What can follow temporary protection in Spain

Key rules

• End date: Protection currently runs to 4 March 2027, and anything after that depends on a new EU decision.
• Apply early: File any application for an ordinary permit before your protection ends.
• Asylum: Applying for asylum does not automatically cancel your temporary protection.
• No other status: If you have no other status when protection ends, general asylum and immigration law applies again.

Your options at a glance

You can keep temporary protection while it lasts, switch to an ordinary residence permit, apply for asylum, or work towards long-term residence. Which fits depends on your situation. The decision block below helps you choose.

What happens when protection ends

Protection runs for a limited time. It ends when the maximum duration is reached, or earlier if the EU Council decides so. After that, general asylum and immigration law applies again, so without another status you would have no right to stay. Plan the move before the end date, not after.

For people displaced from Ukraine, protection currently runs to 4 March 2027. Anything after that depends on a new EU decision. The timeline below shows how the extensions work.

Moving to an ordinary residence permit

If you meet the conditions of an ordinary permit, you can apply for it while you still hold protection. The usual routes are:

• an arraigo permit (social, labour or training), based on your ties to Spain;
• a work permit or self-employment authorisation;
• a student permit;
• a permit on humanitarian grounds.

Spain's 2025 immigration reform made it easier for protection holders to change status. You apply at the Oficina de Extranjería or online. File before your protection ends.

Whether your protection card stays valid while the new permit is pending depends on your case. Ask the Extranjería office when you file.

Long-term residence

EU rules also give a path to long-term residence. Time spent under protection can count towards the residence periods needed for arraigo and for long-term residence. Ask the Extranjería office how your own time is counted before you rely on it.

Asylum

You can apply for asylum (international protection) at any time. Applying does not automatically remove your temporary protection. In general, an asylum claim is not processed alongside protection, and you are expected to keep protection while the claim is pending.

• If asylum is granted, refugee status replaces temporary protection and you receive a refugee residence card.
• If asylum is refused, you can normally keep temporary protection while it remains in force.

You apply through the Oficina de Asilo y Refugio (OAR), the police or a CATE reception centre, after getting an appointment. The asylum office handles how a pending claim affects your protection card case by case.

Voluntary return

EU states must consider voluntary return, and may let people whose status has ended return, with attention to humanitarian reasons. The EU is also working on a coordinated approach to moving people from protection to other statuses, so watch for new announcements. The checklist below lists what to do next.

Choosing between options

Which route should you take when you want a status other than temporary protection?

• Keep temporary protection: Fits if you are happy with your current status and it is still in force; you can switch later if you meet another permit's conditions.

• Ordinary residence permit: Fits if you meet the conditions of an arraigo, work or self-employment, student or humanitarian-grounds permit.

• Asylum: Fits if you need international protection. You can apply at any time, keep your protection meanwhile, and if granted refugee status replaces it.

• Long-term residence: Fits if you have lived in Spain long enough, counting your time under protection, to qualify for long-term residence.

Choose an ordinary permit if you meet its conditions, asylum if you need international protection, and keep your protection until one of them is granted.

Timeline and deadlines

• Temporary protection starts for one year: at the start of your protection

• Protection is extended automatically by six months at a time, up to a maximum of three years: every six months after the first year

• The EU Council can extend protection by one more year beyond the three-year maximum: after the maximum duration is reached

• Protection for people displaced from Ukraine currently runs to 4 March 2027; anything later depends on a new EU decision: until 4 March 2027

• Apply for an ordinary residence permit if you meet its conditions, or start an asylum claim if you need international protection: before your protection ends

• General asylum and immigration law applies again if you have no other status: once the maximum duration is reached or the Council ends protection earlier

Checklist

• Check the current end date of your temporary protection with the Ministry of Interior or your local Extranjería office.

• Check which ordinary permit fits you: arraigo (social, labour or training), work or self-employment, student, or humanitarian grounds.

• File your application at the Oficina de Extranjería or online before your protection ends.

• Look for new EU Council decisions on extension or transition to other statuses.

Frequently asked questions

Can I apply for asylum while I hold temporary protection?

Yes, you can apply for asylum in Spain at any time while you hold temporary protection, and applying does not cancel your protection.

What happens to my protection if my asylum claim is refused?

If asylum is refused, you can normally keep your temporary protection for as long as it remains in force. The refusal does not by itself end your right to stay under protection.

Does my time under temporary protection count towards other residence permits?

Yes, time spent under temporary protection can count towards the residence periods needed for an arraigo permit and for long-term residence. Ask your Extranjería office how your months are counted before you apply.

What happens when temporary protection reaches its maximum duration?

When temporary protection reaches its maximum duration or the EU Council ends it earlier, general asylum and immigration law applies to you again. Spain and other EU countries must also consider voluntary return, with attention to humanitarian reasons.