Since the start of the conflict, the number of people receiving temporary protection has evolved significantly. In 2022, 63.356 certificates were issued, including 26.507 in March alone, followed by 15.626 in 2023, 13.277 in 2024, 8.756 in 2025, and 521 in January 2026, bringing the total to 101.536 temporary protection certificates granted as of 31 January 2026. Most beneficiaries are Ukrainian nationals, with a slightly higher proportion of women in 2025 (52 per cent women, 48 per cent men) and a large share of adults aged 18–34 (41 per cent) and 35–64 (32 per cent). Proportionally to its population, Belgium hosts between 5 and 10 displaced Ukrainians per 1.000 inhabitants, placing the country around the EU average, similar to the Netherlands and Denmark.

Of those registered under temporary protection, 70.636 remain in the national register, while 22.594 have been removed after leaving the country, dying, or changing address. Among those who left, 5.841 returned to Ukraine, while others relocated to Poland, the United States, or Canada. For those who remain in Belgium under temporary protection, support is gradually being reduced, with the provision of subsidised accommodation progressively scaled back since late 2024. In Wallonia, the number of conventional reception centres decreased from 25 at the end of 2024 to around ten by mid-2025, collectively hosting 310 residents. In Flanders, funding for local emergency shelters will end on 31 March 2026, requiring municipalities either to cover the costs themselves or to assist beneficiaries in moving to the private rental market, which has proven challenging. One exception is the emergency village in Ghent, which will remain open until March 2027, providing accommodation for up to 600 people across 200 housing units.

The period beyond March 2027 remains uncertain. At EU level, discussions are ongoing regarding a possible exit strategy from the temporary protection regime. On 19 February 2026, a seminar organised in Brussels by the European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE) examined Member States’ preparedness for the end of the scheme. A representative of the European Commission outlined the approach set out in the Council Recommendation, focusing on transitions to other legal statuses, support for reintegration in Ukraine, adequate information for beneficiaries, and EU-level coordination. The issue is due to be discussed further at the Justice and Home Affairs Council in March 2026.

For further information, you can read this press release from Belga (in English) or this press release from VRT (in French).
For detailed statistics on temporary protection, please visit the website of the Immigration Office.