The ongoing temporary protection for Ukrainians refugees will continue until 4 March 2027, said the Ministry of the Interior on Wednesday.
Earlier on Tuesday, the EU Foreign Affairs Council decided to extend the temporary protection.
In Finland, Ukrainians have submitted a total of about 84,000 applications for temporary protection.
It is estimated that there are currently around 46,000 Ukrainian beneficiaries of temporary protection in the country. Others are believed to have returned to Ukraine or moved elsewhere in the EU, said the ministry.
The Finnish Immigration Service’s foresight network estimated in June 2025 that the number of applicants for temporary protection arriving in Finland will total around 8,000–12,000 this year.
The key factors affecting the number of applicants include possible changes in Ukraine’s military situation, the US policy on Ukraine and Russia, the West’s support for Ukraine, the economic and humanitarian situation in Ukraine, the state of infrastructure and opportunities for education and employment.
Granting temporary protection makes it possible to provide protection to a limited group of people through a swift process that is lighter than the normal asylum procedure.
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.
The EU Member States are committed to providing temporary protection to Ukrainians for as long as there is a need for protection.
The situation in Ukraine remains unstable and difficult to predict. Currently, there are about 4.3 million Ukrainians receiving temporary protection in the EU. The movement of Ukrainians to the EU has continued, although the numbers are decreasing.
Earlier in February 2025, the Finnish government extended the temporary residence permits for refugees from Ukraine for another year.
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.
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
