Health and social services for people arriving from Ukraine

On 24 February 2022, Russia launched a military attack against Ukraine. Finland is committed to helping people who have fled the war in Ukraine to Finland, also with respect to healthcare and social welfare.

The authorities are actively monitoring the situation, and assistance measures are coordinated in a controlled manner between different administrative branches.

The Ministry of the Interior, the Finnish Immigration Service and the Border Guard are closely monitoring the migration situation in Ukraine. The process of applying for temporary protection and asylum starts with the police or the border authorities, who then refer the person to the services of the Finnish Immigration Service.

Healthcare and social welfare services are provided in accordance with the person’s residence status 

Ukrainians and people who have fled the war in Ukraine may enter Finland holding various types of immigration statuses. The right to receive healthcare and social welfare services is determined on the basis of their residence status in Finland.

1) Residence permit on the basis of temporary protection from 7 March 2022

  • People receiving temporary protection have the same rights to healthcare services as people who have a municipality of residence in Finland (section 26, subsection 2 of the Act on the Reception of Persons Applying for International Protection and on Identifying and Assisting Victims of Trafficking in Human Beings). The responsibility for organising these services rests with the reception centre where the person is registered.
     
  • Those receiving temporary protection also have the right to receive necessary social welfare services (incl. financial assistance, i.e. reception allowance). The reception centre where the person is registered is responsible for organising these services. If it is identified that a child who has been issued with a residence permit on the basis of temporary protection needs child protection, the child’s municipality of residence is responsible for organising child protection services. 
     
  • People who are considered to reside permanently in Finland and who work in Finland and receive at least EUR 741.75 per month for their work are entitled to residence-based benefits from the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (KELA). 
     
  • It is voluntary for people to register for the temporary protection process, but healthcare and social welfare professionals also have the duty to provide advice about, and refer people to, the services of other authorities.

2) Staying in Finland as a traveller/tourist for up to 90 days (a biometric travel document is required)

  • These people have the right to urgent healthcare services, the organisation of which falls under the responsibility of the relevant municipality/hospital district.
     
  • They also have the right to receive necessary and urgent social welfare services.

3) Working in Finland 

  • People who are working in Finland have the right to healthcare services, the organisation of which is the responsibility of the relevant municipality/hospital district or occupational healthcare services.
     
  • They also have the right to receive necessary and urgent social welfare services.
     
  • They become entitled to residence-based benefits from the Social Insurance Institution of Finland if the pay for their work is at least EUR 741.75 per month.

4) Seeking asylum in Finland

People are advised to apply for asylum in Finland only if there are evident and justified grounds for it. 

  • People applying for asylum in Finland have the right to necessary healthcare services, the organisation of which is the responsibility of reception centres. 
     
  • They also have the right to necessary social welfare services (incl. financial assistance, i.e. reception allowance), the organisation of which is the responsibility of reception centres. If it is identified that a child seeking asylum needs child protection, the municipality of residence is responsible for assessing the need for child protection services and organising the services.

Read more in the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health’s news release to municipalities:

Municipalities are encouraged to provide primary and lower secondary education (basic education) for all Ukrainian children residing in the municipality regardless of their immigration status. From the perspective of children’s rights, it is important that children have the opportunity to attend school.

Health security at Finland’s borders and prevention of infectious diseases

The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare has issued recommendations for the prevention of infectious diseases among people arriving from Ukraine and their vaccinations. Those arriving from Ukraine can be offered an opportunity to undergo an initial health check to establish their state of health and, if necessary, refer them to treatment or further tests and screening tests.

Information for healthcare and social welfare professionals 

The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare has compiled material related to health and wellbeing on its website to help professionals encounter people who have arrived in Finland.

Information available on the websites of public authorities in different administrative branches 

Further information