their validity and that no urgent actions are required.
4. Keep the document file updated: keep copies of each affected worker's temporary protection documents, as you would with any other work authorization document.
5. Stay alert to future official communications: temporary protection has a time horizon defined by EU Council decisions. Monitoring possible changes or new extensions is key to anticipating any impact on your workforce.

Official source

Consult complete regulation at official source

Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/./legal-content/AUTO/?uri=CELEX:32026D1912