Information for people arriving from Ukraine

Information for people arriving from Ukraine

If you have fled Ukraine because of the invasion by Russia, you can currently stay in Finland without a visa, apply for asylum or apply for temporary protection.

 

Entry to Finland

Entry to Finland

 

The Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) can help you with your entry.

You have the right to:

  • Stay in Finland for three months without a visa if you have a biometric passport. Read more about what documents and visas you need at the Foreign ministry site.
  • Apply for asylum in Finland. You apply for asylum in person at the police or at border control. You cannot submit your asylum application at an Immigration Service office or refugee reception centre.
  • Apply for a residence permit on other grounds, such as family ties to Finland or a job.
  • Apply for temporary protection.

 

For more information visit Migri site:

- Russia's attack on Ukraine (migri.fi)
- FAQ about Russia's attack on Ukraine and its effects (migri.fi)

- Printable instructions for people fleeing Ukraine, in various languages (migri.fi)

Upon arrival to Finland do as follows:

Upon arrival to Finland do as follows:

 

  • You can stay in Finland for three months without a visa. Then you do not need to register for anything. Please note, however, that without a residence permit you are not entitled to the services of the reception centre or the municipality. However, emergency accommodation and urgent medical care can be arranged for you if necessary.

The Eastern Finland Police has introduced a service number and e-mail address for applicants for international protection, i.e. temporary protection and asylum. Through the service number and e-mail address, the police will receive the necessary information to organise reception of the application.  On the basis of this information, the police will organise reception of the customer's application at the nearest provincial centre, i.e. the police station in Mikkeli, Kuopio or Joensuu.

The service number is available from Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. In future, enquiries relating to the reception of protection applications from customers will be directed centrally to the international protection service number 0295 455 380 or to the e-mail address:                                              kv-suojelu.ita-suomi@poliisi.fi  

At the service phone number and e-mail, the police offer services in Finnish and English. In order to speed up the application process, we ask those working with applicants for international protection or other helpers to contact the police via the service phone number or e-mail before coming to the police station.

 

  • Once you have received residence permit, you are entitled to the services of either the municipality or the reception centre.

 

Immigration Coordinator

Immigration Coordinator

The Immigration Coordinator (Municipality of Lieksa) deals with administrative matters, early childhood education and care, and school education. The Immigration Coordinator works in cooperation with various authorities.

 

The Immigration Coordinator also advises companies, business and employers in Lieksa on work permits for foreign workers and assists in applying for a work permit if necessary.

 

Appointments:

Anna-Maija Näivö, Immigration Coordinator

+358 40 1044 384 / anna-maija.naivo@lieksa.fi

address: Pielisentie 3, 81700 Lieksa.

 

The services are provided in Finnish, however interpretation is also available.

Accommodation

Accommodation

You can arrange your own accommodation. If you arrive without accommodation, emergency accommodation will be arranged through social services.

 

North Karelia Municipal Social welfare and health - Siun sote social services advice and counselling tel. +358 13 330 2872 weekdays 8-16.

At other times, the Social Welfare Emergency Service helps in social welfare crisis situations mainly in the evenings and weekends in the North Karelia region, tel. +358 13 330 9002.

 

Inquiries about Lieksan Kiinteistöt Oy's rental apartments can be sent to +358 40 308 4980 or by e-mail info@lieksankiinteistot.fi. The office is open Mon-Thu 9-15, Fri 9-12, address: Rantalantie 5 81720 Lieksa.

Siun sote (social welfare and health services)

Siun sote (social welfare and health services)

 

You have the right to urgent care in public health service and to the essential social services.

Siun sote is the organiser of municipal social and health services in Lieksa and the whole of North Karelia. Services can be found at www.siunsote.fi/en

Social and Crisis Helpdesk for support in an acute situation, tel. +358 13 330 9002

Social welfare offices (social services for working-age people) provide counselling and advice +358 13 330 2810. Emergency income support and basic income support (e.g. for food or medicine) can be applied for from the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (KELA): www.kela.fi.

Mental health and drug and alcohol abuse services serve clients with mental disorder or mental health problems. Mental health care coordinators are available on weekdays to help you find the right solution to your mental health problems on +358 13 330 2145.

For health care services, the joint emergency department of the North Karelia Central Hospital provides round-the-clock care for acute health care issues. If the reason for seeking healthcare services is due to symptoms of infection, please book an appointment in advance at tel. 116 117.

 

For more information:
- Ohjeita Ukrainasta saapuville (siunsote.fi)
- Instructions when arriving from Ukraine (siunsote.fi)

In serious, life-threatening medical conditions and accidents, you should always call the public emergency number 112

In serious, life-threatening medical conditions and accidents, you should always call the public emergency number 112

 

It costs nothing to call the emergency number. There is also a 112 app (Android, iOS) available for smartphones, which you can use to make an emergency call. The location of the caller is then automatically transmitted to the emergency centre. The emergency call must never be disconnected until authorised by the emergency call centre. Do not call the emergency number for non-urgent matters.

 

Emergency instructions are now also available in Ukrainian for Ukrainians arriving in Finland.

You can print out the form here.

 

 

Safety and security information in Ukrainian -  Інформація про безпеку

Crisis work

Crisis work

 

- Crisis work in the Siun Soto region is coordinated by the Intensive Outpatient Care Unit     of Adult Psychiatry tel. +358 13 330 2132

 

- Siun Sote local crisis team on-call number +358 13 330 7438 (crisis situations)

 

North Karelia Crisis Centre

Councelling is offered by trained crisis workers. Crisis support is intended for short-term, few-visit crisis support, to prevent chronic stress and mental health problems.

Appointments on weekdays from 10am to 4pm, tel. +358 13 316 244.

Face-to-face, telephone or Teams meetings. Meetings are free of charge for clients. Meetings are not recorded and you can come anonymously if you wish.

The language of the meeting is Finnish or English, with interpreter's assistance provided if necessary.

Early childhood education and care

 

Early childhood education and care

As a rule, applications for early childhood education and care must be submitted four months before the desired starting date. If the need arises unexpectedly due to work or studies, the city has two weeks to arrange a place. Parents/guardians can express a wish for an early childhood education place and efforts will be made to fulfil this wish if at all possible.

You can apply for an early childhood education place via the eDaisy service link on the Lieksa website or by filling in a printable application form.

 

eDaisy service link

 

Info about early childhood education and care

 

Basic primary and secondary school education

Basic primary and secondary school education

 

You can apply for a school place for your child as soon as you arrive if you have applied for asylum or temporary protection. Pre-primary and primary/secondary education is available in Lieksa for children aged 6-17.

Info about school education.

 

For more information:

Johanna Rossi, Rector

Preschool education, Primary education, grades 1-6

address: Rantalantie 4, 81720 Lieksa

tel. +358 40 1044 235
johanna.rossi@lieksa.fi

 

Reetta-Leena Hiltunen, Rector
secondary school, college
address: Brahea-campus, Kuhmonkatu 30 81700 Lieksa
tel. +358 40 1044 210

 

Registration for school place:

www.lieksa.fi/ilmoittautuminen-perusopetukseen

 

Basic income

Basic income

 

In Finland, Kela, the Social Insurance Institution of Finland, is responsible for providing basic income. For more detailed information visit Kela website:
Oikeus sosiaaliturvaan (kela.fi)
Right to social security (kela.fi)

 

Employment

Employment
 

As an asylum seeker, you can start working in Finland three or six months after you have applied for asylum. If you are in Finland on a visa free entry basis, you can work in certain jobs.

If you have been granted a residence permit on the basis of temporary protection, you have an immediate unrestricted right to work/work permit.

 

For more information Finnish Immigration service.

 

Employment services of the Municipality of Lieksa

Employment services of the Municipality of Lieksa

 

The purpose of the employment services of Lieksa is to support participation in working life and to create the conditions for employment. The employment services work in close cooperation with the TE Office (employment service), various municipal administrations and intermediary labour market operators to support employment and getting a job. A particular focus is on supporting young adults and the long-term unemployed into work. The services can be sought at the initiative of the TE Office, social services, other partners or the jobseeker.

 

More information:

Raija Schroderus, Employment Service Officer & Project Manager (Towards Employment and Training Project) +358 40 1044 312, raija.schroderus@lieksa.fi

TE-services in Lieksa (Employment and business services)

TE-services in Lieksa (Employment and business services)

is open on Mondays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. At other times, you can make an appointment by contacting us via the Oma asiointi online service, at the office or using the forms at the mailbox. You can also deliver documents to the mailbox at the office outside opening hours.

Address for visits: Kainuuntie 5, 81700 Lieksa
Mailing address: PL 93, 80101 Joensuu
Email:
kirjaamo.pohjois-karjala@te-toimisto.fi