Temporary Protected Status can change quickly because each country designation has its own expiration date, registration rules, and sometimes ongoing court challenges. For anyone checking temporary protected status countries 2026, the most useful approach is to separate countries with clearly active designations from those affected by litigation. As of August 13, 2026, the clearest active TPS designations are El Salvador, Lebanon, Sudan, and Ukraine. Ethiopia and Somalia remain special cases because announced terminations have been stayed by federal courts, leaving protections in place for qualifying existing beneficiaries while litigation continues.
A country appearing in an older TPS list does not automatically mean a new applicant can file today, and an announced termination does not always mean protection has already ended. Before filing, compare the latest USCIS country page and Federal Register notice with your own entry date, residence history, and registration period.
Current TPS countries in 2026
El Salvador
El Salvador’s TPS designation is extended through September 9, 2026. The extension applies to eligible existing beneficiaries who properly re-registered and continue to meet program requirements. Someone who never previously held TPS for El Salvador should not assume the extension creates a new open registration period. Check current USCIS guidance for late initial filing rules.
Lebanon
Lebanon’s TPS designation is extended through November 27, 2026. Eligible beneficiaries generally must have continuously resided in the United States since October 16, 2024, and been continuously physically present since November 27, 2024, while also meeting the other statutory requirements.
Sudan
Sudan remains covered through October 19, 2026 under its current extension. Existing beneficiaries must have followed the applicable TPS renewal or re-registration instructions and continue to satisfy eligibility requirements. Because Sudan has had multiple TPS actions over the years, use the current USCIS Sudan page rather than an old notice.
Ukraine
Ukraine’s TPS designation is extended through October 19, 2026. Eligible beneficiaries who re-registered during the designated period may continue to receive protection through the extension, provided they remain eligible. Nationality alone is not enough; the country-specific residence and physical-presence cutoffs still apply.
Ethiopia and Somalia: court-ordered protection
Ethiopia and Somalia require extra care in any 2026 TPS list. The Department of Homeland Security announced terminations for both countries, but federal courts stayed those actions. Qualifying existing beneficiaries have therefore continued to receive protection under court orders while litigation proceeds. Because court rulings can change effective dates or document-validity rules quickly, check these two countries immediately before filing, making an employment-verification decision, or planning travel.
Other countries found on older lists should not automatically be treated as currently active. Haiti and Syria had terminations take effect in July 2026 after major litigation. Burma and South Sudan also faced court challenges, but judges allowed their terminations to proceed in August 2026. Yemen, Honduras, Nicaragua, Nepal, Afghanistan, Cameroon, and Venezuela have also had termination actions or ended designations. A beneficiary may still have document-specific questions, but that is different from a currently active designation.
Who is eligible for Temporary Protected Status?
Temporary protected status eligibility depends on more than nationality. In general, an applicant must be a national of a designated country, or a person without nationality who last habitually resided there, and must satisfy the continuous residence and continuous physical presence dates established for that designation.
The applicant must also file during the permitted registration or re-registration period unless a valid late initial filing exception applies. Certain criminal convictions, security-related grounds, and other statutory bars can make a person ineligible. A person convicted in the United States of one felony or two or more misdemeanors is generally barred from TPS. Other inadmissibility grounds may also require legal review.
TPS can provide protection from removal and may allow an eligible person to obtain employment authorization, but it does not by itself create a direct path to a green card or permanent immigration status.
How to apply or renew TPS
The main application is Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status. An applicant seeking an Employment Authorization Document can generally file Form I-765 as well. Fees, fee-waiver options, supporting evidence, and online filing availability can vary, so use the current USCIS instructions for the relevant country and filing type.
For a TPS renewal, check the current re-registration window rather than simply resubmitting an old package. Keep copies of prior approval notices, EADs, passports, identity records, and evidence supporting continuous residence and physical presence. USCIS may automatically extend certain EADs, but only for specified categories and dates.
Consider a Ukrainian national who entered the United States after the residence cutoff for the current designation. Even though Ukraine appears among the TPS designated countries, that person may not qualify under the existing designation. By contrast, someone who meets the cutoff dates and previously registered may be eligible to re-register. The country name is only the first filter; the individual timeline often decides the case.
Related reading may include our guides to asylum eligibility, employment authorization for humanitarian applicants, and other humanitarian immigration options.
What to check before relying on a TPS list
Start with the USCIS page for the specific country, then confirm the latest Federal Register notice. Check the designation or extension end date, registration window, continuous residence date, continuous physical presence date, and any automatic EAD extension. If litigation is involved, confirm whether a court order has changed an announced termination date.
People with criminal history, prior removal orders, lengthy travel outside the United States, or late-filing questions should consider advice from a qualified immigration attorney or accredited representative because those facts can change the analysis.
Frequently asked questions
Which countries currently have active TPS in 2026?
As of August 13, 2026, El Salvador, Lebanon, Sudan, and Ukraine have clearly active TPS extensions. Ethiopia and Somalia remain protected in important respects because federal courts stayed announced terminations. Their status should be checked closely while litigation continues.
Can I apply for TPS just because my country is on the list?
No. You must also satisfy the country-specific residence and physical-presence dates, registration rules, and general eligibility requirements. Some extensions primarily protect existing beneficiaries rather than opening eligibility to every national currently in the United States.
Do I need to renew TPS every time a country is extended?
Usually, existing beneficiaries must re-register during the period announced by DHS unless official guidance says otherwise. USCIS may accept a late re-registration with a valid explanation in some circumstances.
Does TPS lead to permanent residence?
TPS itself is temporary and does not automatically provide permanent residence. A TPS holder may qualify for another immigration benefit through a separate legal basis, depending on individual circumstances.
Keeping your TPS information current
The 2026 TPS landscape is unusually fluid, with extensions, terminations, and court orders overlapping across several countries. Treat any country list as a dated snapshot. El Salvador, Lebanon, Sudan, and Ukraine have current extensions with defined 2026 end dates, while Ethiopia and Somalia require extra attention because litigation has interrupted announced terminations. Checking official USCIS and Federal Register updates before filing is the safest way to avoid relying on outdated information.