Temporary Protection in Italy Until 2027: Guide for Ukrainians

Your permesso di soggiorno says “scadenza: 4 marzo 2026” and you’re already stressed - gathering documents, racing to the Questura, standing in line at six in the morning. Hold on. If you’ve got protezione temporanea - there’s good news. Since March 1, 2026, Law 27/2026 (Legge 27/2026) has automatically extended all temporary protection permits for Ukrainians until March 4, 2027. On one expat forum, a Ukrainian woman from Turin shared: “I spent three weeks panicking that my permesso was expiring. Turns out it was extended automatically - didn’t even need to replace the card. Could’ve slept peacefully all that time.” So you can sleep peacefully too - let’s break down everything: what changed, what documents you need, what rights you keep, and when you actually do need to visit the Questura.

What’s protezione temporanea and who qualifies¶

Protezione temporanea (temporary protection) is a special EU status for people fleeing armed conflict en masse. It had never been used before - it was activated for the first time in history on March 4, 2022, through Directive 2001/55/EC, specifically for Ukrainians.

You’re eligible for temporary protection in Italy if you’re:

• A Ukrainian citizen who lived in Ukraine before February 24, 2022, and left the country after the invasion started
• A stateless person or third-country national who had permanent residence in Ukraine and can’t safely return
• A family member of any of the above (spouse, minor children, other dependent relatives)

As of 2026, roughly 173,000 Ukrainians are living in Italy under temporary protection. That makes Italy one of the key host countries in the EU.

What changed in 2026: automatic extension until March 2027¶

The EU Council Decision 2025/1460 extended temporary protection across the entire European Union until March 4, 2027. Italy implemented this in two steps:

1. Decreto-Legge 201/2025 (published December 31, 2025) - the emergency decree on extension
2. Legge 27/2026 (effective March 1, 2026) - conversion of the decree into full law

What this means in practice:

• All existing permesso di soggiorno for protezione temporanea are automatically valid until March 4, 2027 - even if your plastic card shows an earlier date
• No need to visit the Questura for a new biometric card - the changes are updated in the immigration database automatically
• All rights are preserved: work, healthcare (SSN), education, social assistance

One thing to note: some Questure (for example, in Milan and Rome) are still calling people in to update photos and fingerprints. If you get such a notice - don’t ignore it, it’s a routine procedure.

What rights does temporary protection give you¶

Your employer can’t refuse you because of your permesso type. If that happens - contact the labor inspectorate (Ispettorato del Lavoro) or a trade union (sindacato).

Documents for first-time registration¶

If you’ve just arrived in Italy and haven’t registered for temporary protection yet, here’s what you need.

Required minimum¶

1. Passport - biometric foreign passport. Since October 2025, Italy doesn’t recognize expired Ukrainian passports with extensions - you need a valid biometric one
2. Proof of departure from Ukraine - passport stamps, boarding pass, ticket, any evidence of crossing the border after February 24, 2022
3. 4 photos 45x35 mm - white background, passport-style

The Questura process¶

You go to the Questura (Ufficio Immigrazione) in your city. Here’s what happens:

1. You fill out an application for protezione temporanea
2. Submit your documents
3. Receive a ricevuta (receipt) - this works as your temporary residence permit
4. You’re automatically assigned a Codice Fiscale (Italian tax ID number) - it’s printed right on the ricevuta

You’ll get the plastic permesso di soggiorno card later - usually within 1-3 months depending on the city. During the entire wait, the ricevuta is your legal document.

Document translation: when you need it and when you don’t¶

For the protezione temporanea registration itself, translation usually isn’t required. The Questura accepts your Ukrainian passport as-is - it has Latin transliteration of your name.

But translations become necessary when you take the next steps:

Traduzione giurata is a sworn translation, certified at a court (tribunale), before a justice of the peace (giudice di pace), or at a notary. A regular translation or a notarized translation from Ukraine won’t be accepted by any official institution in Italy. Cost: €40-80 per document + €16 marca da bollo (stamp duty) per translation.

All documents from Ukraine must have an apostille - you get it in Ukraine (Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Education, or Ministry of Foreign Affairs - depending on the document type), and only then do the traduzione giurata in Italy. Not the other way around.

If your documents were lost due to the war - they can be restored remotely through a power of attorney.

The 90-day rule: don’t break it¶

Few people know about this, but there’s a critical restriction: you can’t spend more than 90 days outside Italy in any 180-day period. Break this rule and the Questura can refuse to extend your permesso.

This applies to trips anywhere - to Ukraine, to another EU country, even to Switzerland or the UK. Every border crossing is recorded, and the Questura has access to this data.

What to do if you need to leave for longer:

• Submit a request to the Questura explaining your reason (sick relative, court hearing, surgery)
• Gather supporting documents (medical certificates, court summons)
• They’re usually understanding, but without a formal request you’re taking a risk

Conversion: from temporary protection to a “regular” permesso¶

Protezione temporanea is temporary by definition. Sooner or later the status will end, or you’ll want more stability. Good news - you can convert.

To lavoro subordinato (employment)¶

The most popular option. You’ll need:

• A valid employment contract (registered, with UniLav)
• Kit Postale - submit through Sportello Amico at the post office
• Copy of your current permesso (protezione temporanea) + copy of passport
• Proof of accommodation (rental contract or dichiarazione di ospitalità)
• Payment: €70.46 via postal order + €16 marca da bollo

After submitting, you get a ricevuta - it gives you the right to work while waiting for the new permesso.

To lavoro autonomo (self-employment)¶

If you’ve opened a Partita IVA (Italy’s equivalent of sole proprietorship):

• Partita IVA registration documents
• Proof of income
• Proof of accommodation

To motivi familiari (family reasons)¶

If you have relatives with a different permesso type or Italian citizenship:

• Marriage or birth certificate with traduzione giurata
• Nulla Osta from Sportello Unico per l’Immigrazione
• Proof of income and housing from the sponsor

To studio (study)¶

If you’ve been accepted to a university:

• Enrollment letter
• Proof of financial means (~€6,000 per year)
• Health insurance for the entire study period

Full document lists for each permesso type are in our article about Permesso di Soggiorno.

What to do if your passport expired¶

Since October 2025, Italy stopped recognizing expired Ukrainian passports with extensions. If your passport’s validity has run out:

1. Book an appointment at the Ukrainian Consulate or Embassy in Italy through the “Electronic Queue” system
2. Gather documents: internal passport (if you have one), Codice Fiscale, old foreign passport, photos
3. Wait: the queue for a new passport is usually 2-4 months

While your passport is expired but your permesso di soggiorno is active - you’re legally in Italy. But you won’t be able to travel, and you may run into issues with your bank or employer. Don’t put it off.

FAQ¶

Do I need to do anything for my protezione temporanea to be extended to 2027?¶

No. Law 27/2026 automatically extended all temporary protection permits until March 4, 2027. You don’t need a new card. But if the Questura sends you a notice to update your biometrics (photo, fingerprints) - show up on the scheduled date.

Do I need document translations to get temporary protection in Italy?¶

For the protezione temporanea registration itself - no. The Questura accepts your Ukrainian passport without translation. But for further steps (SSN, school, diploma recognition, family reunification) you’ll need traduzione giurata - a sworn translation certified at an Italian court. Cost: €40-80 per document + €16 stamp.

Can I convert protezione temporanea to a work permit?¶

Yes. With a valid employment contract, you apply for conversion to lavoro subordinato through the Kit Postale at the post office. Cost: ~€86. After submitting, you receive a ricevuta that allows you to work while waiting for your new permesso.

How long can I be outside Italy with protezione temporanea?¶

Maximum 90 days in any 180-day period. Exceeding this can lead to your extension being refused. If you need to leave for longer - submit a request to the Questura with a valid reason in advance.

What happens to temporary protection after March 2027?¶

That depends on the EU Council’s decision. If the war continues - protection will very likely be extended again. If not - there’ll be a transition period to convert to a different permesso type. The best strategy is to not wait for the deadline and apply for conversion in advance if you have grounds (employment, studies, family).