If you are a refugee from Ukraine in Finland, please visit the website of the Finnish Immigration Service that contains important information in Finnish, Swedish, English or Ukrainian or call the Finnish Immigration Service at ? +358 295 790 605.
Extension of Temporary Protection for Ukrainians through to March 2027: European Union countries have decided to extend temporary protection for Ukrainians until 4 March 2027. This means that it is possible to apply for and benefit from temporary protection in the EU until this date. If you already have temporary protection in an EU country, your status will be extended until 4 March 2027. Read more at the European Council’s website
People arriving from Ukraine may be entitled to temporary protection in Finland. You may be eligible for temporary protection in Finland if you are a:
- Citizen of Ukraine who used to live in Ukraine and had to flee the country shortly before 24 February 2022 or thereafter
- Beneficiaries of international protection in Ukraine
- Other permanent residents of Ukraine who cannot return to their country of origin
- Ukrainian citizens who are already living or have arrived in Finland
- Third-country nationals or stateless persons who have resided legally (including on a short-term basis) in Ukraine and have applied for temporary protection before 7 September 2023 and cannot return to their home countries
- A family member of any of the above
Under the Finnish rules, the following persons are considered “family members”:
- a spouse or partner
- underage unmarried child
The decision is usually made within one week after the application. In that case, you will be issued the decision granting temporary protection, which you can use to prove your status. You will be notified of the decision via mail. Within 14 days of receiving a positive decision, you will receive your residence card via mail. The residence permit based on temporary protection is valid until 4 March 2026.
For more information about what temporary protection and international protection are, where you can apply for temporary protection and the rights of people with temporary protection in Finland, please visit the website of the Finnish Immigration Service with information in Finnish, Ukrainian, English and Swedish. You can select one of these languages on the top of the website.
If you are a refugee from Ukraine in other countries, select your country of interest on the UNHCR Help Site list and/or visit the Digital Blue Dot.
People who are not eligible for Temporary Protection
If you do not qualify for temporary protection, it may be possible for you to apply for asylum or remain in Finland on other grounds, even if your visa waiver or visa has expired. Here you can find out how you can apply for asylum.
Pension Verification Requirement for Ukrainian Refugees
Due to recent legislative changes in Ukraine, all Ukrainian pensioners residing abroad must complete a verification procedure in order to continue receiving pension payments.
How to Complete Verification
You can complete the procedure through one of the following modalities:
- 1. Diia Application
- Via Diia Signature on the PFU web portal or the PFU mobile app (video guide is available here)
- 2. Videoconference Verification via the PFU Portal
- You may request a video call via the PFU portal or by calling the hotline: 0800 503 753.
- Calls are usually scheduled within 10–30 days and conducted via Google Meet, WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, Viber, or Zoom.
- You will be asked to present your original passport/ID and pension certificate during the call .
- 3. Verification at a Ukrainian Consulate
- Visit the nearest Ukrainian consulate to confirm your identity and place of residence.
- You will receive a certificate of identity, which you can upload via the PFU portal to complete verification.
- 4. In-Person Verification in Ukraine
- If you are currently in Ukraine, you can visit any PFU service centre.
Please note: Due to the suspension of thousands of pensions in January 2026, long queues are currently reported nationwide.
- If you are currently in Ukraine, you can visit any PFU service centre.
Additional Requirement for Pensioners from Temporarily Occupied Territories (ToTs)
If you are from the ToTs, you must confirm that you are not receiving a pension from the Russian Federation, by doing one of the following:
- Selecting the relevant declaration box in your PFU online account
- Stating this explicitly during videoconference verification
- Sending a written declaration by email or postal mail to the PFU
After completing all steps, please verify that your PFU personal account reflects the correct date of verification and declaration. You may check this online or by contacting the PFU hotline (0800 503 753).
Need More Help?
For more information and technical support completing the verification process through the Diia app or PFU portal please contact the UNHCR Regional Contact Centre (RCC). Additional information will also soon be available via the Ukraine is Home website
