Finland again extends Ukrainian refugees' protection

The Finnish government on Thursday extended the temporary residence permits for refugees from Ukraine for another year, said the Ministry of the Interior in a press release.

The government proposed amendments to the Aliens Act and the entry-into-force provision of the Act on Temporarily Amending the Aliens Act on Thursday and the President is to approve the amendments on Friday.

The legislative amendments concern people who have fled the war in Ukraine but also other possible situations of temporary protection in the future.

The Act on Amending the Aliens Act will enter into force on 5 March 2025. The Act amending the entry-into-force provision of the Act Temporarily Amending the Aliens Act will enter into force on 4 March 2025.

Temporary protection is based on the EU Temporary Protection Directive, which was activated for the first time on 4 March 2022 in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

In June 2024, the Council of the European Union decided to extend temporary protection for the fourth year until 4 March 2026.

As the crisis in Ukraine drags on, there is a need to amend the legislation on temporary protection.

By law, temporary protection can last up to three years, meaning that temporary protection granted on the basis of the war in Ukraine will cease on 4 March 2025. The amendments to the Act will ensure that the temporary protection of Ukrainians will continue in a seamless manner after that.

The validity of residence permits and residence permit cards issued to beneficiaries of temporary protection as proof of their right of residence will continue directly by law. They will remain in force for as long as the Government’s decision on granting temporary protection is in effect.

The amendment is broadly in line with the temporary amendment made to the Act in January 2023, which will expire on 4 March 2025.

In future, a residence permit on the basis of temporary protection would always be temporary. Persons intending to settle in Finland more permanently can apply for a residence permit based on work or studies, for example.

Temporary protection will continue to be granted not only to Ukrainian citizens and their family members but also to third-country nationals who have been residing in Ukraine under a permanent residence permit or have been granted international protection in Ukraine.

However, Finland will no longer grant temporary protection to those about 200 third-country nationals who have fled Ukraine and who have not been granted a permanent residence permit or international protection in Ukraine.

They will no longer need temporary protection, as they can, in principle, return to their home country.

Temporary protection for these people will end on 31 March 2025. The Finnish Immigration Service has informed the persons in question about the matter.

Since 2022, Ukrainians have submitted a total of 79,000 applications for temporary protection in Finland.

The government on December 29, 2022 brought a temporary amendment to the Aliens Act with the view to ensure the validity of residence permits issued in Finland to beneficiaries of temporary protection for as long as the temporary protection is in effect in the EU.