Decreto Ucraina – Council of Ministers, 29.12.2025

On 29 December 2025 the Council of Ministers of the Italian Republic took an important decision on extending the temporary protection regime for Ukrainian citizens until 4 March 2027, under Article 20, ensuring that Ukrainian citizens can continue to stay in Italy legally, work, study and use social and health services.

1. Protezione temporanea (temporary protection – Emergenza Ucraina)

Permesso di soggiorno (residence permit) under Art. 20 — extension and new rules

The permit is NOT renewed automatically
To renew it, you have to submit a new request for rinnovo (renewal) at the Questura (police immigration office), following the rules of your province.

Documents required
– 3 passport-size (formato tessera) photographs
– Original passport
– Photocopy of the passport (personal details page + all pages with stamps)
– Photocopy of the dichiarazione di ospitalità (declaration of hospitality) or proof of residenza (registered residence).

– Residence permit and a copy of it

Ukrainians who arrive in Italy in 2026
are entitled to apply for a permesso di soggiorno per protezione temporanea (Emergenza Ucraina) on the same terms as those who arrived earlier.

2. Protezione speciale (special protection, Art. 19) — ways to regularise your status

Ukrainian citizens holding a permesso di soggiorno per protezione speciale (Art. 19) have two ways to regularise their status:

1. Conversion into a work permit
Permesso di soggiorno per motivi di lavoro (residence permit for work):
people with protezione speciale under Art. 19 are entitled to apply to convert their permit into a work permit if they meet the requirements of employment law.

2. Renewal (rinnovo)
Renewal is possible, but the procedure is long, because the decision is taken by the Commissione Territoriale per la Protezione Internazionale (Territorial Commission for International Protection).
You apply:

– either directly at the Questura,
– or by booking online on the Prenotafacile portal, depending on the rules of the province concerned.

3. Protezione Internazionale (international protection, Art. 10) — the right to apply

Ukrainians who hold no residence permit of any kind are entitled to apply for protezione internazionale (Art. 10).

Those currently under temporary protection also have this right in the following cases:

– when it is not possible to convert the permesso di soggiorno per protezione temporanea into another type of permit;
– when the person decides to stay in Italy after temporary protection is possibly revoked.

Important
The law states that if the war ends and Ukraine is recognised as a safe country, the permesso per protezione temporanea may be revoked early, even before 4 March 2027.

In such situations:

– the applicant may apply for protezione internazionale while the temporary permit (permesso temporaneo) is still valid;
– the application will be examined once temporary protection expires or after it is officially revoked.

The practical side of submitting documents

Please note that each Questura decides for itself the practical procedure for submitting documents to renew a residence permit.
Different provinces may have different booking systems, opening hours, document requirements and ways of applying (in person, through online portals, by prior appuntamento (appointment)).
We recommend always checking the information directly on your Questura’s website or asking the relevant immigration office.

Despite all the hardships the Ukrainian people are going through, living legally in Italy opens up important opportunities: not only to work and receive social protection, but also to study, take vocational courses, have qualifications obtained in Ukraine recognised and build your own path of development.

Let us remember that each of us has the same chance to use this time for personal growth.
That is why we advise you to keep learning, spend time with positive people, find strength within yourselves and turn the best of what you have into your resource, your support and your opportunity for personal development.

This is not an easy time, but it can become a time when each of us strengthens ourselves, our dignity and our path ahead.