This page contains information for those involved in integration regarding
- different grounds for residence permits for people arriving from Ukraine
- preparations in municipalities for the situation in Ukraine
- the right to services of those residing in Finland without a residence permit and without a visa.
- the right to services of those granted temporary protection
- work, seasonal work and studies in Finland
NOTE: We ask you to keep in mind that the situation of those granted temporary protection, in particular, still involves various legislative questions. The FAQ will be updated based on the ongoing interpretation of the law.
As a result of Russia’s attack, Finland is preparing to receive Ukrainians. People arriving from Ukraine may have a residence permit or be granted a residence permit on different grounds.
At the moment, a person arriving from Ukraine may
- reside in Finland for 90 days without a residence permit if the person has a biometric passport.
- receive a residence permit on the basis of temporary protection. On the basis of temporary protection, a person may receive a temporary residence permit for one year under section 112 of the Aliens Act.
- receive a residence permit on the basis of family ties, work or studies, for example.
A person arriving from Ukraine also have the right to apply for asylum. If a person holds a residence permit on the basis of temporary protection and wants to apply for asylum, the asylum application will be accepted but it will not be processed during the period in which the person receives temporary protection.
No people will be returned from Finland to Ukraine because of the ongoing conflict.
More information about entry, residence and application for asylum:
Ulkomaalaislakiin on tehty 19.1.2023–4.3.2025 voimassa oleva väliaikainen muutos, jolla varmistetaan, että tilapäisen suojelun perusteella Suomessa myönnetty oleskelulupa on voimassa koko sen ajan, kun tilapäinen suojelu EU:ssa jatkuu. Maahanmuuttovirasto jatkaa kaikkia tilapäisen suojelun oleskelulupia 4.3.2024 asti. Tilapäisen suojelun perusteella oleskeluluvan saaneen ei tarvitse itse hakea oleskeluluvalle jatkoa. Myös kaikki uudet tilapäisen suojelun luvat myönnetään 4.3.2024 asti.
Oleskeluluvan osoittavan oleskelulupakortin voimassaolo jatkuu koko sen ajan, kun oleskelulupa on voimassa. Tarvittaessa henkilö voi hakea Maahanmuuttovirastolta voimassaolotiedoilla päivitettyä oleskelulupakorttia esimerkiksi matkustamista varten.
Lisätietoa:
Sisäministeriön tiedote oleskelulupien jatkamisesta
Maahanmuuttoviraston asiakastiedote oleskelulupien jatkamisesta
Anticipating the number of people arriving from Ukraine and their need for services may be difficult and identifying all those in need of help may not be immediate. Ukrainians have the right to reside in Finland with a biometric passport for 90 days, which means that some people may only contact the authorities later. Unaccompanied minors arriving in Finland should be referred to the services of the Finnish Immigration Service and reception centres as soon as possible, even if they are staying with their friends.
Municipalities can prepare for the situation in advance in their guidance and counselling services, for example. People arriving from Ukraine and municipal residents affected by the crisis in Ukraine may need crisis support or other assistance to deal with the situation. Refugees who have previously arrived in Finland from different countries may also need discussion or other support due to the situation in Ukraine.
Municipal providers of early childhood education and care and basic education should be prepared for the arrival of children who are in the age of compulsory schooling or younger. Further information is provided by the Ministry of Education and Culture.
Many municipalities are also prepared to provide urgent, temporary accommodation to people arriving in Finland from Ukraine without a residence permit. Municipalities should note that the accommodation of persons who have been granted a residence permit on the basis of temporary protection is organised through reception services.
The situation in Ukraine has also increased tensions between population groups and, among other things, hate speech against Russian speakers. Support for promoting good relations between population groups and information on measures against hate speech are available on the hyvatvaestosuhteet.fi and yhdenvertaisuus.fi websites.
Information about the Finnish society in their own language supports the newly arrived asylum seekers. If you are considering translating the information, first read the material that has already been translated as well as the instructions for producing multilingual material.
Municipalities should follow the communications of the authorities, as information on the rights of beneficiaries of temporary protection to the services will be specified.
More information:
What services are available to those who have fled Ukraine and reside in Finland without a residence permit?
Ukrainians with a biometric passport may reside in Finland for 90 days without a residence permit. Persons arriving from Ukraine are advised to apply for temporary protection or other residence permit. If a person resides in Finland without a residence permit, as a rule they must cover the costs of their residence themselves.
Those residing in Finland without a residence permit have the right to urgent healthcare in public healthcare. The attending physician will assess the need for urgent care in public healthcare services. The patient must pay the treatment costs.
Every person residing in the municipality has, in an emergency, the right to receive social services so that their indispensable subsistence and care are not endangered. If necessary, a municipality may arrange temporary accommodation (emergency accommodation) and other urgent social welfare to a person in accordance with the Social Welfare Act. The need for urgent assistance is always assessed on the basis of the person’s individual situation.
Persons residing in Finland without a visa and without a residence permit may, in certain situations, be entitled to basic social assistance. Basic social assistance refers to food and necessary prescription medicines. However, those in need of support must first find out whether they can secure their livelihood with savings or money transfers.
Kela's announcement of social security rights of persons arriving in Finland in the wake of the war in Ukraine (in Finnish)
How the war in Ukraine affects the benefits available from Kela
Without a residence permit, work is strictly limited to certain professions defined in section 79 of the Aliens Act. A seasonal work certificate, which entitles the holder to carry out seasonal work for three months, can be applied for in Finland too.
More information about working in Finland without a residence permit
More detailed information on the obligation to organise basic education and early childhood education and care is provided by the Ministry of Education and Culture.
Information on temporary protection for those involved in integration
The EU has activated the Temporary Protection Directive, which entered into force on 4 March 2022. The Finnish Immigration Service is responsible for issuing residence permits on the basis of temporary protection. Beneficiaries of temporary protection are covered by the reception legislation. Below, we have compiled answers to some questions concerning temporary protection for those involved in integration.
More information about temporary protection
Press release by the Ministry of the Interior on temporary protection category
Finnish Immigration Service Temporary protection for people fleeing from Ukraine
As a rule, recipients of temporary protection do not receive a municipality of residence under the Municipality of Residence Act. A recipient of temporary protection may, however, be granted a municipality of residence if he or she is a family member of a person with a municipality of residence in Finland. A family member means a spouse, guardian or child. A recipient of temporary protection may also be granted a municipality of residence if he or she is granted a continuous or permanent residence permit on other grounds.
The requirements for receiving a municipality of residence for recipients of temporary protection may be met in spring or summer 2023, once the validity period of the temporary residence permits granted to them has been extended and they have lived in Finland continuously for at least one year. Moreover, to receive a municipality of residence, a person needs to have, considering the circumstances, an intention to permanently stay in Finland. A municipality of residence is applied for at the Digital and Population Data Services Agency.
Report on the right of residence of recipients of temporary protection and the related needs for change (in Finnish)
Persons who have been received a residence permit on the basis of temporary protection will not be assigned municipal placements. As regards their rights, beneficiaries of temporary protection are mainly comparable to asylum seekers during their protection period. They are registered at reception centres. They are covered by reception services during temporary protection.
Those who have been granted a residence permit on the basis of temporary protection are covered by the Reception Act and receive the same reception services as asylum seekers. They can live in reception centres or in private accommodation.
Beneficiaries of temporary protection living in private accommodation, including unaccompanied minors, are registered as reception centre clients. Living in private accommodation is not financially supported.
Accommodation and care are arranged in a group home for unaccompanied minors who have been granted temporary protection. Reception centre will submit an application for appointing a representative for the child.
The indispensable subsistence of those receiving temporary protection is covered by reception and spending allowances in accordance with the reception legislation. As a rule, they are not entitled to social assistance or residence-based benefits. The granting of residence-based social security is based on the overall consideration of Kela.
Beneficiaries of temporary protection have the right to work immediately after applying temporary protection, but they are not entitled to labour market support. They may register as jobseekers at the TE Office.
Accommodation for beneficiaries of temporary protection is provided as a service under the Reception Act, and such persons can be accommodated in reception centres. Unaccompanied minors are accommodated in group homes or supported housing units. The Finnish Immigration Service is responsible for arranging accommodation in accordance with the reception legislation.
Beneficiaries of temporary protection may arrange their own accommodation, incl. in private accommodation. Even if they live in private accommodation, they have also been registered as clients of a certain reception centre.
Accommodating persons is not financially supported.
If private accommodation is no longer possible, it is important for those in private accommodation to contact the reception centre where they are registered.
Health and social services for beneficiaries of temporary protection who are registered as clients of reception centres are organised in accordance with the reception legislation. Under section 26 of the Reception Act, such persons are entitled to health services on the same grounds as persons with a municipality of residence in Finland. Beneficiaries of temporary protection have the right to receive indispensable social welfare services.
The responsibility for organising health and social services rests with the reception centre where the person is registered. The costs of services purchased from public healthcare are invoiced to the reception centre that purchased the services.
Recipients of temporary protection are entered in the Population Information System when they receive a residence permit. At the same time, they will receive a personal identity code that will be entered in the residence permit card. The issuance of a personal identity code may have been prevented if some of the personal information has been incorrectly recorded at the time the person applied for temporary protection. The problem has been recognised and measures to reduce the delay have begun.
If a person receives a residence permit but no personal identity code, they should make a request to the Digital and Population Data Services Agency as soon as possible.
Digital and Population Data Services Agency - Instructions on arriving in Finland from Ukraine
Under the Act on Credit Institutions, banks are obliged to offer basic banking services (payment accounts with basic features, related payment services and electronic identification services) to all those legally resident in an EEA Member State. Under the Aliens Act, residence under a residence permit is considered legal residence.
Banks can, therefore, offer basic banking services to third-country nationals. However, banks must take into account regulation on the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing, such as the obligation to identify a customer. As a rule, banks require that customers who want to open a bank account or other basic services show a valid passport as a form of identification. Customers can prove their right of residence with a residence permit card.
Municipalities are also required to organise certain services for those covered by the reception Act who do not receive a municipality of residence. Municipalities are required to organise pre-primary and basic education for children who are of compulsory schooling age. More detailed information on the obligation to organise basic education and early childhood education and care is provided by the Ministry of Education and Culture.
If a minor receiving temporary protection needs child welfare services, the municipality must organise them. The Finnish Immigration Service covers the costs of child welfare services to the municipality.
The Act on the Promotion of Immigrant Integration applies to persons with a valid residence permit in Finland. Municipalities, employment and economic development offices and other authorities are to provide immigrants with appropriate guidance and advice concerning measures and services promoting integration and working life. Guidance and advisory services should be prepared for the increased advisory needs arising from the situation in Ukraine.
Beneficiaries of temporary protection are entitled to employment and employment-promoting services of the TE Office as well as the initial assessment and integration plan drawn up by the TE Office under the Integration Act. They may also participate in integration training.
As persons receiving temporary protection are covered by the Reception Act, reception centres are mainly responsible for assessing the situation of persons outside the labour force. Municipalities are not required to organise an initial assessment under the Act on the Promotion of Immigrant Integration or to prepare an integration plan for persons receiving temporary protection. If a municipality carries out an initial assessment of a person receiving temporary protection who, due to their age or other reason, does not seek employment at the TE Office, the municipality may be reimbursed for the costs arising from the initial assessment in accordance with the Act on the Promotion of Immigrant Integration.
Services for beneficiaries of temporary protection are, however, mainly organised and reimbursed as services under the Reception Act. A person receiving temporary protection who is not a customer of TE services may receive supplementary reception money, for example, for the costs of paid language training organised by the municipality.
Services for beneficiaries of temporary protection will be provided and the costs will, as a rule, be reimbursed in accordance with the reception legislation. The Finnish Immigration Service reimburses the service provider for the costs incurred in organising reception services within the limits of the state budget.
Beneficiaries of temporary protection are not covered by the provisions of the Act on the Promotion of Immigrant Integration concerning assigning immigrants to municipalities and reimbursement of costs.
Municipalities are not paid compensation for receiving refugees in accordance with the Act on the Promotion of Immigrant Integration, except for compensation for initial assessment carried out by the municipality. This assessment is also available to beneficiaries of temporary protection who do not have a municipality of residence, if they are not seeking employment at the TE Office due to their age or some other reason.
Ministry of the Interior's press release on compensations for municipalities
Beneficiaries of temporary protection, who have fled the war in Ukraine, have the right to work in Finland without restrictions as soon as they have applied for a residence permit on the basis of temporary protection.
Ukrainians can register as jobseekers at the TE Office and receive employment-promoting services. If they do not have a municipality of residence, they cannot be referred to the local government pilot on employment. These persons are entitled to the services of TE Offices.
Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment: press release on the right to work
Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment: instructions for those fleeing Ukraine
Video: You are allowed to work when you apply for temporary protection
Beneficiaries of temporary protection are entitled to an initial assessment and integration plan prepared by the TE Office. They can participate in integration training.
Beneficiaries of temporary protection are also entitled to services under the Act on Public Employment and Business Service (916/2012), such as
- employment services
- information and advisory services
- assessment of skills and competence
- assessment of work ability
- assessment of entrepreneurial skills
- labour market training
- vocational guidance and career planning, work trial and pay subsidy.
Beneficiaries of temporary protection are not entitled to labour market support.
Kun tilapäistä suojelua saavat ukrainalaiset saavat kotikunnan, he siirtyvät kuntakokeiluun osallistuvissa kunnissa TE-toimistosta kuntien työllisyyspalveluiden asiakkaiksi.
Because a tax card does not indicate the right to work, a lack of tax card does not prevent people from starting to work. Those who have applied for temporary protection can start to work immedi-ately after they have submitted the application. A tax card is needed for salary payment.
If the employee has not given the employer a tax card, the employer will withhold 60% in tax from the salary of a taxpayer with unlimited tax liability. A person with limited tax liability may be sub-ject to a 35% tax at source, but this only applies to those residing in the country for a maximum of six months.
A Finnish personal identity code is required for the tax card. If a person did not receive a personal identity code in connection with a decision on temporary protection, the tax office may register the person’s details in the population register and issue a personal identity code. In such cases, the per-son must have a certificate showing they have applied for temporary protection, and they must visit the tax office in person for identification purposes.
Finnish Tax Administration - Instructions for beneficiaries of temporary protection
The right to work and any related restrictions imposed on people arriving in Finland from Ukraine depend on the grounds on which they reside in the country. Residence in the country can be based on temporary protection, seasonal work certificate, exemption from visa requirements, asylum application or a residence permit for an employed person.
The employer must establish whether the person who will be hired has the right to work in Finland.
If a person has been issued with a residence permit on the basis of temporary protection, he or she has an unrestricted right to work.
Yes. Member States must permit beneficiaries of temporary protection to work in the service of another or as self-employed persons and to participate in education and training intended for adults, vocational training and practical work practice.
Beneficiaries of temporary protection have the right to study in Finland. A student receiving temporary protection is not entitled to student financial aid or subsidy for school journeys.
Ukrainians have been the largest group of seasonal workers in the agriculture and forestry sectors in Finland. Last year, about 13,000 seasonal work certificates were issued to Ukrainians, entitling them to work for three months (96% of all seasonal work certificates). Ukrainian workers were issued approximately 1,800 residence permits for seasonal work (93% of residence permits for seasonal work) in 2021.
It is estimated that this year, too, 16,000 seasonal workers will be needed. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment works in close cooperation with other ministries and authorities to ensure the sufficiency of labour.
Persons who have received a residence permit on the basis of temporary protection have the right to work immediately after the permit has been issued. A separate seasonal work certificate or residence permit for seasonal work is not required.
Ukrainian citizens can also come to Finland for seasonal work with a seasonal work certificate or a residence permit for seasonal work. A seasonal work certificate, which entitles the holder to work for three months, can be obtained electronically without visiting a Finnish mission. It is possible to apply for a seasonal work certificate in Finland too. Those who have fled Ukraine and who want to carry out seasonal work longer than three months should apply for a residence permit on the basis of temporary protection.
Information on employees’ rights to health and social services is available on the website of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health: Ministry of Social Affairs and Health’s guidance for municipalities 1/2022 (in Finnish)
Preventing work-based exploitation is a key objective of the Government. Nobody should be subjected to illegal terms of employment or other unethical treatment at work. Collective agreements lay down the minimum terms of employment, which apply to everyone, including foreign citizens. For example, charging a fee for arranging work or receiving a job in Finland is illegal.
More information on preventing exploitation:
- Information on Finnish labour market rules, working in Finland and legal remedies in problem situations in different languages
- Advice on employment relationships and terms of employment is available on the helpline of occupational safety and health authorities (in Finnish, Swedish, English)
- Telephone advice by Victim Support Finland and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment for seasonal workers (Finnish, Swedish, English, Russian)
- In urgent and aggravated crisis situations, you should contact the police directly by calling 112. (https://poliisi.fi/en/trafficking-in-human-beings).
For example, pressuring a person to work under poor terms of employment, to sell sex, to beg or to commit crimes may constitute trafficking in human beings. The assistance system for victims of human trafficking is an authority that can help organise safe accommodation, shelter, health services, counselling or the legalisation of residence. More information is available in Ukrainian: ihmiskauppa.fi/ukr, Russian: ihmiskauppa.fi/rus or English: humantrafficking.fi. However, in an emergency, call the general emergency number 112.
