Reserve+ or a stamp in the passport: Ukrainians' right to temporary protection
From 5 August 2026, a man of conscription age confirms the right to temporary protection with a border service stamp on lawful departure from Ukraine, and in its absence — with an official document from the “Reserve+” application.
International Law Firm "Zahist" daily assists with temporary protection applications at its offices in Poland, France, the Czech Republic, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland.
In our practice, it is precisely the lack of a prepared document from “Reserve+” that most often causes delays in considering an application — far more often than an actual absence of grounds for protection.
In this article we explain what decision the European Union adopted, whom it concerns, and which documents border and migration authorities of different countries actually accept.
We will also consider how the practice of individual states differs, so that an applicant can prepare specifically for the requirements of the country to which they plan to apply.
Temporary protection in the EU for Ukrainians — what changed from August 2026
On 15 July 2026, the ambassadors of the EU Member States agreed to extend temporary protection for another year — until 4 March 2028, and the Council adopted the corresponding decision on 30 July.
Together with the extension of the term, new conditions for obtaining the status also entered into force, applicable throughout the European Union from 5 August 2026.
Formally, this concerns a Council Implementing Decision adopted on 30 July 2026 — it is this decision that added the requirement to confirm fulfilment of military duty.
Whom the new temporary protection conditions concern
The new rules apply to men aged 18 to 60 who apply for temporary protection for the first time after 5 August 2026.
The rule also covers citizens of Ukraine who arrived in the EU after the new requirements entered into force, regardless of the date of departure from the country.
Women, children and men over 60 are formally not covered by the new requirement — they continue to obtain the status under the previous simplified procedure.
Whom the changes do not concern
Ukrainians who obtained protection before 5 August 2026 continue to enjoy it under the previous conditions — no additional check is provided for them.
According to official data, this concerns more than 4.38 million people who are already under temporary protection in the countries of the European Union.
These people are to extend their status under the usual procedure of the specific country, without the need to additionally prove fulfilment of military duty retroactively.
A passport stamp as confirmation of lawful departure from Ukraine
The primary evidence is a passport stamp affixed by the border service when crossing the border, or a certificate of lawful border crossing.
The presence of such a stamp automatically confirms that the departure was lawful, and therefore the question of fulfilment of military duty is removed.
The logic is simple: if the border service of Ukraine allowed a man of conscription age to leave the country, it means he had lawful grounds for crossing the border.
What to do if there is no stamp
There may be no stamp due to border control without physical affixing of a mark, loss of the passport, or other technical reasons at the border.
This is especially common for those who left through checkpoints with an automated clearance system without manual stamping.
- Apply to the State Border Guard Service for a certificate of border crossing
- Check the electronic register of crossings via the “Diia” application
- Prepare an alternative document on fulfilment of military duty
If none of these options worked, it will be necessary to turn to the second confirmation mechanism provided for by the EU decision.
A request for a certificate of border crossing should be made in advance, as processing of an application to the border service sometimes takes several weeks.
Reserve+ as alternative evidence for temporary protection
Reserve+ is an application for military registration that issues an electronic military registration document (eMRD) confirming the holder’s status.
It is this document that migration authorities of EU countries accept if the applicant cannot confirm lawful departure with a stamp or a certificate of border crossing.
The eMRD contains information on the registration category and the existence of grounds for deferment or exemption from mobilisation, which is what foreign authorities verify.
Below is a comparison of all three confirmation options recognised by the EU decision, depending on what the applicant actually has on hand.
| Method of confirmation | What it is | When to use |
| Passport stamp | Border service mark of border crossing | The stamp is affixed and is clear |
| Certificate of border crossing | Official SBGS document instead of a stamp | There is no stamp or it is illegible |
| eMRD (“Reserve+”) | Electronic military registration document | There is neither a stamp nor a certificate of crossing |
How to obtain a document via Reserve+
- Install the “Reserve+” application and verify identity via “Diia”
- Check the currency of military registration data in the profile
- Generate the eMRD in the documents section of the application
- Save the document in paper or electronic form for the migration authority
The document is accepted both in printed paper form and electronically — the specific format should be clarified with the migration authority before submission.
Before travelling, it is advisable to take a screenshot or printout of the eMRD in advance, as stable access to the application abroad is not always guaranteed.
Specifics of applying the new rules in different EU countries
The EU decision sets the general framework, but each country organises the document verification procedure in its own way through its own migration authorities.
Before submitting an application, it is worth finding out in advance exactly which list of documents the specific authority requires — this will save time and the number of visits.
In some countries, for example in Latvia, officials in practice sometimes request “Reserve+” even from women, although formally the rule concerns men of conscription age.
Such cases occur due to differing interpretations of instructions on the ground, so a refusal for lack of a document that is formally not required can be challenged.
In Poland, Germany and the Netherlands, verification is usually carried out during a personal visit to the relevant authority upon first obtaining the status.
The Polish Office for Foreigners mostly relies on the passport stamp and only in its absence requests additional documents on military registration.
In the Czech Republic and France, documents are most often submitted immediately as a package together with the application, and clarifications may be sent additionally by post or via an electronic account.
German foreigners’ authorities in complex cases may request a notarised translation of the “Reserve+” document into German.
In the Netherlands, the migration service IND usually accepts a scan of the document in the applicant’s personal account without a mandatory in-person visit for this specific matter.
In Finland, practice is still taking shape, so local lawyers recommend preparing both types of evidence at once — both the stamp and the document from “Reserve+”.
The migration service Migri acts cautiously during the transitional period and in disputed situations is more likely to request additional explanations than to refuse the status outright.
This difference in approaches is explained by the fact that the EU decision sets only a general standard of evidence, while the details of the procedure remain at the discretion of national legislation.
Legal assistance on temporary protection matters — International Law Firm "Zahist"
The absence of a stamp or confusion over the eMRD format is a typical cause of delay or refusal to grant the status, which can be avoided with timely preparation.
In practice, most refusals are linked not to an absence of grounds for protection, but precisely to incorrectly executed or incomplete documents.
Lawyers of "Zahist" in Poland, France, the Czech Republic, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland help assemble the correct set of documents under the requirements of the specific country.
- Checking that the stamp in the passport is present and correct before filing
- Generating the eVOD via “Reserv+” and preparing a translation if required
- Challenging an unfounded demand for documents that the law does not require
- Support at the interview with the migration authority
Each of these steps is better completed before submitting the application, rather than correcting mistakes after a refusal to grant the status.
If you plan to apply for temporary protection in the EU and are unsure which evidence will work in your case, contact us — we will review your situation at a consultation.
A consultation can be obtained either in person at one of our offices abroad or remotely even before you leave Ukraine.
An early request allows you to prepare the full set of documents in advance and avoid stress already at the border or at the migration authority.
