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News RSS (Opens New Window) (Opens New Window) Finnish Government proposes extending validity of Border Security Act Type: Press release Publication date: 3.9.2026 13.52 Orpo Government: Finnish economy growing and Government taking targeted measu...

News RSS (Opens New Window) (Opens New Window) Finnish Government proposes extending validity of Border Security Act Type: Press release Publication date: 3.9.2026 13.52 Orpo Government: Finnish economy growing and Government taking targeted measu...

News RSS (Opens New Window) (Opens New Window) Finnish Government proposes extending validity of Border Security Act Type: Press release Publication date: 3.9.2026 13.52 Orpo Government: Finnish economy growing and Government taking targeted measu...

News RSS (Opens New Window) (Opens New Window) Finnish Government proposes extending validity of Border Security Act Type: Press release Publication date: 3.9.2026 13.52 Orpo Government: Finnish economy growing and Government taking targeted measu...

News RSS (Opens New Window) (Opens New Window) Finnish Government proposes extending validity of Border Security Act Type: Press release Publication date: 3.9.2026 13.52 Orpo Government: Finnish economy growing and Government taking targeted measu...

News RSS (Opens New Window) (Opens New Window) Finnish Government proposes extending validity of Border Security Act Type: Press release Publication date: 3.9.2026 13.52 Orpo Government: Finnish economy growing and Government taking targeted measu...

News RSS (Opens New Window) (Opens New Window) Finnish Government proposes extending validity of Border Security Act Type: Press release Publication date: 3.9.2026 13.52 Orpo Government: Finnish economy growing and Government taking targeted measu...

10.12.2025 | Joint Statement delivered to the Conference of Ministers of Justice of the Council of Europe, 10 December 2025 The following States: Denmark, Italy, Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Iceland, ...

16.6.2026 | A citizenship test will be introduced in Finland at the beginning of 2027. The test will assess knowledge of Finnish society and its key principles. The President of the Republic approved the amendments to the Citizenship Act on 16 June. The citizenship test will be introduced after the required legislative amendments have entered into force at the beginning of 2027.

18.12.2025 | 1 16 December 2025 Joint follow-up letter from the undersigned ministers on the operationalisation of new and innovative solutions to counter and prevent irregular migration to Europe The following is a joint letter from the undersigned ministers....

7.5.2026 | The Government proposes that the President of the Republic approve amendments to the provisions on the powers of the police to carry out undercover activities in an information network. The amended legislation is scheduled to enter into force on 1 August 2026.

16.4.2026 | Finland plans to introduce a citizenship test to assess applicants’ knowledge of how Finnish society works and its key principles. The Government submitted the proposal to Parliament on 16 April. The test would be introduced after the legislative amendments enter into force at the beginning of 2027.

10.12.2025 | On 10 December, Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen represented Finland at the informal ministerial conference of the Council of Europe held in Strasbourg. The conference discussed topical migration issues and the role that the European Convention on Human Rights plays in addressing them responsibly.

10.9.2026 | On 10 September 2026, the Government submitted a legislative proposal to Parliament aimed at strengthening the Finnish Border Guard’s preparedness. According to the proposal, the Border Guard would be given powers to prevent and stop attempts to damage critical underwater infrastructure. The proposal would also improve the Border Guard’s ability to intercept unmanned vehicles, including drones.

22.12.2025 | Finland is set to introduce a citizenship test. Civic knowledge would be added as a new requirement for acquiring citizenship. The Ministry of the Interior has sent out for comments proposed amendments to the Citizenship Act and certain other acts.

14.4.2026 | The Ministry of the Interior has sent out for comments a draft government proposal to update civilian intelligence legislation in response to the changed security environment.  The proposal would introduce new powers, including measures to prepare for state-sponsored threats, and clarifying amendments arising from practical needs identified in intelligence activities. Changes are also proposed to the non-disclosure periods for documents. The deadline for submitting comments is in late May.

4.12.2025 | Today, the Government submitted a proposal to Parliament to remove obstacles to information sharing between the police and other authorities in combating crime. The proposal includes amendments to provisions on access to information and disclosure of information. These changes aim to enable better exchange of information for preventing, detecting and investigating offences, for example.

14.8.2025 | Public authorities in Finland will have to use the Bank and Payment Account Monitoring System each time they request information on account balances, transactions and securities. The Government submitted the legislative amendments for approval on 14 August. The President of the Republic is expected to approve the amendments on 15 August, and they will enter into force on 1 December 2025.

4.7.2025 | The Ministry of the Interior has sent out for comments a draft government proposal aiming to streamline the exchange of information between the police and other authorities. This proposal implements the objective outlined in the Government Programme to step up the combating of crime and remove obstacles to the related exchange of information. The deadline for submitting comments is August 17, 2025.

Illegal entry and stay are prevented through cooperation between authorities Illegal entry and stay remain low in Finland when compared with all migration to Finland. Most people move legally to Finland on the basis of work, family ties or studies...

Increased use of guards and security stewards The private security sector covers guarding services, security steward services, security system installation services and security check services. Locksmiths and installers of burglar alarms are examp...

30.1.2025 | The Finnish Government submitted to Parliament a Union communication on a cooperation agreement between the European Union and the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol). The negotiations for the agreement are expected to conclude by the end of this year.

23.1.2025 | The Government proposes that the procedure for compensating the building of permanent barriers, such as the fence on the eastern border, will be made more effective. The Government submitted a proposal for amending the Board Guard Act to Parliament on 23 January.

Accident prevention is a joint effort

Coat of arms of Finland Little is known about the origins of the Finnish coat of arms. The oldest known display of the emblem is on the burial monument of Gustav Vasa in Uppsala Cathedral, which was completed in the 1580s. The same design was adop...

Migration The Ministry of the Interior is responsible for drafting legislation on migration. It also guides and develops the immigration administration, and is responsible for the performance management of the Finnish Immigration Service. The aim ...

Order of precedence International flag etiquette should be observed when flags of more than one nation are flown. On international occasions, the flag of the host nation should have pride of place. This rule has also been incorporated in the decre...

Online targeting and shaming Online targeting and shaming is a phenomenon in which one or more persons or groups urge and incite a large number of people to attack one person in different ways, for example by sending hate messages by email or post...

Finlands mål Finlands deltagande i den civila krishanteringen styrs av den nationella strategin för civil krishantering från 2014 samt av lagen om civilpersonals deltagande i krishantering, som uppdaterades vid ingången av 2019. Finlands mål är at...

Describing the Finnish flag The Act on the Flag of Finland does not specify the materials that should be used for the emblem, so any piece (such as a sticker) with a pattern that has the prescribed colours and dimensions is considered the Finnish ...

Questions and answers on gambling system reform General information on the gambling system reform Why switch over to a licensing system and retain a partial monopoly system instead of, for example, strengthening the current system based on the Vei...

21.11.2024 | International protection will be made temporary in nature and the length of permits will be shortened to the minimum allowed by EU law. Committing offences and endangering national security will lead to the refusal or end of protection status. The Government submitted the amendments to the Aliens Act for approval on Thursday 21 November. The President of the Republic is to approve the amendments on Friday. The amendments will enter into force on 2 January 2025.

Incident notifications Under the CER Act, entities identified as critical must notify the authorities of incidents affecting an essential service. Incident notifications enable the authorities to respond swiftly and appropriately where necessary. ...

Oversight of legality at agencies within the Ministry’s branch of government The agencies within the Ministry of the Interior’s branch of government bear the main responsibility for practical oversight activities and the handling of matters relate...

Requests for information Under the Act on the Openness of Government Activities (621/1999), everyone has the right of access to the public documents of the Ministry. Please make your request as detailed as possible, as this will help us find the d...

Family members of Finnish citizens or foreign nationals eligible for family reunification Family reunification refers to a residence permit granted to a foreign national on the basis of family ties. Family members of Finnish citizens or foreign na...

Accident prevention is a joint effort

Government Programme measures to reform rescue services and emergency response centre operations The Government aims to ensure high-quality rescue services throughout the country. Rescue services must be of high quality and carried out in a unifor...

23.5.2024 | Sofia, Prague, Copenhagen, Tallinn, Athens, Rome, Nicosia, Riga, Vilnius, Valletta, The Hague, Vienna, Warsaw, Bucharest, Helsinki To the attention of: Ms Ylva Johansson, Commisisoner for Home Affairs Ms Ilze Juhansone, Secretary-General of the Co...

13.11.2023 | To prevent labor exploitation and human trafficking, foreign workers need to have access to information in their native language about working in Finland.

23.10.2023 | The Ministry has set up three projects aimed at tightening the rules on international protection in line with the Government Programme. The planned changes will make international protection temporary in nature and introduce the option to withdraw protection if the applicant commits a serious offence. Finland will also introduce a new border procedure and make the asylum process more efficient.

Government Programme measures to reform rescue services and emergency response centre operations The Government aims to ensure high-quality rescue services throughout the country. Rescue services must be of high quality and carried out in a unifor...

20.12.2022 | When a family member of a minor who has been granted international protection applies for family reunification, the family member may be granted a residence permit without the requirement for sufficient financial resources of sponsors who are minors. This will promote the protection of family life and the realisation of the best interests of the child. The President of the Republic approved the amendment to the Aliens Act on 20 December.

Helping Ukrainians People in Finland want to help Ukrainians in their time of need, and many have been asking the Finnish authorities how they can help Ukrainians. People are also asking how they can help Ukraine’s neighbouring countries who are u...

21.3.2024 | According to a survey commissioned by the Ministry of the Interior, Ukrainians who arrived in Finland as refugees after February 2022 are satisfied with their life in Finland and more interested than before in staying in the country. The online survey was completed by 1,300 Ukrainians in November 2023.

20.2.2024 | The Ministry of the Interior has sent out for comments a proposal for a legislative amendment that would shorten the length of international protection permits to the minimum allowed by the Qualification Directive. The deadline for submitting comments is 12 March 2024.

Government Programme measures to reform border security The Government Programme aims to ensure Finland's border security in all situations. Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and other changes in the security environment require that border secu...

8.7.2022 | On 27 April, the European Commission issued a package on reforming legal migration. The package included a Communication on attracting skills and talent to the EU, and proposals for the revision of the Single Permit Directive and the Long-Term Residents Directive. The Finnish Government expressed its views on the proposed Directives in statements issued to the Parliament on 8 July.

24.3.2023 | Superintendent Pekka Kokkonen, Head of the Police Dog Training Centre of the Police University College, has been appointed to serve as Senior Police Coordinator in the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM).

23.5.2023 | A study commissioned by the Ministry of the Interior examined the reflection periods granted to victims of human trafficking during which the victims can decide whether to cooperate with the authorities in apprehending those suspected of human trafficking. The study also examined how suspicion of trading in sexual services was applied as grounds for denial of admittance or stay.

3.2.2023 | More than 45,000 people who fled Ukraine last year may be eligible for a municipality of residence in 2023 after residing in Finland for one year, with about 13,000 already satisfying the qualifying period of residence in March–April. On registering a municipality of residence, they will leave the reception services system and become clients of municipalities and wellbeing services counties. This will make them a more integrated part of society in Finland.

Government Programme measures to reform migration policy The Government Programme’s objective is to reform Finland’s migration policy so that it offers assistance to the most vulnerable people and prevents abuse of the system. Finland’s asylum pol...

28.9.2023 | At their meeting on 28 September, EU home affairs ministers decided to continue the temporary protection for people fleeing Ukraine in the EU. Based on an earlier decision, the EU Member States were obliged to provide temporary protection to refugees from Ukraine until 4 March 2024. In accordance with the new decision, protection will continue until 2025.

2.3.2023 | Minister of the Interior Krista Mikkonen, Minister of Local Government Sirpa Paatero, Minister of Employment Tuula Haatainen and Minister of Education Li Andersson stress the importance of smooth daily life for people who have fled Ukraine. Those who have secured a municipality of residence will have the same rights, services and duties as permanent residents in Finland.

15.3.2022 | The Ministry of the Interior has set up a project to examine and prepare legislative amendments to enable the introduction of the border procedure in Finland. The border procedure would allow the processing of potentially unfounded asylum applications immediately at the border or in its vicinity. This would prevent asylum applicants from travelling within Finland or from Finland to other EU countries.

27.9.2023 | EU home affairs ministers will gather in Brussels on 28 September for a meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council. Items on the agenda include the situation in Ukraine and migration issues. Finland will be represented by Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen. The Spanish Presidency is seeking political agreement between the EU Member States on extending temporary protection for Ukrainians.

16.6.2022 | When a family member of a minor who has been granted international protection applies for family reunification, a residence permit could be granted without the requirement for sufficient financial resources of sponsors who are minors. This would promote the protection of family life and the realisation of the best interests of the child. The Government submitted the relevant proposal for amending the Aliens Act to Parliament on 16 June.

23.3.2023 | The provisions on the processing of personal data in emergency response centre operations will be updated to comply with the EU data protection legislation. The legislative amendments will not affect the right of the Emergency Response Centre Agency’s operators to process personal data needed in their work.

25.1.2023 | EU home affairs ministers will gather in Stockholm on 26 January for an informal meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council. Minister of the Interior Krista Mikkonen will represent Finland at the meeting. The home affairs ministers will discuss the fight against organised crime and, in particular, the right of law enforcement and judicial authorities to access digital information and evidence.

7.9.2022 | Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson will visit Finland on 8–9 September. During her visit, she will learn about the Finnish reception system and border control at the eastern border of the EU.