Finland: Temporary Protection Extended Until 4 March 2027 — and How a Ukrainian Can Switch to a Continuous Permit (A)

Finland has confirmed: residence permits issued to Ukrainians on the basis of temporary protection have been extended until 4 March 2027. This is a consequence of the EU Council decision of 15 July 2025, which extended the temporary protection directive by another year. For most people whose cards were due to expire on 4 March 2026, no action is needed — the extension happens automatically.

At the same time, the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) emphasises an important nuance: temporary protection is a temporary type B permit, and the time spent under it does not count towards a permanent residence permit or citizenship. Therefore, those planning to stay for the long term should think in advance about switching to a continuous permit (type A).

What exactly has changed

On 15 July 2025, the EU Council adopted Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1460, by which temporary protection for displaced persons from Ukraine was extended until 4 March 2027. Earlier, on 4 June 2025, the corresponding proposal was submitted by the European Commission. Finland has implemented this decision at the national level.

• Who is affected: Ukrainian nationals, their family members, as well as persons who had a permanent residence permit or international protection in Ukraine.
• Until what date: all valid temporary protection permits will be valid until 4 March 2027.
• What to do: nothing — the extension is automatic, there is no need to submit a new application.

Do you need to change the permit card

No. Migri states directly: the old permit card remains valid for residence and work, even if an earlier expiry date is printed on it (4 March 2023, 2024, 2025 or 2026). Ordering a new card is not mandatory.

• Migri sends everyone a letter confirming the new period of validity — until 4 March 2027.
• Make sure your address and phone number in Migri are up to date so that the letter reaches you.
• If by 13 February 2026 you have not received a letter, write to suojelu.tilapainen.kasu@migri.fi, stating your name, date of birth, client number and current address. Migri asks that such letters be sent via the secure Securemail service (securemail.migri.fi) to encrypt the message.

Temporary protection (B) versus a continuous permit (A): what's the difference

This is a key point for those thinking about a future in Finland.

• Temporary protection = type B permit. It is intended for temporary residence. The time under it does not accumulate towards a permanent residence permit or citizenship, and the count of the period of residence starts only from the first continuous (A) permit.
• Continuous permit = type A. Migri notes: "When you have a continuous A permit, you start to accumulate residence time for a permanent permit or a citizenship application."

How to switch to a continuous permit (type A)

If you want to stay in Finland for the long term, Migri recommends applying for an "extended" residence permit on a different basis. The basis can be:

1. Work in Finland;
2. Studies in Finland;
3. A family member residing in Finland.

The type of permit you receive depends on your circumstances: it can be continuous (A) or temporary (B). Only from a type A permit does the time for a permanent permit start to count. You can submit the application online through the Enter Finland service on the Migri website.

Important: as soon as you receive another residence permit, your temporary protection ends. According to Migri's rules, the temporary protection permit expires automatically on 12 August 2026 if the other permit was issued to you before 12 June 2026 (and it is valid on 12 August 2026); if, however, the other permit was issued on 12 June 2026 or later, temporary protection ends from the moment the new permit is issued. This is normal: it is precisely the new type A permit, not temporary protection, that brings you closer to a permanent permit.

Municipality of residence (kotikunta) after one year

Separately from the type of permit, there is a right to a municipality of residence (kotikunta), which opens access to a number of municipal services. You can apply for it if:

• you have lived in Finland for one year and have a temporary protection permit granted for at least one year; or
• you have a temporary protection permit for at least one year and at the same time have an employment relationship lasting at least 2 years or have been admitted to studies lasting at least 2 years — then you can apply even earlier, without waiting for a year of residence.

The application is submitted online through the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV, dvv.fi). Migri explains the conditions for submission on the page "Temporary protection and municipality of residence".

What this means for you

If you simply want to continue your stay — there is nothing to do, your protection is already valid until 4 March 2027. But if you plan to stay for the long term, do not rely on temporary protection alone: it does not bring you closer to a permanent permit. If you have stable work, studies or family in Finland, it is worth obtaining a continuous type A permit in advance — this is where the time towards permanent status starts to "run".