On 18 December 2025 the Interior Ministry issued guidance stating that individuals who hold temporary protection in another EU member state cannot obtain a parallel permit in Finland. Border guards and Migri caseworkers will now run real-time EU-wide checks before accepting an application, operationalising Article 11 of the Temporary Protection Directive.
The clarification closes a perceived loophole that had attracted a small stream of Ukrainian nationals seeking Finland’s comparatively generous housing allowance and faster labour-market access. During 2025 some 1,200 such applications were lodged; Migri estimates that volume will now fall by 80 percent.
VisaHQ can assist both employers and Ukrainian nationals affected by the rule change. Through its Finland portal (https://www.visahq.com/finland/), the service offers quick eligibility checks, guidance on switching to work-based residence categories such as the EU Blue Card, and document-collection support, reducing the risk of rejection under the new real-time EU database screening.
![Finland Bars ‘Second’ Temporary-Protection Permits for Those Already Sheltered Elsewhere in EU]()
For employers, the new rule removes an onboarding headache: staff transferred from, say, Poland or Germany under temporary protection must either convert to a work-based residence permit or the employer must sponsor an EU ICT or Blue Card. Mobility teams should therefore verify the applicant’s current EU protection status early in the hiring process to avoid last-minute refusals at Finnish borders.
Human-rights NGOs have voiced concern that the measure could strand protection seekers who relocate for family reunification. The ministry counters that applicants can still request standard asylum or work-based permits if they meet the criteria, but acknowledges processing queues could lengthen in the short term.
Companies should update recruitment FAQs and prepare template letters explaining Finland’s permitting options to affected candidates. Likewise, HR portals should prompt applicants to disclose any existing temporary-protection status in other EU states.
The clarification closes a perceived loophole that had attracted a small stream of Ukrainian nationals seeking Finland’s comparatively generous housing allowance and faster labour-market access. During 2025 some 1,200 such applications were lodged; Migri estimates that volume will now fall by 80 percent.
VisaHQ can assist both employers and Ukrainian nationals affected by the rule change. Through its Finland portal (https://www.visahq.com/finland/), the service offers quick eligibility checks, guidance on switching to work-based residence categories such as the EU Blue Card, and document-collection support, reducing the risk of rejection under the new real-time EU database screening.
For employers, the new rule removes an onboarding headache: staff transferred from, say, Poland or Germany under temporary protection must either convert to a work-based residence permit or the employer must sponsor an EU ICT or Blue Card. Mobility teams should therefore verify the applicant’s current EU protection status early in the hiring process to avoid last-minute refusals at Finnish borders.
Human-rights NGOs have voiced concern that the measure could strand protection seekers who relocate for family reunification. The ministry counters that applicants can still request standard asylum or work-based permits if they meet the criteria, but acknowledges processing queues could lengthen in the short term.
Companies should update recruitment FAQs and prepare template letters explaining Finland’s permitting options to affected candidates. Likewise, HR portals should prompt applicants to disclose any existing temporary-protection status in other EU states.
