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Temporary protection: Finland

Tilapäinen suojelu (temporary protection)
✓ sources checked 23.09.2026
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Legal basis: Aliens Act (Ulkomaalaislaki 301/2004), Section 109 — temporary protection + EU Directive 2001/55/EC (EU Council decision of 30.07.2026 — until 04.03.2028) • status valid until 04/03/2027 • already extended until 04/03/2028

Protection has already been extended until 04/03/2028. The current period recorded in this guide ends on 04/03/2027. Your document may show a different date. Document renewal follows national procedures: check the FAQs and official sources below. A general protection date is not automatically an application deadline.
Special scenarios (documents, non-biometric passport): Visa-free entry with a biometric passport (90 days). A biometric passport is NOT required to apply for protection: a Ukrainian internal passport or another identity document is accepted — the key is that identity can be established. The application is filed IN PERSON with the police or a border control authority. NOTE: since 05.08.2026 temporary protection is not granted to new applicants who have not complied with their military obligations in Ukraine — an exit stamp in the passport or an official document confirming compliance/exemption is required. Previously issued permits are unaffected.

Steps

Your progress (stored locally)0/6
  1. 1

    Arrival in Finland

    With a biometric passport — visa-free up to 90 days. The entry date is recorded at the border. You can apply for protection even without a biometric passport — with a Ukrainian internal passport.

    📍 Border crossing / airport💳 Free
  2. 2

    Apply at the police or at the border

    Go IN PERSON to a police station (poliisi.fi) or a border control authority and state your intention to apply for temporary protection. They record personal details, address, arrival details, family composition; a photo, fingerprints and a signature are taken. Applying is free.

    ▸ More details›
    The decision is made by the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri). Estimated processing — 1 week; about 2 weeks including postal delivery of the decision.
    📍 Any police station or border control point⏰ As soon as possible after arrival💳 Free
  3. 3

    Register with a reception centre

    The reception centre (vastaanottokeskus) provides accommodation, essential services and social support until you are self-sufficient. You may live in private housing while remaining a client of the centre — the reception allowance (vastaanottoraha) application is filed via your own centre.

    📍 The nearest reception centre (the police/Migri will direct you)💳 Free
  4. 4

    Receive the decision and the permit

    Migri issues a residence permit based on temporary protection. Permits are extended AUTOMATICALLY until 04.03.2028 — no new card is needed, the old card remains valid even with an earlier date printed on it.

    📍 By post / Migri service points⏰ ~2 weeks from application💳 Free
  5. 5

    Work and school

    The right to work applies without restrictions on sector or employer (the temporary protection permit grants the right to work). Children are entitled to early childhood and school education on par with Finnish children — contact your municipality of residence.

    📍 Employer / municipality💳 Free
  6. 6

    After a year — kotikunta and Kela

    After about a year of continuous residence in Finland (or earlier — via employment or family), you can obtain a kotikunta (home municipality) at the DVV. From then on, services come from the municipality and cash benefits from Kela (basic social assistance toimeentulotuki, child benefits, etc.); reception centre services end.

    📍 DVV (Digital and Population Data Services Agency) / Kela⏰ After ~1 year of residence💳 Free

Documents

Identity document

required
For whom: Everyone

A biometric passport OR a Ukrainian internal passport or another identity document.

Children’s birth certificates

required
For whom: Families with children

For registering children in the application.

Exit stamp from Ukraine or a military obligations document

if available
For whom: New applicants — men with military duty (since 05.08.2026)

The passport stamp received upon exit, or an official document confirming compliance with/exemption from military obligations.

Photo, fingerprints, signature

required
For whom: Everyone

Taken on site when applying — nothing to prepare separately.

Family members’ details and place of residence in Finland

required
For whom: Everyone

Entered in the application: arrival details, address, family composition.

Ukrainian Embassies and Consulates

Embassy
Посольство України — Фінляндія
🏙 Гельсінкі
📍 Гельсінкі
https://finland.mfa.gov.ua ↗

Map

Finland • OpenStreetMap

Document samples and how to fill them

Temporary protection application (police / border guard)
Temporary protection registration in Finland
📍 In person at a police station or a border control point💳 Free⏱ Decision in ~1 week (~2 weeks incl. post)
How to fill, field by field:
Personal details

First and last name in LATIN letters as in the passport; date of birth; nationality.

Example: IVAN PETRENKO, 15.03.1985, Ukraine
Identity document

Number of the biometric OR internal passport. Present the original.

Example: FA123456
Address in Finland

Your actual place of residence (reception centre or private address) — the decision is sent there.

Example: Esimerkkikatu 5 B 12, 00100 Helsinki
Arrival details

Date and route of departure from Ukraine and entry into Finland.

Example: Left 10.07.2026 via Poland, arrived 12.07.2026
Family members

Details of everyone applying together and of family members remaining in Ukraine.

Example: PETRENKO OLENA (spouse), PETRENKO SOFIIA (daughter, 2015)
Biometrics

Photo, fingerprints and signature are taken on site.

⚠ Common mistakes

❌ Waiting for an “appointment” — go to the station in person, no pre-booking needed ❌ Name in Cyrillic instead of Latin letters ❌ An address where you no longer live (the decision gets lost) ❌ Men without an exit stamp or military obligations document (for applications from 05.08.2026)

Vastaanottoraha (reception allowance) application
Monthly cash allowance from the reception system
📍 Form — at your own reception centre💳 Free⏱ Reviewed by the centre; paid monthly
How to fill, field by field:
Applicant details

Name in Latin letters and your reception centre client number.

Example: IVAN PETRENKO
Family composition

All family members with children’s ages — rates depend on this (€300/€254 adults; €210/€191 children — without meals).

Example: Applicant + spouse + daughter (10 y)
Income and funds

Declare salary, savings and other funds — the allowance is needs-based; concealment leads to recalculation.

Example: Salary €0, savings €200
Payment method

The centre’s prepaid card or a Finnish bank account (IBAN).

Example: FI21 1234 5600 0007 85
⚠ Common mistakes

❌ Expecting automatic payment — the allowance must be APPLIED for ❌ Undeclared work income (recalculation and repayment) ❌ Unreported travel abroad (the payment may be stopped)

Benefits

Reception allowance (vastaanottoraha)

300 EUR
per month — adult living alone without meals (with meals: €88; other adults: €254/€72; single parent: €336/€97; child 10–17: €210/€60; under 10: €191/€57)

Temporary protection holders without sufficient own funds. Not granted automatically; income is taken into account. Travel abroad may affect the payment.

How to apply: Application form at your own reception centre; paid to a prepaid card or a Finnish bank account

Authority: Reception centre / Migri

Reception centre services

accommodation, social and essential health services — free

Clients of the reception system (until kotikunta is obtained).

How to apply: Register with a reception centre after applying

Authority: Migri / reception centres

Kela benefits after obtaining kotikunta

basic social assistance (toimeentulotuki), child and housing benefits — under general rules

Temporary protection holders who obtained a home municipality (usually after ~1 year of residence).

How to apply: Apply to Kela (online at kela.fi or at a service point) after registering kotikunta at the DVV

Authority: Kela
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Where to apply

Finnish Police / border control — filing the application

📍 Any police station (addresses at poliisi.fi) or border crossing point
🕐 Depends on the station
https://poliisi.fi/en

Migri — Helsinki service point

📍 Kaupparaitti 10, 00700 Helsinki (Malmi)
🕐 Mon–Wed and Fri 8–16.15, Thu 10.30–16.15
https://migri.fi/en/service-points
appointment required

Contacts

Migri — Finnish Immigration Service
Service points — by appointment
open →
UNHCR — information for people from Ukraine (Finland)
24/7 (online)
open →
Embassy of Ukraine in Finland
By appointment
open →

What happens after protection ends

After temporary protection: switch to a permit based on work (employee or specialist), study or family ties via Migri — you can apply without leaving Finland. Obtaining kotikunta and continuous residence help towards a future permanent permit (P) — it normally requires 4 years of residence on a type A permit (the type B temporary protection period itself does not count, so switch to a work permit earlier if you can).

Opportunities: housing, jobs, grants

7 verified programmes: housing support, job portals, business grants, free courses — with direct official links and verification dates. Available with Varta.

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FAQ

Do I need to extend my temporary protection permit?

No. Migri extends permits AUTOMATICALLY — protection runs until 04.03.2028. No new application or card is needed: the old card is valid even if an earlier date (04.03.2026 or 04.03.2027) is printed on it.

I have no biometric passport. Can I apply for protection?

Yes. A Ukrainian internal passport or another identity document is accepted for the application. Without a biometric passport only visa-free entry is harder — sort out entry with the carrier and border guards in advance or via an embassy.

What changed for men since 05.08.2026?

Temporary protection is granted to new applicants only if they were authorised to leave Ukraine: proof is the exit stamp in the passport or an official document confirming compliance with/exemption from military obligations. Permits issued before 05.08.2026 are NOT affected.

Can I travel to Ukraine?

Short trips do not cancel the status, but travel abroad may affect the vastaanottoraha payment and reception services — inform your centre in advance. A prolonged return to Ukraine may end reception services.

How much is paid at the reception centre and how do I move to Kela?

Vastaanottoraha 2026: single adult — €300/month without meals (€88 with meals), other adults — €254/€72, children 10–17 — €210/€60, under 10 — €191/€57. Apply at your own reception centre. After ~1 year of residence register kotikunta at the DVV — then Kela takes over payments (toimeentulotuki, child and housing benefits).

Official sources
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This information is for reference only and is not legal advice.