Finland
Extension of temporary protection
Finland is implementing the extension of the temporary protection mechanism agreed by the Council of the European Union on 28 September 2023.
The temporary protection mechanism was originally activated on 24 February 2022 and will now be extended until 4 March 2025.
According to the decision of the Council of the European Union, the extension of temporary protection applies to
- Ukrainian citizens and family members of Ukrainian citizens who resided in Ukraine on 24 February 2022;
- Those who were granted international protection in Ukraine before 24 February 2022 or who are a family member of a person who was granted international protection in Ukraine;
- Those who resided in Ukraine with a permanent residence permit on 24 February 2022 and who cannot return to their home country or region of origin in safe and durable conditions.
In March 2022, the Finnish government extended temporary protection to
- Ukrainian citizens who had left Ukraine before the start of the war and
- third-country nationals who were residing in Ukraine with a non-permanent residence permit. The decision concerning these third-country nationals was repealed by decision of the Government on 7 September 2023. Third-country nationals are citizens of countries that have not joined the European Union or the Schengen Agreement.
In the next few weeks, the government will decide whether to continue granting temporary protection to these persons as well.
Qualifying residents whose residence permit on the basis of temporary protection is extended will be sent a letter containing information about the extension. Current holders should make sure that their reception centre has their current address, telephone number and email address. If they are not registered as client of a reception centre, they should make sure that the Finnish Immigration Service has their contact details.
They will also receive a text message stating that their permit has been extended. The message will be in Finnish and English. It will contain a link to our website: migri.fi/uk/timcasovij-zahist. The sender of the message is ‘Migri’.
If the permit is not extended, the authorities will send a letter with further instructions. It is not currently possible to apply for a new card that is valid until 4 March 2025.
Ireland
Reminder to residents intending to travel over Christmas holiday period
Immigration Service Delivery has notified its customers that the Immigration Services Registration Office at Burgh Quay in Dublin is currently experiencing a very large volume of applications for renewal of permission, with a current processing time to renew an IRP card of three to four weeks.
Following registration renewal, it may take a further two weeks to receive a new IRP card via post. An in-date IRP card may be required to facilitate travel to and from Ireland.
Non-EEA nationals legally resident in or near Dublin who are intending to travel over the Christmas holiday period and who are required to submit a renewal application are urged to do so online, via the ISD portal, as soon as possible and by 31 October 2023.
Considering the current processing times, of almost 6 weeks, the Immigration Services Registration Office Burgh Quay Dublin cannot guarantee that any renewal submitted after the 31 October 2023 will be processed and an IRP card delivered in time to facilitate travel over the Christmas holiday period.
Please note: Regardless of the date a renewal application is submitted or processed, the validity period for renewal of the permission will be based on the current expiry date.
