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Temporary protection for those fleeing Ukraine

The purpose of temporary protection is to provide swift help to those fleeing the war in Ukraine.

Temporary protection for Ukrainians fleeing the war has been extended until 4 March 2026. The Council of the European Union made a decision regarding the extension on 25 June 2024. Preparation of legislative amendments to extend the permits issued on the basis of temporary protection has been initiated by the Ministry of the Interior. See the press release of the Ministry of the Interior (16 October 2024): Legislation on temporary protection to be reformed. We will make further instructions and information regarding the extension of permits available as soon as possible.

Who can be granted temporary protection? 

Temporary protection can only be granted to

  • Ukrainian citizens unable to return to Ukraine due to the Russian attack
  • The family members of Ukrainian citizens and of those granted international protection or equivalent national protection in Ukraine, if the family ties were established in Ukraine before 24 February 2022 and the family member is not a citizen of a European Union Member State, a Nordic country, Liechtenstein, or Switzerland.
    • Family members must show proof of family ties, for example a marriage certificate or a birth certificate for a child who is a Ukrainian citizen.
    • Family members do not need to apply at the same time. They can, for example, come to Finland later and apply for temporary protection then.
    • If the family member is a citizen of a European Union Member State, or a citizen of Liechtenstein or Switzerland, he or she can apply for EU registration.
  • Citizens of countries that have not joined the European Union or the Schengen Agreement and stateless persons who have had a residence permit in Ukraine on the basis of international protection. When applying for temporary protection, they must show proof of their residence permit issued on the basis of international protection, for example a certificate of refugee status issued by Ukraine.
  • Citizens of countries that have not joined the European Union or the Schengen Agreement and stateless persons who have had a permanent residence permit in Ukraine and who cannot return to their home country in safe and durable conditions. When applying for temporary protection, they must show proof of their permanent residence permit, for example a residence permit card.
    • If the applicant for temporary protection has resided in Ukraine with a permanent residence permit, we will investigate whether he or she can return to his or her home country in safe and durable conditions. If we while processing the application for temporary protection cannot assess whether the applicant is able to return to his or her home country, we will advise the applicant to apply for asylum.

What is the validity period of residence permits granted on the basis of temporary protection?

All residence permits issued on the basis of temporary protection are valid until 4 March 2025.

If you, for example, have a job or a study place in Finland, you can apply for an extended permit. You must apply for an extended permit on new grounds, because your current permit has been issued on other grounds (temporary protection). You must pay a processing fee for the application for an extended permit. Apply for an extended permit before your residence permit granted on the basis of temporary protection expires. Check if you meet the requirements for an extended permit and read the instructions on the page Extended permit.

Applying for temporary protection

  1. Once you have arrived in Finland, visit the police (poliisi.fi) or a border control authority and inform them of your intention to apply for temporary protection. Applying is free of charge.
    • It is recommended that you apply for temporary protection even if you have already submitted an application for asylum. Applications for temporary protection are processed at a considerably faster rate than asylum applications. 
    • Show the police or the border control authority your identity document, such as a biometric passport issued by your country of nationality, or a Ukrainian internal passport.
  2. The police or border control authority registers your application for temporary protection and makes a record of 
    • your personal details and place of residence
    • details related to your arrival in Finland and the route you took to travel here
    • your family members’ details.
    • You will also need to provide a photo, fingerprints and a signature.
  3. The police or border control authority will ask you whether you wish to apply for temporary protection only, or if you would also like to submit an application for asylum. 
    • The differences between temporary protection and asylum will be explained to you, so that you can make an informed decision. You may also apply for asylum at a later date.
  4. Following registration, the Finnish Immigration Service makes a decision on your application.
    • Making the decision requires an identity document, such as a biometric passport issued by your country of nationality, or a Ukrainian internal passport. If you do not have an identity document, apply for one at the embassy of Ukraine in Finland. Tell the embassy that you have applied for temporary protection and that you need an identity document for the application. Please note that the passports of Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic are not approved travel documents in Finland because Finland has not recognised the independence of Donetsk and Luhansk. 
    • If you have applied for asylum in addition to temporary protection, you are not required to obtain an identity document from the authorities of your home country.
    • You will be heard before the decision is made only if the Finnish Immigration Service considers there to be a particular reason to do so.
  5. You will be served with the decision.
    • The Finnish Immigration Service will send you the decision by post. The decision will be sent to the reception centre at which you are staying. If you live in private accommodation, the decision will be sent to the address which you have given as your Finnish address. If your address in Finland changes, it is important that you notify your reception centre without delay. 
    • In cases when you are not served with the decision by post, the police will inform you of the decision.

When will I get a decision on temporary protection?

For the time being, the estimated processing time for an application for temporary protection is one week, if no additional information is needed for the application. After a decision has been issued, the Finnish Immigration Service will send you the decision by post. According to an estimate by the Finnish Immigration Service, the postal delivery will take approximately one week. This means that you will receive the decision within approximately 2 weeks from the date on which you submitted your application

After a decision has been issued, the Finnish Immigration Service will order a residence permit card for you. At present, it takes approximately 2 weeks to obtain a residence permit card. 

If you are granted temporary protection

  • You will receive a residence permit card.
    • Your card will be sent to your nearest collection point within 2 weeks of the date when we make a decision. When your residence permit card is ready, you will receive a notification by email or text message. The notification will state the shipment code, the address of the collection point, and the last day when the card is still available for collection.
    • We will send each card separately. Your card will be sent by post if you live in the Åland Islands, if we do not have your email address or phone number or if a non-disclosure for personal safety reasons has been registered for you.
    • When you receive the arrival notification and will collect the card:
      1. Bring with you the arrival notification you received by email or text message and your PIN code, which is also your customer number. Your PIN code is printed on your reception centre client card next to ‘Asiakasnumero/Kundnummer’. You do not need to show your client card at the collection point. You only need to state your PIN code.
      2. Show the collection point staff your arrival notification and tell them your PIN code. You will be asked for a PIN code, which means your customer number.
      3. The staff will then give you an envelope that contains your residence permit card.
    • If you are collecting a card for another person, you do not need a power of attorney. Bring with you the arrival notification and the PIN code of the person whose card you are collecting.
  • A personal identity code will be issued to you. Your personal identity code will be indicated on the residence permit card. Read more on the page Personal identity code.
    • If you cannot be registered in the Population Information System when you get a positive decision on your application, you will need to visit a service point of the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (dvv.fi). After doing so, you will not receive a new residence permit card automatically but you can, if you so wish, apply for a new residence permit card that contains your personal identity code. The new card is subject to a fee. For instructions on how to apply for a new residence permit card, see the page Renewal of residence permit card.
  • If you are granted a residence permit on the basis of temporary protection, you must have a valid travel document during your entire stay in Finland. If your travel document expires, renew the passport of your country of nationality or apply for an alien’s passport.
  • If you have also applied for asylum, the Finnish Immigration Service will suspend the processing of your asylum application for as long as your residence permit issued on the basis of temporary protection is valid.

When is temporary protection not granted?

The Finnish Immigration Service may issue a negative decision on your application for temporary protection if 

  • there aren't sufficient grounds for granting a residence permit on the basis of temporary protection in your case 
  • you are considered to present a danger to public order or security
  • you can be reasonably suspected of having committed
    • a crime against peace, a war crime or a crime against humanity
    • a serious non-political crime before entering Finland
    • an act which violates the aims and principles of the United Nations.

Can decisions regarding temporary protection be appealed?

If you are granted temporary protection, you may not appeal against the positive decision if

  • you have applied for asylum, and 
  • the processing of your asylum application is ongoing.

If you are not granted temporary protection, you may appeal against the decision to an administrative court. Instructions for lodging an appeal are attached to the decision.

Temporary protection residence permit granted by another EU country

You cannot be granted temporary protection in more than one EU country at a time. If you are granted a residence permit in Finland on the basis of temporary protection, your temporary protection residence permit in another EU country will be cancelled.

A temporary protection residence permit issued by another EU country does not entitle you to work in Finland. If you apply for temporary protection in Finland, you have the right to work as soon as you register your application for temporary protection with the police or border control authorities. 

You can apply for reception allowance in Finland only if you also apply for temporary protection in Finland. Please note that you cannot be granted temporary protection in more than one EU country at a time.

Make sure that the Finnish Immigration Service has your current address and telephone number

Notify your reception centre immediately of any changes in your address or telephone number. The Finnish Immigration Service will get the information from the reception centre.

If you already are a resident of a municipality, please make sure that your contact details are up to date in the Finnish Population Information System. Inform the Digital and Population Data Services Agency if your address in Finland has changed: Foreigner’s move to Finland, in Finland and out of Finland (dvv.fi). 

How to make the notification

  • Notify your reception centre:
    • by telephone
    • visit the reception centre; or
    • send the notification as a letter by post

The contact details of reception centres are available on our website at Reception centres.

  • Notify your reception centre of your information and the information of your family members relevant to the notification:
    • first name and last name
    • date of birth
    • Finnish Immigration Service customer number
    • new address
      • If this is the address of your workplace, mention also the name of your workplace, such as the name of the farm, so that letters will reach you.
      • If your letter box has someone else’s name instead of yours, tell the name to the reception centre as well.
    • new telephone number

If you move from one reception centre to another or do not know your reception centre

  • If you move from one reception centre to another, the Finnish Immigration Service is informed automatically. Therefore, you don’t need to notify the Finnish Immigration Service separately of your new reception centre's address. 
  • If you don't know which reception centre is yours, you can send your notification of a new address to the Finnish Immigration Service. Notifications should be sent by encrypted email to the following address: migri@migri.fi. You can send an encrypted message by using the securemail.migri.fi service.

Why is it important to give your address and telephone number?

The correct address and telephone number are important so that:

  • we can make a decision on your application and can send you your residence permit card and all decisions that affect you
  • the processing of your application and your right to work will not end due to an expiry decision or due to a negative decision.
    • If you do not give us the information that we are requesting, we will issue an expiry decision or a negative decision on your application for temporary protection. In such cases, your right to work on the basis of temporary protection will end on the day when the decision is served on you.
  • your reception centre can reach you and you maintain your right to reception services. 
  • Making sure that the address details of unaccompanied children are up to date is important so that the necessary services can be organised for them.

Temporary protection and leaving Finland

If you were granted temporary protection in Finland, have since left and return to the country, read our instructions here: Travelling from Finland.

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