Instructions on arriving in Finland from Ukraine
Інструкції для українців
Instructions for those arriving and planning to arrive in Finland due to the situation in Ukraine have been collected on this page.
Can I reside in Finland freely?
Residence in Finland must always be legal. If you are a Ukrainian citizen, you can stay in Finland for 90 days with an exemption from visa if you have arrived in Finland with a biometric passport. The holder of an ordinary passport is required to have a visa. Once the visa or exemption from visa has expired, you can continue residing in the country legally by submitting a residence permit or asylum application to the Finnish Immigration Service. You can also continue residing in the country legally by applying for a residence permit under the Temporary Protection Directive to the Finnish Immigration Service. Read more about the instructions for those arriving in Finland from Ukraine on the Finnish Immigration Service's website.
Can I get a Finnish personal identity code?
Foreign citizens' personal data can be registered in the Population Information System if the conditions for this are met. When you register, you will be given a Finnish personal identity code. You can get a personal identity code if you are staying in Finland legally and there are grounds for registration. Grounds for registration are, for example, a residence permit issued by the Finnish Immigration Service, working in Finland or a family member with a registered address in Finland. If your registration is based on the fact that your family member* already has a Finnish address, you must present the original and legalised family relation certificates. If the grounds for registration are working in Finland, you must have a right to work. Read more about the Finnish personal identity code and registration requirements.
Can I work in Finland?
Working in Finland requires that you have a right to work. Legal residence is required for all work. You usually need a residence permit to work, but in some sectors, it is possible to work without a residence permit if the work lasts for a maximum of 90 days. An asylum seeker may also work in Finland under certain conditions. If you have applied for a residence permit for temporary protection, you can start working immediately after you have registered the application for temporary protection with the police or border authorities. For more additional information on the right to work, visit the website of the Finnish Immigration Service.
How do I register my family relations?
You need to show official family relation certificates to have your marital status and family relations recorded. The original and legalised family relation certificates must also be presented if your registration is based on a family member living in Finland. Certificates issued in Ukraine must be legalised via Apostille legalisation. If the certificate is not in English, a translation into Finnish, Swedish or English is also required. You can obtain a translation from an authorised translator in Finland or another EU country. If the certificate has been translated by another translator, you will also need an Apostille legalisation for the translation. The certificate and the translation must be presented to us as originals. Additional information on legalisation and translation is available here.
*A family member refers to a spouse, guardian or dependent child. A cohabiting partner may also be considered a family member if you have lived together continuously for at least 2 years before moving or if you share a custody of a child you have had together.
What if I do not have the original legalised certificates?
Unfortunately, if you do not have the original documents, we will not be able to register your family relation information. If your grounds for registration are based on a family relation, we cannot register your personal data in the Population Information System. In such a situation, contact the Finnish Immigration Service. After you have received a residence permit from the Finnish Immigration Service, we can register your data and investigate whether it is possible to record your family relations in the Population Information System. You can find more detailed instructions and the registration forms here.
Can I have a municipality of residence in Finland?
If you have a temporary protection residence permit, you can receive a municipality of residence only if a family member* already has a municipality of residence in Finland. If you have such a family member, and if your relationship with them has not yet been stored in the Population Information System, you must provide us with the original, legalised certificates of the family relationship as well as translations of these.
In general, you need a municipality of residence in order to use some of the services provided by the municipality, to vote, or to receive financial benefits or an identity card.
We can register a municipality of residence and permanent address for you even if you still live in temporary housing at a refugee reception centre as long as you meet the conditions for obtaining a municipality of residence.
Check what conditions are required for receiving a municipality of residence:
In order to have a municipality of residence, you must enter the country and be living in Finland. You can prove your entry to the country by visiting any of our service locations in person. You must be planning to live in Finland for at least one year.
In addition, at least one of the following conditions must be met:
- You have a family member* who has a municipality of residence in Finland.
- You have a residence card issued by the Finnish Immigration Service for a family member of an EU citizen.
- You have a continuous (A) or permanent (P) residence permit.
- You have a temporary (B) residence permit, which is valid for at least one year, plus one of the following:
- an employment contract or a certificate of student status which shows that your employment or studies will continue for at least two years, or
- you have already lived in Finland for at least one year, or
- you have previously had a municipality of residence in Finland, or
- you are of Finnish descent.
- If you have a temporary protection residence permit, you can receive a municipality of residence only if a family member* already has a municipality of residence in Finland.
*Family member: spouse, guardian or dependent child. A cohabiting partner may also be considered a family member if you have lived together continuously for at least 2 years before moving to Finland or if you share custody of a child you have had together.
In order to have a municipality of residence, you must enter the country and be living in Finland. You can prove your entry to the country by visiting any of our service locations in person. You must be planning to live in Finland for at least one year.
In order to have a municipality of residence, you must enter the country and be living in Finland. You can prove your entry to the country by visiting any of our service locations in person. You must be planning to live in Finland for at least one year.
In addition
- you have received a positive decision from the Finnish Immigration Service to register your right of residence as an EU citizen, or
- you have a family member* who has a municipality of residence in Finland.
*Family member: spouse, guardian or dependent child. A cohabiting partner may also be considered a family member if you have lived together continuously for at least 2 years before moving to Finland or if you share custody of a child you have had together.
How do I register my address?
A temporary address is valid for a certain period of time, usually one year.
In contrast, a permanent address is valid until further notice. When your permanent address is registered, so is your municipality of residence in Finland. However, you can only receive a municipality of residence and associated permanent address if you meet the conditions for receiving a municipality of residence.
Fill in the Notification of Temporary Address form.
Notification of Temporary Address
You can also use the same form to provide the details of your family members living at the same address if they also have personal identification numbers and residence permits for temporary protection.
Send the filled-in form to [email protected]. Send your email using the Digital and Population Data Services Agency’s secure email service (https://turvaviesti.dvv.fi) in order to ensure your data is encrypted.
We will not send a separate confirmation when your address has been registered.
Complete a notification of move for the temporary move
- by post, or
- online at muuttoilmoitus.fi. Strong identification is required for using the service.
You must visit our service location in person. Please note that you can only receive a permanent address if you meet the conditions for receiving a municipality of residence. Check whether you meet these conditions in the section ‘Can I obtain a municipality of residence in Finland?’.
1. If you meet the conditions, make an appointment with the International Registrations Service at www.dvv.fi/ajanvaraus
2. Please bring the following documents with you:
- your valid passport or EU citizen’s official identity card with a photograph
- a document proving your right to a municipality of residence (e.g. a continuous (A) residence permit or original, legalised family relationship certificates)
- the completed form.
You must visit our service location in person.
1. If possible, bring with you a completed ‘the Registration Information of a Foreigner’ form. Fill in the attachments if necessary.
The registration information of a foreigner
Appendix A - Marriage or registered partnership
2. Make an appointment with the International Registrations Service at www.dvv.fi/ajanvaraus
3. Please bring the following documents with you:
- your valid passport or EU citizen’s official identity card with a photograph
- residence permit card or decision on a residence permit
- if you are working or studying, please include your employment contract or certificate of student status
- if you have original, legalised and translated certificates of your family relationships, bring them with you as well.
You must visit our service location in person.
1. If possible, bring with you a completed ‘the Registration Information of a Foreigner’ form. Fill in the attachments if necessary.
The registration information of a foreigner
Appendix A - Marriage or registered partnership
2. Make an appointment with the International Registrations Service at www.dvv.fi/ajanvaraus
3. Please bring the following documents with you:
- your valid passport or EU citizen's official identity card with a photograph
- if you wish to register based on a work relationship, bring your employment contract
- if you wish to register based on studies, bring your certificate of student status
- if you wish to register based on a family relationship, bring your original, legalised and translated family relationship certificates if these relationships have not yet been recorded in the Population Information System.