The Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) has confirmed that every residence permit issued in Finland under the EU Temporary-Protection Directive will be prolonged by one year—from 4 March 2026 to 4 March 2027—without any action required from the holder. Roughly 66 000 Ukrainians living in Finland will receive an official letter in January that serves as legal proof of the extension; no biometrics, fees or replacement cards are needed unless the existing document is damaged or the name has changed.
The move follows the Council of the EU’s decision earlier this month to roll forward temporary protection for people who fled Russia’s full-scale invasion. Employers, banks and municipal authorities have been instructed to treat the Migri letter as sufficient evidence of lawful stay and work rights. This is critical for HR teams that must re-verify right-to-work status before existing cards expire in March.
![Finland Automatically Extends Ukrainian Temporary-Protection Permits to March 2027]()
If you need extra help navigating Finnish or Schengen immigration rules—whether that means ordering a new residence-permit card, switching to a work visa or arranging travel documents for accompanying family—VisaHQ’s expert team can streamline the process. Their Finland portal (https://www.visahq.com/finland/) offers step-by-step online applications, personalised document checklists and courier services, saving both applicants and employers time and avoiding costly mistakes.
Finland has invested heavily in fast-track language programmes and labour-market integration, and government data show that nearly half of Ukrainians under temporary protection are already in paid jobs—well above the EU average. Extending status until 2027 gives businesses and local authorities a longer planning horizon for workforce management, schooling and social services.
For Ukrainians who wish to transition to longer-term routes—such as work-based permits or permanent residence—the extra 12 months provide breathing space to gather documents and meet income or language thresholds. Mobility managers should nevertheless remind travellers that some Schengen states still ask to see a valid residence-permit card at the border; onward travel may therefore require ordering a new plastic card even though Finnish law says the letter is enough.
The move follows the Council of the EU’s decision earlier this month to roll forward temporary protection for people who fled Russia’s full-scale invasion. Employers, banks and municipal authorities have been instructed to treat the Migri letter as sufficient evidence of lawful stay and work rights. This is critical for HR teams that must re-verify right-to-work status before existing cards expire in March.
If you need extra help navigating Finnish or Schengen immigration rules—whether that means ordering a new residence-permit card, switching to a work visa or arranging travel documents for accompanying family—VisaHQ’s expert team can streamline the process. Their Finland portal (https://www.visahq.com/finland/) offers step-by-step online applications, personalised document checklists and courier services, saving both applicants and employers time and avoiding costly mistakes.
Finland has invested heavily in fast-track language programmes and labour-market integration, and government data show that nearly half of Ukrainians under temporary protection are already in paid jobs—well above the EU average. Extending status until 2027 gives businesses and local authorities a longer planning horizon for workforce management, schooling and social services.
For Ukrainians who wish to transition to longer-term routes—such as work-based permits or permanent residence—the extra 12 months provide breathing space to gather documents and meet income or language thresholds. Mobility managers should nevertheless remind travellers that some Schengen states still ask to see a valid residence-permit card at the border; onward travel may therefore require ordering a new plastic card even though Finnish law says the letter is enough.
