Finland to Extend Validity of Residence Permits for Ukrainian Refugees Under Temporary Protection – SchengenVisaInfo.com – SchengenVisaInfo.com

The Ministry of the Interior of Finland has announced that it will extend the validity of residence permits for Ukrainian refugees based on temporary protection.

According to the Ministry, the legislative project will be extended from September 12, 2022, to March 31, 2023, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.

As the Ministry explains, refugees from Ukraine will not need to apply for an extension of their residence permit.

In addition, the Ministry stated that the residence permit card is issued to Ukrainians in order for them to be able to show they are legally staying in Finland, in order to avoid any possible complications in their everyday life in this country.

Unfortunately, it seems that the war in Ukraine will continue for a long time. This means that the need for assistance will also continue. It is our duty to stand with Ukraine and help the war refugees who have arrived in Finland, the Minister of the Interior Krista Mikkonen said, commenting on the extension of the law.

Currently, the temporary protection in the EU lasts for one year from the entry into force of the Implementing Decision of the Council, in the case of Ukrainians, until March 4, 2023. However, the protection will be extended for one year automatically unless the Council decides to end it. In addition, the Council can also decide to extend the temporary protection for more than one year.

Meanwhile, based on the Temporary Protection Directive, the total duration cannot exceed three years.

While the decision is in force, Finland and all other EU Member States are obligated to grant temporary protection to the group specified in the decision and a residence permit to indicate it. Finland has issued residence permits based on temporary protection to about 37,000 people who have fled Ukraine. It is estimated that the number will be approximately 48,000 by the end of the year, the statement issued by the Ministry reads.

Recently, an online survey conducted by the same Ministry revealed that out of 2,136 surveyed Ukrainian refugees who resettled in Finland, about 27 per cent of them stated that they no longer plan to return to Ukraine.

Such data show that a third or 33 per cent of them had decided to return to Ukraine after the end of the war.

According to the survey data, about 51 per cent of respondents had applied for temporary protection in Finland because of Finlands good reputation. At the same time, 43 per cent applied because of friends and relatives and another 18 per cent for employment and study purposes.

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Finland to Extend Validity of Residence Permits for Ukrainian Refugees Under Temporary Protection - SchengenVisaInfo.com - SchengenVisaInfo.com