Latest update: 20.9.2022
We in Positiiviset ry HivFinland provide support and assistance in a variety of ways to people present in Finland living with HIV or belonging to groups with a risk of HIV infection. Our services are free of charge. Services are available in English and Russian.
Services provided:
- Information about healthcare and access to healthcare in Finland
- Anonymous and safe HIV testing and counselling
- Support and assistance in accessing HIV treatment and care, including access to ART
- Assistance in accessing hepatitis and STIs testing and treatment
- Information about social services in Finland
- Facilitation of linkage to other support services
- Information about the Finnish system and society
- Psycho-social support
- Peer-to-peer support
- General support and orientation for refugees
All services are free of charge!
Contact us:
- E-mail: positiiviset@positiiviset.fi
- Phone: +358 9 692 5441
- Viber: +358 40 849 7248
- Facebook: Positiiviset ry, Hiv-Finland
Useful links
Тимчасовий захист для тих, хто утік від війни в Україні
Temporary protection for people fleeing from Ukraine
Що я повинен робити прибувши з України до Фінляндії
Instructions on arriving in Finland from Ukraine
Police contact details for the registration of those applying for residence permit
Access to healthcare in Finland
Who has the right to use health care services in Finland?
People who are residents of a Finnish municipality (i.e., have a place of domicile in Finland) are entitled to treatment in the public healthcare system. You will be charged the same user fee as other residents. Your citizenship or country of origin are not relevant.
For refugees, authorities will indicate a municipality of residence in Finland. Once a place of residence has been granted, the refugee has the right to use all public health care services in the same manner as other Finnish residents and for the same client fee as residents. A refugee may also move to a municipality of their choice after receiving a permanent residence permit.
Temporary protection
If you are fleeing the Russian attack on Ukraine, you can stay in Finland visa-free or apply for temporary protection or asylum. Temporary protection is intended for people fleeing the war in Ukraine. Granting temporary protection makes it possible to provide protection to a limited group of people in a swift process that is lighter than the asylum procedure.
Beneficiaries of temporary protection have the right to live in a reception centre and the right to receive the services provided by the reception centre. For example, they receive healthcare services, necessary social welfare services and necessary means of subsistence. If they so wish, they can also arrange their own housing. Beneficiaries of temporary protection have the right to work immediately.
Temporary protection is based on the EU Temporary Protection Directive, which is now being used for the first time. The Council decision, which entered into force on 4 March, left a certain amount of discretion for Member States to decide the exact category of people to be granted protection. Finland will apply protection to a more extensive group than that defined in the EU-wide decision. The Government adopted a decision on the matter on 7 March.
How to get temporary protection in Finland?
You can apply for temporary protection by visiting the police or a border control authority in person. Applying is free of charge. We recommend that you submit an application for temporary protection. Applications for temporary protection are processed at a considerably faster rate than asylum applications. If you are not applying for temporary protection or asylum, you must organize accommodation in Finland yourself.
More info about temporary protection: Finnish Immigration Service
Photo: Yehor Milohrodskyi, Unsplash