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3.12.2020 | On Friday 4 December, Minister of the Interior Maria Ohisalo will chair the ministerial meeting of the Nordic cooperation group on migration and asylum (NSHF). The meeting will be held via remote connections.

11.11.2021 | The Government has adopted new programmes for the European Union Home Affairs Funds for the programming period 2021–2027. The Funds for the programming period include the Internal Security Fund, the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, and the Instrument for Financial Support for Border Management and Visa Policy.

8.6.2026 | The Ministry of the Interior has sent out for comments a draft government proposal for legislation on combating organised crime. The proposed act would lay down provisions on a new centre for the analysis of organised crime and on the centre’s tasks and powers. The deadline for submitting comments is 3 August 2026.

7.10.2021 | National implementation of the EU Directive on access to financial information moves a step closer. On 7 October, the Government submitted to Parliament a proposal to amend the Act on the Bank and Payment Accounts Control System and the Act on the Financial Intelligence Unit.

11.3.2021 | Informal video conference of home affairs ministers on Friday 12 March. Finland will be represented at the meeting by State Secretary Olli-Poika Parviainen. At their meeting, ministers will hold a policy debate on the proposal for a directive to enhance the resilience of critical entities.

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

30.7.2026 | The Ministry of the Interior is requesting views on a draft government proposal that would supplement the legislative proposal on the Finnish Border Guard’s criminal intelligence activities. Responses may be submitted until 10 September 2026.

13.8.2021 | In response to the rapidly deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan, the Finnish Government decided at an extraordinary meeting on 13 August that Afghans who have worked for Finland, the EU and NATO can be admitted to Finland with their families and issued residence permits.

4.3.2021 | On 4 March 2021, the Ministry of the Interior submitted a reply to a letter sent to Finland by the European Commission on 22 February 2021. The letter concerned restrictions imposed by Finland on the free movement of EU citizens in order to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Commission sent similar letters to Belgium, Sweden, Germany, Denmark and Hungary. 

27.1.2022 | On 1 December, the European Commission issued a proposal for provisional emergency measures for the benefit of Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. The proposal is part of a set of joint EU measures aimed at responding to Belarus’s actions. Belarus has made efforts at its borders to instrumentalise migration for political purposes. The Government expressed its position on the proposal in its communication submitted to Parliament on 27 January.

19.12.2019 | The Government has issued a resolution on the national action plan 2019–2023 for the prevention of violent radicalisation and extremism. The action plan aims to reduce extremist violence and its threat to individuals, communities and society, and to promote equality, freedom of expression and other constitutional rights.

2.2.2022 | EU home affairs ministers will gather in Lille, France, on 3 February for an Informal Meeting of Justice and Home Affairs Ministers. The ministers will discuss the security of Europe’s borders and the reform of the EU’s migration and asylum policy. Another topic on the agenda will be the impact of climate change on civil protection. No decisions will be made at the informal meeting.

7.10.2021 | EU home affairs ministers will gather in Luxembourg on 8 October for a meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council. Items on the agenda include the external dimension of migration, the situation in Afghanistan and the fight against child sexual abuse. Minister of the Interior Maria Ohisalo will represent Finland at the meeting.

7.10.2020 | The Ministry of the Interior and the National Police Board have launched a new social media campaign for young people that aims to encourage them to think about the way we use social media to discuss issues and the impacts of hate speech in their surroundings and in society as a whole.

18.11.2021 | Trafficking in human beings is a global phenomenon, and even individual human trafficking offences often extend to more than one state. The ministers speaking at an anti-trafficking seminar in Helsinki on Thursday consider cross-border measures against human trafficking to be of utmost importance.

3.3.2022 | EU home affairs ministers will gather in Brussels on 3 March for a meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council. Topics on the meeting agenda will include the state of Schengen and the reform of the EU’s migration and asylum policy. The ministers will also continue their discussions on the EU’s response to the situation in Ukraine. Minister of the Interior Krista Mikkonen will represent Finland at the meeting.

20.1.2022 | Representatives of the EU Member States, the European Commission and EU agencies will meet in Vilnius, Lithuania on 20–21 January for a conference on external border control organised by Austria, Greece, Lithuania and Poland. The conference serves as a forum where Member States can discuss ways to develop the EU’s external border control to be better equipped to respond to current and future challenges. State Secretary Akseli Koskela will represent Finland at the meeting.

18.8.2021 | This week, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has released a non-return advisory calling for all countries to suspend the return of Afghan nationals to their country of origin. The advisory also applies to the return of asylum seekers who have had their claims rejected. Finland has followed this policy for several weeks now.

7.3.2022 | The EU has activated the Temporary Protection Directive to help people fleeing Ukraine. 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 more extensively than what is defined in the EU-wide decision. The Government adopted a decision on the matter on 7 March.

4.3.2022 | The EU has activated the Temporary Protection Directive for the first time in order to help people fleeing Ukraine. On 2 March, the Commission issued a proposal for a Council decision on activation, and the decision was adopted in terms of contents at the meeting of home affairs ministers held on 3 March. The decision is expected to enter into force on 4 March or over the next few days.

10.2.2022 | The European Commission wants to enhance and modernise the exchange of information between police officers in the Member States. In December 2021, the Commission issued three proposals that would constitute an EU Police Cooperation Code: a proposal for a Directive on information exchange between law enforcement authorities of Member States, a proposal for a Council Recommendation on operational pol...

5.5.2021 | In line with the Government Programme, the Action Plan for the Prevention of Irregular Entry and Stay has been updated for the period 2021–2024. The purpose of the Action Plan is to tackle comprehensively irregular entry and stay, cross-border crime and the emergence of a parallel society outside the Finnish society.

16.12.2021 | Finland’s national security has improved with the legislation on intelligence. Information gathering on threats to national security and national defence has become more effective, too, since the new intelligence powers entered into force. This is stated in a recent report on intelligence legislation, which was adopted at the government plenary session on 16 December.

7.6.2022 | The Ministry of the Interior has commissioned a study on 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. At the same time, it will be examined how suspicions of trading in sexual services are taken into account in cases where denial of stay is being considered.

19.1.2023 | In November and December, E2 Research conducted a review of what Ukrainians who have fled to Finland think about their life and what kind of plans they have. This was done to deepen and update the information obtained from the report compiled by the Ministry of the Interior in the summer.

5.11.2020 | On 5 November, the Government submitted to Parliament a draft government proposal to amend the Identity Card Act. The Identity Card Act will be updated as a result of the EU Regulation on identity cards. A provision on fingerprinting supplementing the Regulation would be added to the Identity Card Act.

11.12.2020 | EU home affairs ministers will hold an informal videoconference on 14 December 2020. Finland is represented by Minister of the Interior Maria Ohisalo. The ministers will continue the discussion on the reform of the EU's migration and asylum policy. Other items on the agenda include the future of internal security and cooperation between law enforcement authorities. No decisions will be made at the informal meeting.

4.9.2026 | FINNISH GOVERNMENT PO Box 23, FI-00023 Government, Finland vn.fi/en Tel. +358 295 16001 VALTIONEUVOSTO PL 23, 00023 Valtioneuvosto vn.fi p. 0295 16001 1(5) Entries in the meeting minutes Budget session of Prime Minister Orpo’s Government 1 Septemb...

17.6.2022 | The Ministry of the Interior has sent out for comments draft amendments to the Act on the Reception of Persons Applying for International Protection and on the Identification of and Assistance to Victims of Trafficking in Human Beings. The amendments aim to weaken the link between the provision of assistance to victims of human trafficking and criminal proceedings. In accordance with the Governm...

12.11.2020 | The European Commission issued a comprehensive communication on the reform of migration and asylum policy on 23 September. The communication was accompanied by five legislative proposals. The Government expressed its position on the Commission's proposals in its communications submitted to Parliament on 12 November.

9.6.2022 | EU home affairs ministers will gather in Luxembourg on 10 June for a meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council. The topics on the agenda will include the reception of people fleeing Ukraine, the EU’s migration and asylum reform, and the development of Schengen. In addition, the meeting will aim to reach a general approach on the proposal of the European Commission for a Directive on informat...

29.6.2021 | A provision on fingerprinting that supplements the relevant EU Regulation will be added to the Identity Card Act. In future, fingerprints will be taken from any person applying for an identity card, except for a person under the age of 12 or from a person in respect of whom fingerprinting is physically impossible, for example. The President of the Republic approved the amendment on 29 June. The Act will enter into force on 2 August 2021.

8.4.2022 | People who have applied for temporary protection have the right to work in Finland as soon as they have submitted their application. In other words, they do not need to wait for a residence permit or a residence permit card to be issued to be able to work. A certificate of registration is sufficient.

16.2.2021 | A study commissioned by the Government investigated the combined impacts of the amendments made to the Aliens Act in 2015–2019 on the status of people applying for and receiving international protection and on the realisation of the best interests of the child. The decision to carry out the study was based on an objective set in the Government Programme, which states that the Government will investig...

23.1.2023 | A study commissioned by the Ministry of the Interior explored ways to anticipate future needs for amendments when drafting legislation. To this end, the study looked into the amendments made to the Aliens Act and the motivations behind them. The study was carried out by Åbo Akademi University in cooperation with researchers from the University of Turku.

15.7.2020 | The Ministry of the Interior is preparing an amendment to the Aliens Act with the aim of ending the application of the requirement for sufficient financial resources for minor sponsors, who have been granted a residence permit based on international protection. In this context, the idea is to clarify what are the effects of the requirement for sufficient financial resources on the protection of fam...

19.5.2022 | Border security will be strengthened by improving the ability of the Finnish Border Guard to prepare for and respond to incidents under normal conditions. The Ministry of the Interior has sent a draft government proposal on amending the Border Guard Act out for comments. The aim is to make the necessary amendments to the Border Guard Act to help prepare for hybrid influence activities that exploit migration, for example.

1.11.2021 | A total of 17 projects will receive funding from the last call for proposals of the programming period 2014–2020, organised in May under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF). EU funding to be granted for the projects will amount to approximately EUR 7.5 million. The funded projects will develop the asylum system and promote receptiveness in society, capacity building for legal migration and the implementation of the return system and Finland’s quota refugee programme. 

20.10.2022 | The Government aims to improve the status of victims of human trafficking and strengthen their right to services, regardless of the progress of related criminal proceedings in a human trafficking case. The purpose is to loosen the link between assistance to victims and criminal proceedings by amending the Act on the Reception of Persons Applying for International Protection and on the Identification of and Assistance to Victims of Trafficking in Human Beings.

17.2.2022 | On 14 December, the European Commission issued a proposal for a Regulation addressing situations of instrumentalisation in the field of migration and asylum. The Regulation would allow all EU Member States to derogate from certain provisions on the EU asylum procedure, reception of asylum seekers and return in situations of instrumentalisation. The Government expressed its position on the proposal in its communication submitted to Parliament on 17 February.

8.4.2022 | The Ministry of the Interior has sent out for comments a draft proposal for amending the Rescue Act and the Act on the Emergency Services Academy. Comments on the draft will be accepted until 20 May 2022.

9.4.2021 | The Ministry of the Interior sent out for comments a draft act on the treatment of persons in police custody and certain related acts. The purpose of this legislative reform is to update the provisions on custody-related rights, obligations and restrictions on fundamental rights of those deprived of their liberty, the powers of personnel performing guard duties and the obligations of the authorities.

24.11.2022 | EU home affairs ministers will gather in Brussels on Friday 25 November for an extraordinary meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council. The ministers will discuss migration to the EU, taking stock of the urgent challenges and joint way forward. Minister of the Interior Krista Mikkonen will represent Finland at the meeting.

8.7.2021 | On 2 June, the European Commission adopted a proposal for a regulation to reform the Schengen evaluation and monitoring mechanism. The Government expressed its position on the proposal in its communications submitted to Parliament on 8 July.

29.12.2022 | The status and the right to services of victims of human trafficking will improve as the help provided through the Assistance System will no longer depend on the progress of the criminal proceedings related to human trafficking. Primarily, assistance will be based on an assessment of the victim’s individual situation. The President of the Republic approved the related legislative amendments on 29 December and they will enter into force on 1 January.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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...

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.