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Temporary protection

Temporary protection and municipality of residence

If you have lived in Finland for one year and have been granted temporary protection, you can apply for a municipality of residence. In some cases, you may be entitled to a municipality of residence even earlier. Submit the application to the Digital and Population Data Services Agency. 

You can apply for a municipality of residence based on one-year residence online. You can apply at the earliest on 1 March 2023. Apply on the website of the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (dvv.fi). 

When you have a municipality of residence, you are entitled to more extensive services than at a reception centre. Read more about how the services of a reception centre differ from the services provided by your municipality of residence.

If you do not apply for a municipality of residence, you will continue to be a client of a reception centre and will continue to receive services from your reception centre. If you need advice, you can contact your reception centre. 

Read more: Municipality of residence in Finland.pdf.

Read more: Information about municipality of residence for customers receiving temporary protection.pdf

For further information about the services available to you, please see the websites of the following authorities:

Digital and Population Data Services Agency

The Digital and Population Data Services Agency issues Finnish personal identity codes and registers municipalities of residence. Applications for a municipality of residence can be submitted online as of 1 March 2023. For more information about the requirements and on how to apply, see Instructions on arriving in Finland from Ukraine (dvv.fi).

Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela)

Kela provides social security coverage in Finland and pays benefits that cover a wide range of situations. You may be entitled to Kela benefits, such as child benefit, if you have lived in Finland for one year or if you are working in Finland. For more information, see the website of Kela (kela.fi).

Finnish National Agency for Education

For information on how getting a municipality of residence will affect childcare, school and studies see the website of the Finnish National Agency for Education.