Finland

If you leave Finland and do not intend to return to Finland, you need to cancel your residence permit or application for temporary protection in Finland. If you later return to Finland, you can make a new application for temporary protection. You can find more information on the Finnish Immigration Service’s website.

You are allowed to travel to Ukraine if you hold a residence permit based on temporary protection, and there is no limit to how long you can stay there.

However, if you are still awaiting a decision on your temporary protection application, it is recommended that you remain in Finland until a decision is made. Even if your visa-free period in Finland ends or your visa expires during this wait, you are permitted to stay in Finland if you have applied for temporary protection there.

Keep in mind, if you have applied for asylum in Finland and leave the country, even briefly, the Finnish Immigration Service will consider your asylum application expired.

Find more information on the Finnish Immigration Service’s website.

If you decide to leave Finland permanently, you can cancel your temporary residence permit by sending a written notice/letter to the Finnish Immigration Service indicating that you want to cancel your permit. Everyone over the age of 18 must make their own declaration. You can also cancel your residence permit by personally informing the authorities. Notify an official at the Finnish Immigration Service, the police, border authorities, or the director or assistant director at the reception center that you wish to cancel your residence permit. An officer will assist you in completing the written notice. You can read more on Finnish Immigration Service website.

If you decide to return to Ukraine permanently and you receive reception allowance, you will no longer receive reception allowance. You should inform your reception center about your return.

If you decide to return permanently, you can deregister and inform the Finnish Immigration Service by writing a written notice and then emailing a photo or scan of the notice to the Finnish Immigration Service’s email: [email protected]

In the notice, you should include your signature, your customer number, name, date of birth, and nationality. You should also indicate why you wish to cancel the permit and include the new address you are moving to. You can find more information on Finnish Immigration Service website.

You can also do this in person by personally informing the authorities. Notify an official at the Finnish Immigration Service, the police, border authorities, or the director or assistant director at the reception center that you wish to cancel your residence permit. An officer will assist you in completing the written notice. You can read more information on Finnish Immigration Service website.

You should also inform the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV) within one week of the move. You can find instructions here.

The Tax Administration authority will automatically receive information about your move from the Digital and Population Data Services Agency. If you have paid taxes in Finland, you should also report a new foreign bank account number so that the Tax Administration can pay any tax refunds you may receive. You can do that by submitting your new account number in MyTax or by filling in a form.

You can inform the authorities online.

If you decide to stay in Ukraine permanently, you can deregister and inform the Finnish Immigration Service by writing a written notice and then emailing a photo or scan of the notice to the Finnish Immigration Service’s email: [email protected]

In the notice, you should include your signature, your customer number, name, date of birth, and nationality. You should also indicate why you wish to cancel the permit and include the new address you are moving to. You can find more information here.

You should also inform the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV). You can find instructions here.

The Tax Administration authority will automatically receive information about your move from DVV. If you have paid taxes in Finland, you should also report a new foreign bank account number so that the Tax Administration can pay any tax refunds you may receive. You can do that by submitting your new account number in MyTax or by filling in a form.

Yes, if you wish to return to Finland after canceling your temporary protection status, you can re-enter and apply for temporary protection again.

Please note that the Temporary Protection Directive can only provide temporary protection for a maximum of four years and cannot be extended after 4 March 2026. The government is investigating what rules should apply for those who cannot return to Ukraine after that date. Therefore, if you decide to return to Finland after 4 March 2026, other rules might apply.

Documents that can be used to enter Ukraine:

• Biometric passport (passport for traveling abroad)
• Diplomatic or service passport
• Valid child’s travel document
• Crew member ID card/seaman ID card
• Certificate for return to Ukraine

If your biometric passport has expired, you can extend it at the Ukrainian embassy. Please see below contact information for the Ukrainian embassy in Helsinki:

Ukrainian Embassy in Helsinki

Address: Vähäniityntie 9, 00570, Helsinki, Finland

Tel:+358-92-28-90-00
E-mail: [email protected]

To return to Ukraine you will need to obtain a certificate for return or other suitable identification documents. Please see below contact information for the Ukrainian embassy in Helsinki:

Ukrainian Embassy in Helsinki

Address: Vähäniityntie 9, 00570, Helsinki, Finland

Tel: +358-92-28-90-00

E-mail: [email protected]

If you are not a citizen of Ukraine and you are staying in Finland under temporary protection, you can return to Ukraine using your residence permit in Ukraine. If your residence permanent permit in Ukraine has expired, you can extend this document at the Ukrainian Embassy.

Please see below contact information for the Ukrainian Embassy in Helsinki:

Ukrainian Embassy in Helsinki

Address: Vähäniityntie 9, 00570, Helsinki, Finland

Tel: +358-92-28-90-00

E-mail: [email protected]

You should inform the school principal that you are withdrawing the enrollment of your child and inform where the child will be enrolled. Ask for an official document acknowledging your child’s educational achievement that will facilitate recognition of the qualifications in Ukraine. More information on what information the document should include can be found on the Ukrainian Ministry of Education and Science’s webpage.

If you are a child living in the Finland without your parents or other family members, please discuss your wish to return to Ukraine with your contact person or guardian. If you are not saying in a reception facility, but have been settled in a municipality, the child welfare services are responsible of evaluating your needs. Please contact your Wellbeing Services County for further information. You can find contact information and links to websites for all Finnish Wellbeing Services Counties here.

Remember that airlines and other service providers may set rules whether to allow or not unaccompanied minors to travel on their own.

However, in general, children are subject to the same entry and exit control as adults, as such, they will need an identity document valid for travelling. Therefore, children Ukrainian citizens seeking information on entry requirements are encouraged to contact nearest Ukrainian embassy or consulate. Please see below contact information to the Ukrainian embassy in Helsinki:Ukrainian Embassy in Helsinki

Address: Vähäniityntie 9, 00570, Helsinki, Finland

Tel: +358-92-28-90-00

E-mail: [email protected]

Yes, in Finland, every patient has the right to receive copies of their medical record which can include information on all your medical visits, diagnostics, medical treatments, nursing care, and other type of clinical information.

Those covered by a reception centre should contact their reception centre and ask for advice on how to receive copies of your health records.

Those with a Finnish personal identity code and means of identification (online banking codes, a mobile certificate, or an electronic ID card) can see their health records in the online service MyKanta. In MyKanta, you can view your public and social welfare and healthcare records. You can also request copies of your medical records from your treatment provider.

You will need to obtain a disability certificate issued in Ukraine. It can be done on arrival or remotely – please check the instructions on the governmental portal. 

Please note that even if your disability certificate obtained in Ukraine has expired, the document is automatically extended and is considered valid until 6 months after the end of martial law in Ukraine.

To make sure that the Tax Administration knows about your move, you should first inform the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV). You can find instructions here. The Tax Administration authority will automatically receive information about your move from the Digital and Population Data Services Agency.

If you have paid taxes in Finland, you should also report a new foreign bank account number to the Tax Administration so that the Tax Administration can pay any tax refunds you may receive. You can do that by submitting your new account number in MyTax or by filling in a form.

Regarding your tax obligations, you should contact the Tax Administration and ask about your obligations after moving from Finland. The phone number for international taxation is +358 29 497 024, open from Monday to Friday between 9 AM and 4 PM.

If you decide to return to Ukraine permanently, you may want to close your Finnish bank account. Even an unused account may charge you for costs. In Finland, depending on the bank, different rules apply for closing a bank account. Some may allow you to close your account online and others may require you to contact your bank in person. It is good to reach out to your bank and ask which rules apply.

If you have received assistance from Kela (the Finnish social insurance authority) and return to Finland within 6 months, you may still be eligible for your assistance.

If you decide to move from Finland permanently and you have received assistance from Kela, your right to assistance will end on the date of your move. In some situations, you may still be eligible for assistance even though you would live outside Finland for over 6 months. Find more on InfoFinland webpage.

Whether you move temporarily or permanently, you should inform Kela. You can do that by filling this form.

After filling in the form, you should mail it to the address below:

Kansaneläkelaitos

Kansainvälisten asioiden keskus

PL 78

FI-00381 Helsinki

Finland

You can also notify Kela of the move by phone or by visiting a customer service point. You can call Kela and ask questions from Kela’s phone number for international cases: +358 20 634 0200 from Monday and Friday between 10 AM to 3 PM.

During the martial law in Ukraine the procedure of entry with pets is simplified.  The pet must have:

• An identification document issued by the EU member state – pet passport or international veterinary certificate.
• Microchip
• Vaccination against rabies.

For more information, please visit State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection.

You can also find general information on regulations and advice when traveling with pets on the website of the Finnish Food authority.