A separate Migri bulletin clarifies how the 12 June amendments to the Aliens Act affect roughly 45 000 people living in Finland under temporary protection—mostly Ukrainians who fled Russia’s invasion. Going forward, an individual may hold *only one* valid right of residence at a time.
![Temporary-Protection Permits to Lapse Automatically on 12 August Unless Holders Switch Status]()
For Ukrainians and their employers looking to switch from temporary protection to another residence status, VisaHQ’s Finland portal (https://www.visahq.com/finland/) provides clear guidance, document checklists, and live support, making it easier to compile applications for work, study, or family permits.
If a temporary-protection beneficiary already possesses another Finnish residence permit (for example, based on employment) issued *before* 12 June 2026, the temporary-protection permit will lapse automatically on 12 August 2026, no matter what date is printed on the plastic card. Those who obtain a new work-, study- or family-based permit *after* 12 June will see their temporary-protection card nullified the moment the new status is granted. The same applies if they register as EU citizens or EU family members. Once the temporary-protection permit ends, associated reception-centre benefits stop as well, shifting full housing and subsistence costs onto the individual. HR departments employing Ukrainian nationals should audit their workforces immediately. Staff whose primary right to stay is temporary protection but who now qualify for a work-based permit must file applications as soon as possible—or face a legal vacuum come August. Conversely, employees already holding work permits must understand that their older, seemingly longer-dated temporary-protection cards become invalid on 12 August and should be destroyed. The automatic-lapse mechanism aims to prevent “double-status shopping” and simplify databases, yet it could sow confusion at border controls if travellers present expired cards. Travel managers should brief affected employees to carry the *current* permit and, if necessary, a letter from Migri confirming status. For municipalities, the dwindling of temporary-protection status will eventually shift Ukrainians into the normal integration and social-services pipeline, increasing demand for Finnish-language classes and labour-market activation programmes.
For Ukrainians and their employers looking to switch from temporary protection to another residence status, VisaHQ’s Finland portal (https://www.visahq.com/finland/) provides clear guidance, document checklists, and live support, making it easier to compile applications for work, study, or family permits.
If a temporary-protection beneficiary already possesses another Finnish residence permit (for example, based on employment) issued *before* 12 June 2026, the temporary-protection permit will lapse automatically on 12 August 2026, no matter what date is printed on the plastic card. Those who obtain a new work-, study- or family-based permit *after* 12 June will see their temporary-protection card nullified the moment the new status is granted. The same applies if they register as EU citizens or EU family members. Once the temporary-protection permit ends, associated reception-centre benefits stop as well, shifting full housing and subsistence costs onto the individual. HR departments employing Ukrainian nationals should audit their workforces immediately. Staff whose primary right to stay is temporary protection but who now qualify for a work-based permit must file applications as soon as possible—or face a legal vacuum come August. Conversely, employees already holding work permits must understand that their older, seemingly longer-dated temporary-protection cards become invalid on 12 August and should be destroyed. The automatic-lapse mechanism aims to prevent “double-status shopping” and simplify databases, yet it could sow confusion at border controls if travellers present expired cards. Travel managers should brief affected employees to carry the *current* permit and, if necessary, a letter from Migri confirming status. For municipalities, the dwindling of temporary-protection status will eventually shift Ukrainians into the normal integration and social-services pipeline, increasing demand for Finnish-language classes and labour-market activation programmes.
