Almost 12,000 Ukrainians have applied for temporary protection in Finland this year

Applications have been submitted regularly during the whole year with the exception of early summer, when the number of applications peaked due to Ukrainians coming to Finland for seasonal work with permits issued on the basis of temporary protection. For many years before the war, Ukrainians were the largest group of applicants to apply for residence permits for seasonal work.

“Almost all decisions on temporary protection are positive. The total number of positive decisions this year is 11,379. We have also made some negative decisions and issued expiry decisions on a small number of applications,” says Minna Serradj, Process Owner responsible for temporary protection.

Some Ukrainians have applied for other residence permits such as the permit for an employed person, which is intended for a longer stay than permits issued on the basis of temporary protection.

“Approximately 30 Ukrainians have applied for asylum only, even though they could apply for temporary protection that is intended for them. Therefore, they may receive a negative decision on their applications. We have advised these clients to apply for temporary protection, which can be granted to them, before we issue negative decisions on their asylum applications,” says Roosa Simola, Process Owner responsible for asylum examination.

After receiving a negative decision, the applicant may be removed from the country. It is possible to issue a negative decision followed by a consequent decision on removal from the country if a person applying for temporary protection or asylum does not meet the requirements for applying or has committed crimes, for example.

“We were previously unable to make decisions on removal from the country. We have only made one such decision for a Ukrainian applying for temporary protection. Issuing such decisions is now possible, as we have access to more detailed country information concerning Ukraine and its security situation. Given that Ukraine is a country at war, decisions on removal from the country are not issued lightly. The principle of non-refoulement is always taken into account in these cases,” says Tirsa Forssell, Director of Control and Monitoring Department.

A total of 27,000 Ukrainians have become residents of municipalities

Living in a reception centre is supposed to be temporary. Reception centres provide accommodation and reception services to Ukrainians until they move to a municipality.

“We help our clients with moving to a municipality. Clients who receive temporary protection can apply for a municipality of residence and move to a municipality after residing in Finland for one year. As residents of a municipality, they can choose freely where to live and, for example, receive integration and employment services provided by their municipality,” says Elina Nurmi, Director of Reception Services Department.

There are approximately 9,400 Ukrainians living in reception centres who are eligible for a municipality of residence but who have not applied for it yet. There are also clients who are about to move to a municipality soon.

The Finnish Immigration Service adjusts the number of reception centres depending on current needs. The need for reception centre capacity has decreased this year, as the number of Ukrainians coming to Finland has declined. Therefore, the agency is closing down reception centres that are no longer needed and reducing reception centre capacity.

Need for temporary protection will continue in 2025

Finland and other EU Member States will continue to support Ukrainians by granting temporary protection in 2025. The number of people applying for temporary protection in Finland depends primarily on the duration and scope of the war and the humanitarian situation in Ukraine.

According to the Finnish Immigration Service’s forecast updated in September, the number of applicants seeking temporary protection in Finland will be 10,000–12,000 in 2024 and 8,000–12,000 in 2025.

“As it is difficult to predict how the war in Ukraine and the resulting refugee situation will develop, there are considerable uncertainties about the estimated number of applications. The number of applicants arriving from Ukraine may increase moderately during the winter, for example,” says Serradj.

The EU General Affairs Council decided in June 2024 to extend temporary protection until 4 March 2026.

Further information for the media

• Web page: Situation picture of immigration in Finland | Finnish Immigration Service
• Web page: Forecasts | Finnish Immigration Service