Skip to content
  • Finnish Government
    • Prime Minister's Office
    • Ministry of Defence
    • Ministry of Transport and Communications
    • Ministry for Foreign Affairs
    • Ministry of Finance
    • Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment
    • Ministry of Justice
    • Ministry of Education and Culture
    • Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
    • Ministry of the Interior
    • Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
    • Ministry of the Environment

Valitse kieli:

This page is in Finnish. Go to the English site »

Or choose language:

Den här sidan är på finska. Gå till den svenska versionen av sidan »

Eller välj språk:

Dát siidu lea suomagillii. Sirdás davvisámegielat siidduide »

Dahje vállje giela:

Язык этого сайта финский. Перейти на русскоязычный сайт »

Или выберите язык:

Cette page est en finnois. Aller sur le site en français »

Ou choisir la langue:

Diese Seite ist auf Finnisch. Wechseln Sie zur deutschen Version »

Oder wählen Sie Ihre Sprache:

Tämä sivu on englanniksi. Siirry suomenkieliseen sivustoon »

Tai valitse kieli:

Choose language:

Den här sidan är på engelska. Gå till den svenska versionen av sidan »

Eller välj språk:

Язык этого сайта английский. Перейти на русскоязычный сайт »

Или выберите язык:

Dát siidu lea eŋgelasgillii. Sirdás davvisámegielat siidduide »

Dahje vállje giela:

Cette page est en anglais. Aller sur le site en français »

Ou choisir la langue:

Diese Seite ist auf Englisch. Wechseln Sie zur deutschen Version »

Oder wählen Sie Ihre Sprache:

Tämä sivu on ruotsiksi. Siirry suomenkieliseen sivustoon »

Tai valitse kieli:

This page is in Swedish. Go to the English site »

Or choose language:

Välj språk:

Язык этого сайта шведский. Перейти на русскоязычный сайт »

Или выберите язык:

Dát siidu lea eŋgelasgillii. Sirdás davvisámegielat siidduide »

Dahje vállje giela:

Cette page est en suédois. Aller sur le site en français »

Ou choisir la langue:

Diese Seite ist auf Schwedisch. Wechseln Sie zur deutschen Version »

Oder wählen Sie Ihre Sprache:

Tämä sivu on pohjois-saameksi. Siirry suomenkieliseen sivustoon »

Tai valitse kieli:

This page is in North Saami. Go to the English site »

Or choose language:

Den här sidan är på nordsamiska. Gå till den svenska versionen av sidan »

Eller välj språk:

Язык этого сайта северосаамский. Перейти на русскоязычный сайт »

Или выберите язык:

Vállje giela:

Cette page est en same du Nord. Aller sur le site en français »

Ou choisir la langue:

Diese Seite ist auf Nordsamisch. Wechseln Sie zur deutschen Version »

Oder wählen Sie Ihre Sprache:

Tämä sivu on venäjäksi. Siirry suomenkieliseen sivustoon »

Tai valitse kieli:

This page is in Russian. Go to the English site »

Or choose language:

Den här sidan är på ryska. Gå till den svenska versionen av sidan »

Eller välj språk:

Dát siidu lea ruoššagillii. Sirdás davvisámegielat siidduide »

Dahje vállje giela:

выберите язык:

Cette page est en russe. Aller sur le site en français »

Ou choisir la langue:

Diese Seite ist auf Russisch. Wechseln Sie zur deutschen Version »

Oder wählen Sie Ihre Sprache:

Tämä sivu on ranskaksi. Siirry suomenkieliseen sivustoon »

Tai valitse kieli:

This page is in French. Go to the English site »

Or choose language:

Den här sidan är på franska. Gå till den svenska versionen av sidan »

Eller välj språk:

Dát siidu lea fránskkagillii. Sirdás davvisámegielat siidduide »

Dahje vállje giela:

Язык этого сайта французский. Перейти на русскоязычный сайт »

Или выберите язык:

Choisir la langue:

Diese Seite ist auf Französisch. Wechseln Sie zur deutschen Version »

Oder wählen Sie Ihre Sprache:

Tämä sivu on saksaksi. Siirry suomenkieliseen sivustoon »

Tai valitse kieli:

This page is in German. Go to the English site »

Or choose language:

Den här sidan är på tyska. Gå till den svenska versionen av sidan »

Eller välj språk:

Язык этого сайта немецкий. Перейти на русскоязычный сайт »

Или выберите язык:

Cette page est en allemand. Aller sur le site en français »

Ou choisir la langue:

Wählen Sie Ihre Sprache:

  • Valitse kieli Suomi
  • Välj språket Svenska
  • Select language English
Media
Go to Sisäministeriö site frontpage
  • Frontpage
  • Areas of expertise
    • Police
    • Rescue services
    • Emergency response
    • Border management
    • Migration
    • National security
    • Civilian crisis management
    • Flag and arms of Finland
  • Current issues
  • Projects and legislation
  • Publications
  • Ministry
  • Contact
  • News
  • Sign up for news
  • Ukraine
  • Situation at the eastern border
  • Work Help Finland
suomiLue artikkeli suomeksi svenskaLäs artikeln på svenska English

Ukrainian refugees offered the opportunity to move from Estonia to Finland

Ministry of the Interior
Publication date 22.12.2022 13.51
Type:Press release

Estonia has received a considerable number of Ukrainian refugees considering the size of the country, and the local reception system is overburdened. To ease the situation of the refugees, Finland and Estonia will offer the opportunity for interested Ukrainians to move to Finland by group transport. Preparations for this arrangement began at Estonia’s request and they are being carried out in cooperation between the Estonian and Finnish authorities.

Finland is prepared to receive approximately 50–100 Ukrainians a week who initially fled the war to Estonia. The arrangement is scheduled to be launched in January and would remain in force until further notice. The duration of the arrangement will also be considered from the perspective of the Finnish reception system.

People entitled to temporary protection can in any case move to the EU Member State of their choice, but by coordinating transfers with Estonia, Finnish authorities can better prepare for the situation.

“In May, the Government decided that Finland is prepared to help those fleeing the war by receiving people entitled to temporary protection who are moving from other Member States. This is part of the EU’s joint efforts. It is our duty to help people fleeing the war in Ukraine,” says Minister of the Interior Krista Mikkonen.

Coordinated bus and ferry transports will be organised for those Ukrainians who wish to move from Estonia to Finland. Both countries are responsible for covering the costs incurred in their respective territories.

Practical preparations are currently underway. By January, the Finnish Immigration Service and Estonian immigration authorities will issue additional instructions for Ukrainians interested in moving to Finland. For the time being, their number is difficult to estimate.

About one per cent of Ukrainians who have fled to the EU have arrived in Finland

Russia’s brutal war of aggression in Ukraine has caused significant human suffering and material losses to Ukraine and its citizens. 

“Ukrainians will continue to need help and protection from other countries. The ongoing fighting, the coming winter and, in particular, Russia’s attacks on the energy infrastructure weaken living conditions, and many Ukrainians are without electricity, heat or water. It is expected that in the next few months, both internal displacement and the movement towards the EU will start to grow again,” Minister Mikkonen says.

Approximately 46,000 Ukrainians have applied for temporary protection in Finland, and currently about 400–500 new applications are registered every week. So far, approximately 41,000 Ukrainians have applied for temporary protection in Estonia, which is almost the same as in Finland, even though Estonia is a smaller country in terms of population. About 4 million applications for temporary protection have been registered in the entire EU. Finland accounts for about one per cent of this number.

Inquiries:

Mari Helenius, Senior Specialist, tel. +358 295 488 214, mari.helenius@govsec.fi (available from 14.30) 
Mikko Jalo, Special Adviser, tel. +358 50 304 8522, mikko.jalo@gov.fi (requests for interviews with the Minister)

Krista Mikkonen
Estonia Ukraine confederations of states immigration safety and security temporary protection

MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR
Sisäministeriö | Inrikesministeriet

Kirkkokatu 12, Helsinki
PO Box 26, FI-00023 Government
Tel. 0295 480 171 (switchboard)
registry.sm@gov.fi

About the site
Accessibility statement
Data protection
Sitemap
Questions and feedback

X (Twitter)
Instagram
LinkedIn
Facebook
YouTube

Search page
  • Frontpage
  • Areas of expertise
    • Police
      • Government Programme measures in the police sector
      • Crime in Finland
      • Organised crime
        • Fight against organised crime
      • Counter-terrorism
        • Counter-terrorism measures in Finland
      • Violent radicalisation
        • Action plan monitoring
      • Hate crime
        • Online targeting and shaming
      • Human trafficking
      • Economic crime and the shadow economy
      • Cybercrime
        • Tackling cybercrime
      • Firearms
        • Firearms legislation
      • Gambling
      • Fundraising
      • Public order and security
      • Private security sector
      • Agencies and responsibilities
    • Rescue services
      • Government Programme measures in rescue services
      • Rescue operations
        • Maritime search and rescue
        • Emergency warnings
      • Accident prevention
        • Chimney sweeping
        • Smoke alarms and other fire safety equipment
          • Smoke alarm
          • Responsibility for smoke alarms to change in 2026
          • Carbon monoxide and heat detectors
          • First-aid extinguishing equipment
          • Fire safety systems of buildings
          • Systems connected to the ERC
          • Supervision of fire safety equipment
          • Frequently asked questions about smoke alarms
        • Emergency plan
        • Fire safety
      • Preparedness
        • National risk assessment
        • Civil defence
        • Civil defence shelters
        • Preparedness guide
      • International assistance
        • International cooperation in civil preparedness
        • Civil Protection Mechanism
      • Rescue Services Strategy
      • Rescue service agencies and responsibilities
    • Emergency response
      • Emergency response centres
      • Services
    • Border management
      • Government Programme measures to reform border security
      • Border surveillance
      • Maritime search and rescue
      • Fight against environmental damage in sea areas
      • Smart Borders
      • Frontex cooperation
      • Agencies and responsibilities
    • Migration
      • Government Programme measures to reform migration policy
        • Stricter conditions for permanent residence permits
      • Agencies and responsibilities
        • Preparing for large-scale influxes of migrants
      • Migration and asylum policy
        • Family reunification
      • Refugees and asylum seekers
        • Quota refugees
      • EU migration and asylum system
      • Voluntary and forced return
        • Readmission agreements
      • Nationality
        • Preconditions for and effects of acquiring Finnish citizenship
        • Expatriate Finns
      • Combating irregular entry and stay
    • National security
      • Government Programme measures to reform national security
      • What is national security?
        • Critical Infrastructure Protection and Crisis Resilience Act
      • Civilian intelligence
        • Questions and answers about civilian intelligence legislation
      • Hybrid threats
      • Cyber security
    • Civilian crisis management
      • Finland's objectives
      • Finnish experts serving in operations
      • Recruitment and training
      • Agencies and responsibilities
      • Legislation
    • Flag and arms of Finland
      • Flag days
        • Flagdays 2025
        • Proposals for flag days
      • Flying the flag at half mast
      • Flying the EU flag
      • Order of precedence
      • About the flag
        • History of the flag
      • Arms of Finland
      • The flag and coat of arms in commercial activities
  • Current issues
    • News
      • News archive
    • Sign up for news
    • Ukraine
      • Civilian material assistance to Ukraine
        • Laptops for Ukraine
        • Civilian assistance sent from Finland
      • Helping Ukrainians
      • Temporary protection
      • Frequently asked questions
    • Situation at the eastern border
    • Work Help Finland
      • Accessibility statement
      • Privacy policy
  • Projects and legislation
    • Reform of legislation on civilian intelligence
    • Passport project
    • Strengthening crime prevention
      • Answers to questions about biometric data regulation
    • Reform of the gambling system
      • Questions and answers on gambling system reform
    • Shooting ranges project
    • Reform of the Citizenship Act
      • Frequently asked questions
    • Interoperability of data within EU information systems for security
    • Secure satellite communication services
  • Publications
  • Ministry
    • Tasks and objectives
    • Management and organisation
      • Minister of the Interior
      • Permanent Secretary
      • Departments and units
    • Branch of government
    • Joint strategy for the Ministry's administrative branch
    • Operations and finances
    • Government Report on Internal Security
      • Government Report on Internal Security 2021
        • Abstract of the Report in easy-to-read language
    • International and EU cooperation
      • Priorities in EU and international affairs
      • Sub-committees on EU affairs
      • Finland and Nato
    • Oversight of legality
      • Oversight of legality at agencies within the Ministry’s branch of government
    • Research
      • Sentimentti data tool
      • Strategic foresight
    • Funds
    • Ministry as workplace
      • Personnel
      • Responsibility
      • Ministry’s pay system
      • Applying for a job
      • Traineeships
    • Whistleblower protection
    • History of the ministry
  • Contact
    • Submissions for consideration
      • Submission form
    • Request for information
      • Information request form
    • Contact information of the management, departments and units
    • Communications Unit
    • Data protection
      • Information on cookies
    • Accessibility statement
    • Feedback