Ukrainian refugees in Finland will not have to apply for the extension of their Finnish residence permits, as the country’s Ministry of the Interior has announced that the permits will be extended automatically and valid for the entire period that the validity of the temporary protection in the EU continues.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry, Ukrainians that have already obtained a residence permit in Finland do not need to apply for its extension, as the temporary amendment to the Aliens Act ensures that the residence permit granted in Finland on the basis of temporary protection is valid as long as the temporary protection in the EU continues. As informed by a news report in Schengen Visa.

“For those receiving temporary protection, the validity of the residence permit card also continues directly under the law for the entire time that the residence permit is valid,” the Ministry confirms. It further notes that those wishing to obtain a new residence in which the validity of the permit card is updated, can do so at the Immigration Office.

Temporary protection was introduced in the EU in March 2022, and thus, in Finland as well, for Ukrainians seeking a shelter from the war in their homeland, and was set to remain effective for one year, until March 2023. After the latter date, temporary protection is set to automatically continue for one more year, or until the Council agrees to put it to an end. After the first extension, another one-year extension is also possible if it is seen as necessary, but not for more, as the Temporary Protection Directive limits the maximum duration it can be in place to three years.

“While the decision is in effect, Finland and all EU countries are obliged to grant the group specified in the decision temporary protection and a residence permit as proof of this,” the Ministry points out.

Since March 2022, and up until now, around 45,000 Ukrainian refugees have been granted temporary protection in Finland.

In a press release issued on December 22, the Ministry offered to Ukrainian refugees in Estonia to move to Finland, in order to assist Estonia, the local reception system of which has been overburdened since war in Ukraine started.

The Ministry has expressed its readiness to receive every week between 50 and 100 Ukrainians from Estonia. The latter has granted temporary protections to about 41,000 Ukrainians since the beginning of war.

Almost five million people have received temporary protection in Europe in 2022, with over a million of them in Germany. The number of Ukrainians who have left their country, on the meantime, is almost eight million.