By March next year, some of the Ukrainians who fled the Russian invasion of their home country will have been in Finland for a year.
After a stay of one year, anyone who has been granted temporary protection has the right to apply for resident status in the municipality where they are living, through the Digital and Population Data Services Agency.
Resident status, also know as right of domicile, carries full entitlement to all locally-provided services.
"Of course, people granted temporary protection already have quite extensive rights to services, but after being registered as residents, they will have, for example, a subjective right to early childhood education. Also those under the age of 18 will be required to study," explains Mari Taverne, director of talent attraction and migration for the City of Tampere.
Registration as a local resident also brings inclusion in employment services, and for example housing allowances from the national Social Insurance Institution (Kela), if needed.
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There are approximately 45,000 Ukrainians who have applied for temporary protection in Finland, the majority of whom are minors.
A few months ago, the Ministry of the Interior conducted a survey of over 2,000 Ukrainians now in the country which indicated that about a third would like to stay in Finland more permanently.
Katja Mannerström, head of public affairs for the Finnish Refugee Council, says that the preparations to deal with refugees becoming fully entitled residents vary from place to place.
"The numbers range from a few dozen to a few hundred in different municipalities. With refugee reception centres filling up, there are growing pressures to get people who are already here to move on into the community," Mannerström explains.
More independent living
According to Mari Taverne, the approaching situation in Tampere is well recognised, and preparations have been made.
"Reception centres and municipal authorities are cooperating in the process of registering people as municipal residents, and I believe that this matter will also be able to go smoothly. But it does require guidance and additional resources from the municipality," Taverne states.
Katja Mannerström says that finding rental accommodation on the free market will be a big challenge in cities, such as Helsinki, where there is already a lot of competition.
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According to Mari Taverne, services units in Tampere are looking at the ways and means to organise guidance for those who will be looking for housing.
"On the other hand, legislation on the reception of refugees also takes into account the right to smoothly transition to independent living. Reception centres have an obligation to provide adequate guidance and support in this regard," Taverne points out.
With the right of domicile, a person is also allowed to move and change his or her municipality of residence.
A steady flow of people
If the war in Ukraine continues, an estimated 40,000 new Ukrainian refugees may arrive in Finland next year. According to Mari Taverne, preparations have been made for this as well.
"If the flow of people here remains steady, we will be able to meet the needs of new arrivals. Of course, when a large number of people suddenly arrive, such as when the war in Ukraine started, quick measures are needed to organise accommodations. I'm not worried about having enough services," she says.
Katja Mannerström points out that some Ukrainians have also expressed their willingness to go back to their homeland as soon as it becomes possible.
It is unclear how many Ukrainian refugees ultimately want to stay in Finland and in which municipalities. For this reason, local authorities should now carefully find out what the needs and future hopes of the Ukrainians living in their municipalities are.
Compassion fatigue?
So far, Ukrainian refugees have been warmly welcomed in Finland. But will that compassion and understanding continue, for example, once they are competing for placements in child daycare or public housing?
According to Katja Mannerström, Finns do still have enough empathy and understanding for those who fled Ukraine. Some degree of compassion fatigue is being seen, though, in some other European countries.
"I really hope that this does not happen in Finland, rather here it is understood that Ukrainians need the support of society," she says.
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Mari Taverne recalls the situation a few years ago when large numbers of refugees suddenly arrived in Finland from mainly Syria and Iraq. In her view, there was perhaps more tension at that time.
"Of course, different opinions and attitudes may also arise against Ukrainians. I personally hope that anyone in dire straits will be given the opportunity to seek safety in Finland and continue their lives here as long as they are unable to return home - in some cases that return being never."
