All applicants and recipients of temporary protection are registered at the reception center, even if they live in a private apartment or an apartment provided by the municipality. Most of the applicants and recipients of temporary protection, about 65 percent, currently live outside the reception centers.
Reception centers offer reception services, such as health and social services, to all applicants and recipients of temporary protection. Reception centers can also offer information, advice and guidance in various everyday matters.
Reception centers are established and maintained as needed
Currently, there are a total of 77 reception centers, their branches and service points in private residences, as well as 8 reception units for minors. Before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, there were 20 reception centers and 7 units for minors in Finland.
“The goal is that the number of established and maintained reception centers corresponds to the existing need. However, the need for reception capacity varies for many reasons”, says Olli Snellmandepartment head of the reception unit.
The need for reception capacity is affected by the number of applicants and recipients of temporary protection in need of accommodation, as well as the fact that some of the recipients of temporary protection leave Finland temporarily or permanently. In order to be ready to react quickly to the need, it is good to have the possibility to expand the operation of the centers and to have empty beds that can be used if necessary. The readiness to establish new reception centers is also needed all the time.
“In the near future, for example, the end of the seasonal work season may increase the need for reception capacity. Starting next spring, however, it is expected that a large number of recipients of temporary protection will leave the reception system and move to municipalities, says Snellman.
The Finnish Immigration Service is responsible for directing, planning and supervising the operation of the reception system. The reception centers of the Finnish Immigration Service are located in Helsinki, Lappeenranta (Joutseno) and Oulu. Other reception centers are maintained by organizations, Finnish municipalities and companies.
A third of those fleeing Ukraine are children
A significant part of the applicants and recipients of temporary protection are children and their mothers. Some of the children have arrived in Finland without a guardian, but most of them have arrived with their relatives or family friends. All in all, about a third of the refugees in Ukraine are children.
“Children can go to school in Finland. If necessary, the reception center will help you get a school place,” says Snellman.
The relative share of children has slightly decreased since the beginning of the Russian invasion, while the number of refugees of working age has increased.
“Recipients of temporary protection have the right to the services offered by the TE office, which help them integrate and find employment. The Finnish Immigration Service encourages people to actively use these services,” says Snellman.
Among those fleeing Ukraine are also groups with special needs. For example, dozens of elderly people and persons with memory disorders, intellectual disabilities or serious injuries have arrived in Finland. These people have needed the services of treatment units outside the reception centers.
The number of applicants has remained fairly stable
The Finnish Immigration Service has made 33,480 decisions regarding temporary protection. Therefore, about 95% of the applicants have received a decision on their application.
“The weekly number of applications for temporary protection has varied more during the summer than in the spring, but at the monthly level the numbers have remained approximately the same since May. The weekly number of applications has varied between less than 700 and 1,400, while the average monthly number of applications is around 4,500, he says. Antti Lehtinendirector of the asylum unit.
Almost all decisions regarding temporary protection are positive (33,231). Some negative decisions have also been made. Applicants who received a negative decision are citizens of countries other than Ukraine. In addition, a small part of the applications has expired because the applicant has withdrawn his application.
Currently, a decision on temporary protection is made within a week in a typical case where no additional information is needed. However, the applicant has the right to work immediately after he has registered his application for temporary protection with the police or border inspection authority. When a person fleeing Ukraine receives temporary protection, he is also given a Finnish identity number.
Facts: Temporary protection for people fleeing Ukraine
- You can apply for temporary protection in Finland by contacting the police or border inspection authorities. After this, the Finnish Immigration Service makes a decision on temporary protection.
- Temporary protection can be granted to Ukrainian citizens who cannot return to Ukraine due to the Russian invasion.
- It can also be granted to citizens of countries outside the European Union, citizens of countries outside the Schengen Agreement, and stateless persons who have fled the Russian invasion, if they have stayed in Ukraine legally and returning to the respective country of origin safely and permanently is not possible.
- Temporary protection can also be granted to family members of Ukrainian citizens and those who have received international protection or equivalent national protection in Ukraine, if the family ties were born in Ukraine before the Russian invasion.
- Statistics on temporary protection
HT
Source: Finnish Immigration Service
Source: The Nordic Page