Roughly 170 000 Ukrainians who fled to Italy after Russia’s 2022 invasion received welcome news this week. Decree-Law 201/2025, published in the Official Gazette on 31 December 2025 and confirmed on 17 January, lets holders of ‘protezione speciale’ residence permits renew them until 4 March 2027. The measure aligns Italy with EU Council Decision 2025/1460, which prolonged temporary protection for displaced Ukrainians across all Member States. (visahq.com)
Context and legal details: Temporary-protection status grants the right to live and work in Italy, access the national health service and enrol children in school. The original permits were set to expire in March 2026; their extension eliminates a looming administrative cliff-edge and the risk of talent loss for companies that hired Ukrainian professionals over the past three years. Beneficiaries must file renewal requests within the standard 60-day window before permit expiry; missing the deadline could automatically suspend work authorisation. (visahq.com)
VisaHQ’s immigration specialists can simplify every step of the renewal journey for both individual applicants and Italian employers. Through the company’s dedicated Italy page (https://www.visahq.com/italy/), users gain access to dynamic checklists, appointment-booking tools and real-time status tracking, all of which reduce paperwork and help ensure no one misses the crucial 60-day filing window.
![Italy Extends Temporary-Protection Permits for Ukrainians Until March 2027]()
Business impact: Employers should audit HR files to identify Ukrainian staff whose permits now qualify for renewal and schedule immigration appointments early, as prefecture slots are expected to be scarce. Mobility managers should update assignee handbooks and reassure affected employees that social-security enrolment and tax residence remain unchanged.
Integration programmes: Regions such as Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna are expanding Italian-language classes and recognising Ukrainian university diplomas to help newcomers fill chronic skill gaps in engineering and IT. Companies willing to co-finance up-skilling courses may gain priority access to regional training funds.
Next steps: The Interior Ministry will issue an implementing circular clarifying whether biometric re-capture is needed. Employers should monitor for that guidance and budget for possible €30 electronic-card fees per renewal.
Context and legal details: Temporary-protection status grants the right to live and work in Italy, access the national health service and enrol children in school. The original permits were set to expire in March 2026; their extension eliminates a looming administrative cliff-edge and the risk of talent loss for companies that hired Ukrainian professionals over the past three years. Beneficiaries must file renewal requests within the standard 60-day window before permit expiry; missing the deadline could automatically suspend work authorisation. (visahq.com)
VisaHQ’s immigration specialists can simplify every step of the renewal journey for both individual applicants and Italian employers. Through the company’s dedicated Italy page (https://www.visahq.com/italy/), users gain access to dynamic checklists, appointment-booking tools and real-time status tracking, all of which reduce paperwork and help ensure no one misses the crucial 60-day filing window.
Business impact: Employers should audit HR files to identify Ukrainian staff whose permits now qualify for renewal and schedule immigration appointments early, as prefecture slots are expected to be scarce. Mobility managers should update assignee handbooks and reassure affected employees that social-security enrolment and tax residence remain unchanged.
Integration programmes: Regions such as Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna are expanding Italian-language classes and recognising Ukrainian university diplomas to help newcomers fill chronic skill gaps in engineering and IT. Companies willing to co-finance up-skilling courses may gain priority access to regional training funds.
Next steps: The Interior Ministry will issue an implementing circular clarifying whether biometric re-capture is needed. Employers should monitor for that guidance and budget for possible €30 electronic-card fees per renewal.
