Denmark may lift temporary protection for some Ukrainian men: who will be affected by the changes
This was announced by the Danish Immigration Service.
On 25 June 2026, Morten Bødskov, Denmark’s Minister for Immigration and Integration, tabled a bill to amend the Special Act on Temporary Residence Permits for Persons Displaced from Ukraine.
If the bill is passed, the new rules will apply to Ukrainian men aged between 23 and 60.
Who will be affected by the new rules
The draft bill stipulates that men aged between 23 and 60 will only be able to obtain a residence permit if they can provide documentary evidence of exemption from military service.
Ukrainians who have not yet reached the age of 23 will be able to benefit from the special law only until they reach that age. After turning 23, they will also need to provide proof of exemption from military service in order to renew their residence permit.
The changes will apply only to applications submitted from 25 June 2026 onwards.
Can residence permits that have already been issued be revoked?
The Danish Immigration Service has announced that, following the adoption of the law, it will review residence permits issued to men aged between 23 and 60 who submitted applications after 25 June 2026 but received their documents before the law came into force.
Should a permit be subject to revocation, the individuals concerned will be notified separately.
However, the new rules will not apply to Ukrainians who submitted their applications before 25 June 2026 and have already been granted a residence permit. The rules for renewing their permits will also remain unchanged for them.
Why Denmark is changing the rules
The Danish government explains the legislative changes as necessary to prevent Ukrainian men from evading conscription.
Furthermore, the issue of revising the rules on temporary protection for Ukrainians is currently being discussed at European Union level. In particular, EU countries are considering the possibility of restricting access to temporary protection for new male applicants of conscription age.
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