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angle-left The city of Joensuu and Siun sote are prepared to receive refugees from Ukraine

The city of Joensuu and Siun sote are prepared to receive refugees from Ukraine

The city of Joensuu and Joensuu’s municipal social and healthcare services provider Siun sote are prepared to receive people fleeing from the war in Ukraine to Joensuu. Ukrainians may stay in Finland for three months visa-free, seek asylum or apply for temporary protection. 

Asylum or temporary protection must be applied for from the border control authority or the police. More detailed instructions can be found on the Finnish Immigration Service’s webpages: https://migri.fi/en/ukraine.

Those who have applied for asylum or temporary protection may receive the state’s reception services, such as accommodation, healthcare, social services and reception allowance. In addition, children have a right to attend school, and those who have received temporary protection have an immediate right to work.

Those who have arrived in Joensuu may arrange their own accommodation or live in a reception center. Emergency accommodation will be arranged through Siun sote’s social services for those who arrive in Joensuu without accommodation. The social services’ information number on weekdays is 013 330 2810 and on evenings and weekends 013 330 9002.

People staying in Joensuu visa-free may receive emergency accommodation and urgent healthcare from Siun sote if necessary, but they do not have a right to the services provided by the city or reception center.

A school place for children arriving in Joensuu may be applied for immediately upon arrival into the country. Children may also receive a day care place through either open or full-time early education depending on whether the child’s parent works, studies, or is at home. The employment service point Luotsi is also ready to help Ukrainians who are looking for work.

Additional information on the city of Joensuu’s webpages: joensuu.fi/en/web/english/ukraine.  

Inform the Finnish Immigration Service if you are organizing transportation to Finland

Several organisations and private individuals have announced that they will be offering transportation to Finland for people who have fled the Russian military attack on Ukraine. The Finnish Immigration Service is asking all voluntary transport organisers transporting people from Ukraine to Finland to submit preliminary passenger information. More detailed instructions can be found on the Finnish Immigration Service’s webpages: https://migri.fi/en/ukraine.

– It is wonderful that so many volunteers have gone to help the Ukrainians and arrange transport for the them to come to Finland. The Finnish Immigration Service should, however, be informed of these transports so that we can estimate the people’s need for accommodation and other help in the municipalities in advance. Those applying for temporary protection and asylum should also always register with the police in order to receive a residence permit, emphasizes Strategy Director Sami Laakkonen.