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4.7.2019 | The new Fundraising Act that will enter into force next spring will make fundraising significantly easier. The Government submitted the new Fundraising Act for approval on 4 July. The President of the Republic is set to approve the Act on 5 July and it will enter into force on 1 March 2020.

18.7.2018 | The introduction of the online service under the Firearms Act will be postponed. The reason for the postponement is that the police’s system for information on weapons is still incomplete. The Ministry of the Interior set up a legislative project on 18 July to amend the law with respect to the entry into force of the online service. The legislative proposal will be sent on a round of consultations at the same time.

20.8.2020 | The various provisions on the processing of personal data by authorities dealing with migration matters will be brought together in a new act. The Government submitted the bill for approval on Thursday 20 August. The President of the Republic is to approve the bill on Friday. The act will then enter into force on 1 September.

16.12.2019 | The action plan for incident prevention for the rescue services has been completed. The action plan defines the national targets for incident prevention and makes it into a stronger part of all rescue services activities.

16.4.2020 | The Ministry of the Interior has set up a legislative project aiming to assess the relationship between carbon offsetting activities and the Money Collection Act. Based on this assessment, the Money Collection Act will be amended to allow for voluntary carbon offsetting.

17.9.2020 | As a result of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, UK citizens living in Finland must submit an application for the right of residence in Finland under the withdrawal agreement. The Government submitted the bill for approval on Thursday 17 September. The President of the Republic is to approve the bill on Friday. The act will then enter into force on 1 October.

1.9.2026 | On 1 September 2026, the Government of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo reached a decision on its budget proposal for 2027 and is steadily implementing the agenda it agreed at the spending limits session. The agenda includes EUR 100 million of investment in construction and numerous transport infrastructure projects. The Government’s targeted measures will support economic growth.

14.4.2020 | The information systems used by law enforcement authorities in the EU Member States will be developed to improve their interoperability. The aim is to ensure that the end-users of the systems (the police or border authorities, for example) have rapid and controlled access to the information they need for the performance of their duties.

29.5.2019 | The Ministry of the Interior examined the needs to develop gambling legislation. The pilot study assessed, for example, whether gambling harms could be reduced by using technical blocking measures to restrict gambling offerings against the Lotteries Act.

31.1.2020 | The Ministry of the Interior has launched a project focused on a reform to the Lotteries Act. In line with the Government Programme, the goal is to determine any needs to reform the Lotteries Act, especially with an eye on further enhancing the prevention and reduction of the harmful effects of gambling. Moreover, legislative means to support the operating conditions of Veikkaus Oy and strengthen the exclusive right system will also be examined

11.7.2019 | Provisions on the marking and deactivation of firearms will be specified to comply with the amended Firearms Act. Provisions concerning identification data of firearms and firearm components will also be amended. A new licence type will be introduced for active sport shooting, target shooting and practice: a firearm licence may in future be granted for certain particularly dangerous firearms used...

23.1.2018 | A new act on security measures at the Finnish Immigration Service is currently being prepared. The act would lay down provisions on the powers of security inspectors carrying out security tasks in the premises of the Finnish Immigration Service. By conducting security checks on people who enter the premises, it would be possible to protect those working at the Finnish Immigration Service against vari...

12.9.2019 | Legislation concerning the processing of personal data in the field of immigration administration to be collected into a single act. Government proposal on the Personal Data Act in the Field of Immigration Administration and related acts was given to parliament on 12 September.

28.3.2019 | The Aliens Act will be amended, for example by specifying the criteria for the processing of subsequent applications. The Government submitted the amendments to the Act for approval on Thursday 28 March, and the President of the Republic will approve the Act on Friday. The Act is scheduled to enter into force on 1 June 2019.

6.11.2020 | The Ministry of the Interior sent the draft government proposal on amending the Money Collection Act out for comments on 6 November 2020. By this amendment, voluntary carbon offsetting services would be excluded from the scope of application of the Money Collection Act. In future, no money collection licence would be required for operations concerning voluntary carbon offsetting.

16.5.2019 | In order to reduce the negative economic, social and health impacts of gambling, players are in future required to identify themselves when they play slot machines found in shops or kiosks, for example.

16.8.2019 | A draft for an action plan for accident prevention for the rescue services has been completed. The new action plan defines the national targets for accident prevention and makes it all the more a part of all rescue services activities.

21.2.2019 | The police will be given greater powers to intervene in the use of unmanned aircraft, or drones. On 21 February, the Government proposed that the Police Act be amended. The President of the Republic is to approve the amendments on 22 February.

5.11.2014 | Good Relations project generated tools and indicators

22.3.2018 | Residence permits for researchers and students would be extended and job-seeking and entrepreneurship would be encouraged through a residence permit granted for this. The goal of this act implementing the EU Directive on students and researchers is that most students completing their degrees in EU countries stay and work in the Union.

26.6.2018 | The Ministry of the Interior is drafting legislation that would give the police greater powers to intervene in the use of model and other recreational aircraft and unmanned aircraft or drones. The draft government proposal was sent out for comments on 25 June.

1.11.2017 | A consultation of the Government migration policy programme brought together almost a hundred representatives of organisations and other stakeholders on 31 October. The themes of the workshops focussed on the three main themes of the migration policy programme — labour migration, integration and good relations between people from different groups. The discussion called for a comprehensive approach to labour migration.

22.11.2018 | Plans are in place to amend the Act on the Processing of Personal Data by the Police in order to bring it in line with the new EU data protection requirements. The Act also includes provisions on the processing of personal data by the Finnish Security Intelligence Service. Following the updates, the Act would be connected to the purposes of processing personal data rather than to specific registers or data management systems.

25.4.2019 | The Nationality Act will be amended so that a person found guilty of certain serious offences may lose their Finnish citizenship. The Government submitted the amendments to the Act for approval on Thursday 25 April, and the President of the Republic is to approve the bill on Friday. The Act is scheduled to enter into force on 1 May 2019.

20.9.2018 | In the future, the reserve police could be deployed during a state of emergency as well as during disorder in a normal situation. This will allow for a more effective response to a changed security situation and new threats and strengthen the operational capability of the Finnish police in extensive and wide-reaching incidents and security situations. On 20 September, the Government submitted a proposal to Parliament for legislation on reserve police and certain related acts.

9.2.2018 | Finland has made progress in the national implementation of the EU Firearms Directive. The Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Defence have worked closely with stakeholders to find solutions on how to implement the Directive at national level. Last year, three different thematic discussion sessions were organised for stakeholders. The Ministries have also held separate meetings with them.

26.4.2019 | On 1 June 2019, new civilian intelligence legislation will enter into force in Finland with the goal of improving our capabilities to protect against serious threats to national security. The President of the Republic approved the amendments to the Police Act and the Act on the Use of Network Traffic Intelligence in Civilian Intelligence on 26 April.

25.1.2018 | The Government has proposed the adoption of intelligence legislation in Finland, with the aim of improving our protection capabilities against serious threats to national security. Such threats include terrorism, espionage by foreign states or disruption of critical infrastructure. The focus of intelligence gathering by the Finnish Security Intelligence Service would therefore be on identifying threats and responding to them at an earlier stage.

25.10.2018 | The Government submitted a proposal on a new Fundraising Act to Parliament on 25 October. The new Act would replace the current fixed-term money collection licences that are required each time fundraising is arranged with a system of licences granted for an indefinite period, and would enable small-scale civic fundraising to be arranged by submitting a notification to a police department.

17.5.2018 | The Ministry of the Interior proposes that a new act on the processing of personal data by migration authorities be enacted. The new act would replace the old Act on the Register of Aliens adopted over 20 years ago. The relevant legislative proposal was sent out for comments on 17 May.

28.9.2017 | A new type of residence permit is proposed for growth or startup entrepreneurs. At the same time, the application process for an extended permit would be simplified and the validity period of a first residence permit for specialists would be extended. The Government submitted a proposal for amending the Aliens Act to Parliament on 28 September.

12.12.2017 | The Ministry of the Interior has circulated for comment the Government’s draft proposal concerning the European Union Directive on conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals for the purposes of research, studies, training and voluntary service. Residence permits for researchers and students would be extended and job-seeking and entrepreneurship would be encouraged through a residence permit granted for this.

29.5.2019 | The Finnish Government laid down two decrees today concerning civilian intelligence. The decrees will take effect on 1 June at the same time with the intelligence legislation.

25.1.2018 | On 25 January, the Government submitted to Parliament four legislative proposals that together form a legislative package on intelligence. The Ministry of Justice has drafted a proposal to amend the Constitution as well as legislation on the oversight of intelligence gathering. Legislation on civilian intelligence has been drafted at the Ministry of the Interior and that on military intelligence at the Ministry of Defence.

10.1.2019 | The Government will strengthen the powers of the Finnish Border Guard to quickly and effectively intervene in hybrid threats. Better preparedness for hybrid threats will improve the Border Guard's crisis resilience and capacity to manage large-scale incidents. The Government submitted the amendments to the Border Guard Act, the Aliens Act and certain related acts for approval on 10 January. The President of the Republic is to approve the amendments on 11 January.

11.3.2019 | On 11 March, Parliament approved a government proposal for a Civilian Intelligence Act. As a result, Finland will have a Civilian Intelligence Act that improves our capabilities to protect against serious threats to national security. Such threats include terrorism, espionage by foreign states or disruption of critical infrastructure.

25.1.2018 | The Government plans to strengthen the powers of the Finnish Border Guard to quickly and effectively intervene in hybrid threats. Better preparedness for hybrid threats would improve the Finnish Border Guard's crisis resilience and capacity to manage large-scale incidents. On 25 January, the Government submitted a proposal for necessary legislative amendments to Parliament. The amendments are scheduled to enter into force as soon as possible.

18.1.2018 | A new type of residence permit will be introduced for growth or startup entrepreneurs. The application process for an extended permit will also be simplified, and the validity period of a first residence permit for specialists will be extended. The Government submitted the new bill amending the Aliens Act for approval on Thursday 18 January. The President of the Republic is to approve the bill on Friday 30 January.

6.2.2014 | Diversity Experts are trained in the Good Relations Project

14.6.2017 | The Ministry of the Interior has set up a project for the preparation of the Government’s migration policy programme on the basis of decisions taken by the ministerial working group on migration and the Government in its mid-term policy review. The programme is to lay down Finnish migration policy guidelines for the current government term.

27.8.2014 | Right to Choose project launched under the patronage of President Sauli Niinistö

4.7.2018 | A project appointed by the Ministry of the Interior on 3 July will investigate and draft possible amendments to the Aliens Act concerning the processing of subsequent applications for international protection and the implementation of the Finnish Immigration Service’s decisions enabled by the EU Asylum Procedures Directive. In connection with this project, an amendment required by the Court of Justice of the European Union will also be made to the Aliens Act.

14.12.2017 | New legislation will facilitate seasonal work and the mobility of managers, specialists and trainee employees transferring within a company from one EU Member State to another. The President of the Republic approved the bills on seasonal workers and intra-corporate transfers on Thursday 14 December.

7.9.2017 | The proposal for legislation on civilian intelligence that is being prepared by the Ministry of the Interior is considered necessary and worth supporting. Most of the 65 parties who commented on the report on civilian intelligence published last April were of this opinion. The consultation round for the proposal closed in June, and a summary of the received comments was published 7 September 2017.

19.3.2019 | On 19 March, Parliament adopted a government proposal to amend the Firearms Act and the Act on Voluntary National Defence. The amendments will introduce the changes required by the EU Firearms Directive into Finnish legislation. The amendments will enter into force as soon as possible.

5.2.2018 | The Ministry of the Interior has set up a project to amend the Nationality Act. The aim is to lay down provisions on the loss of Finnish citizenship for people with dual citizenship who are found guilty of a terrorist offence.

3.9.2014 | Good Relations project contributes to promoting good ethnic relations at local and regional levels

17.9.2015 | Ministry of the Interior to reform rescue services Ministry of the Interior Publication date 17.9.2015 15.04 Type: Press release Minister of the Interior Petteri Orpo will set up a project to reform rescue services. The reform will be implemented ...

11.10.2018 | On 11 October, the Government submitted a proposal to Parliament on amendments to the Firearms Act, the Act on Voluntary National Defence and the Conscription Act. The proposal will implement the changes required by the EU Firearms Directive in Finnish legislation.

4.5.2018 | The changes required by the EU Firearms Directive are being implemented in Member States. In Finland, the Directive causes changes particularly to the Firearms Act. The draft government proposal for implementing the Firearms Directive was circulated widely for comments on 4 May. The basis of the proposal is to prevent specially dangerous firearms and their components from falling into the wrong ha...

19.4.2017 | A working group is proposing the adoption of intelligence legislation in Finland which aims to improve our protection capabilities against serious threats to national security. Such threats include terrorism, espionage by foreign states or disruption of critical infrastructure. The purpose of this legislation is to enable effective information gathering on these threats, and in this way to support the decision-making of the state leaders.

25.6.2026 | Baltic Sea Security Meeting 18 June 2026; Final Statement 18 JUNE 2026 We, the Ministers and representatives responsible for the internal security, law enforcement and border management of the Kingdom of Denmark, the Republic of Estonia, the Repub...

17.1.2018 | The working group preparing the reform of Finland’s fundraising legislation is proposing the enactment of a new Fundraising Act. The new act would replace the current fixed-term money collection licences that are required each time fundraising is arranged with a system of licences granted for an indefinite period, and would enable small-scale civic fundraising to be arranged without the need for an official licence.

4.10.2018 | The operating conditions of the Crisis Management Centre Finland (CMC Finland) will be strengthened and the rights and responsibilities of experts deployed abroad will be clarified. On 4 October, the Government submitted a proposal to Parliament on the amendment of the Acts concerning civilian crisis management. The intention is for the amendments to enter into force on 1 January 2019.

26.4.2016 | Finland to facilitate granting of residence permits to foreign investors, entrepreneurs and leading experts Ministry of the Interior Publication date 26.4.2016 12.58 Type: Press release This is an English translation of a press release published o...

5.10.2017 | The Internal Security Strategy, A Safe and Secure Life, is a road map for ensuring that Finland will be the safest country in the world, as envisaged in the Government Programme. Good internal security means that everyone can enjoy the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the rule of law without fear or insecurity caused by crime, disorder, accidents or national or international events. The Government adopted a Resolution on the Internal Security Strategy on 5 October.

27.11.2018 | Actions against hate speech and online bullying will be intensified through cooperation between an expert working group and public officials. The Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Education and Culture have together established a project to prepare proposals for more efficiently preventing hate speech punishable under the Criminal Code of Finland and harassment prohibited by law and for promoting a discussion culture that takes other people into consideration.

9.5.2019 | The Acts on the Processing of Personal Data by the Police and the Border Guard will be amended in order to bring them in line with the new EU data protection requirements. In addition, passenger information collected by air carriers may in future be utilised more extensively in prevention of terrorism and serious crime.

24.7.2026 | Finland has sent material assistance to Ukraine from the EU-funded rescEU emergency stockpile for the sixth time. The shipment from Finland included supplies against chemical, biological and radiological threats as well as personal protective equipment, among other supplies. The total value of the shipment is about EUR 1.7 million.

8.4.2026 | The Ministry of the Interior will allocate around EUR 44 million in EU funding to projects on border management, crime prevention and migration. The projects will improve the capabilities of security authorities, develop information systems, and secure resources for the authorities to manage migration. The funding will be granted from the EU Home Affairs Funds, under the autumn 2025 call for proposals.