Government proposes six-year temporary protection limit

The Icelandic government has approved a bill proposing that the maximum period of temporary protection for people fleeing mass displacement be extended from five years to six, mbl.is reports.

Justice Minister Þorbjörg Sigríður Gunnlaugsdóttir introduced the bill, which was resubmitted from the previous parliamentary session. It is intended to bring Icelandic law into line with practices in other European countries, particularly the Nordic countries, regarding what happens when temporary protection expires.

More than 6,000 people from Ukraine have received temporary protection in Iceland since Russia’s invasion began more than four years ago. The government said it was important for Europe to take a coordinated approach to issues affecting Ukrainians.

The Council of the European Union decided in July to extend temporary protection for people fleeing Ukraine until March 2028. Under current Icelandic law, however, temporary protection can last for a maximum of five years from the date an individual first receives the permit. The bill would therefore extend the statutory maximum to six years.

The bill would also remove a specific provision allowing residence permits to be granted on humanitarian grounds after temporary protection ends. The change is intended to underline the temporary nature of protection for people displaced in large numbers and ensure that the law does not predetermine their legal status once the protection period ends.

Temporary protection would generally not be granted to someone who already holds a valid residence permit on the same or a comparable basis in another European Union country, Denmark or another Schengen partner country.

When processing new applications, authorities would also consider whether applicants were legally permitted to leave Ukraine in light of their obligations under Ukrainian military service laws. The government said this reflects practice in all Schengen countries and the wishes of the Ukrainian authorities. Ukraine’s ambassador had specifically requested the change in two meetings with the justice minister.

The changes would apply only to new applications and would not affect the legal status of people who already have temporary protection in Iceland.