How can a Ukrainian stay in Europe legally after temporary protection?
Temporary protection gave millions of Ukrainians the right to live and work in the EU, and it has now been extended until March 4, 2028 — the decision has been in force since August 5, 2026. This is time, not a permanent status: the EU's course toward a transition to people's own grounds remains, and the switch to a permanent status does not happen automatically. Below is a calm review: what legal paths there are to stay, how much this costs under a contract and how long it takes. We, Alliance, are a European consulting company working under official contracts, so we speak in figures and facts.
What will happen to Ukrainians after temporary protection ends?
In short: the protection has been extended until March 4, 2028, but it is not endless, and those who want to stay need their own long-term status. The EU is holding a course toward a coordinated transition from the temporary protection regime to other legal grounds — through work, business, study or a residence permit. Some countries are already moving protection holders onto national statuses on their own schedules. So the question “what happens after temporary protection” is not a scare story but a reason to calmly check whether you have your own ground to stay in Europe: the winner is the one who prepares a foothold in advance, while time is on their side.
What legal paths are there to get a residence permit in Europe?
There are two, and both are official. The first is employment under a contract: if a European company officially hires you as a specialist, that is a ground for a residence permit. The second is your own company: you open a company and conduct your activity through it, and this is at the same time a ground for status and your operational base in the EU. This works most conveniently through Romania — it is a full member of the European Union and Schengen with a more affordable entry. The path through your own company is chosen more often: it does not tie you to someone else's employer and leaves you free. Real estate can also be added to the status — your own apartment in Europe, for example on the Black Sea coast, anchors you in a clear jurisdiction and brings income in euros: a management company rents it out, and an audit firm keeps the books. That is why we always run two products together: full support for a real estate deal and obtaining EU residence or citizenship.
How much does it cost to get a residence permit and what is included in the price?
The prices are exact and fixed in an official contract. Opening a company — 1300 euros. Obtaining a residence permit — another 1300 euros: we fully prepare the document package, and our lawyer accompanies you to the interview with the immigration police. A contract with an accountant — 600 euros a year. Behind these figures are specific actions: opening a company includes registering the company, a registered address and the founding documents; residence permit support includes preparing the entire package and the lawyer's work; accounting support includes bookkeeping and monthly reporting. The contract sets out all the amounts, the payment procedure and exactly what we do at each step — with no hidden extra charges at the end. The company's licenses are publicly available on the website. We make an exact calculation for your situation during a free assessment.
“The right to Romanian citizenship is confirmed by documents — and we take that right all the way to a passport. The decision is made by the authority: the result cannot be guaranteed, but the file can be assembled so that it raises no questions. The timelines, the amount and the working procedure are in the contract.”
How long does it take to get a residence permit?
The whole path usually takes about 4 months — from the start to receiving the status, with a properly assembled document package, and we are the ones who assemble it. That is months, not years in queues. We name the timeline honestly at the start, and the exact schedule depends on your situation and the authorities' workload — it is fixed during the assessment and in the contract.
Can you get a residence permit remotely, without moving?
Yes, for most of the process. Opening the company and preparing the documents are done remotely. You are needed in person essentially only for the interview, and even then with our lawyer beside you. There is no need to quit your job and pull your children out of school overnight — you prepare a foothold calmly and move when you yourself want to. For a person who now lives in Germany, the Czech Republic or Poland, this changes everything: the status is arranged while your normal life goes on as usual — you do not need to move to Romania for this.
What to do if you have already made a mistake?
If you have already paid an intermediary with no result, opened an empty company or nearly paid for housing in a country outside Schengen — this is not yet a dead end. As long as the money has not gone for good, the decision can almost always be turned toward a real European status. A family came to us who had almost paid for a new-build with no European prospects: during the assessment we showed them what they were losing and turned the decision around — a few months later they had status in the EU and their own apartment on the coast. This is not a promise of a result but one completed cycle; the terms for each property are calculated separately. The sooner you check your situation during an assessment, the cheaper the turnaround will be.