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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 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...

20.2.2024 | 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.

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.

20.12.2022 | 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.

Accident prevention is a joint effort

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 ...

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. ...

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.

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.

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 ...

Accident prevention is a joint effort

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.

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...

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...

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.

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.

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.

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.

4.12.2025 | 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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....

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.

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, ...

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...

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...

8.5.2020 | A temporary amendment to the Aliens Act has been proposed to extend asylum seekers’ right to work. The amendment would concern the start and end of their right to work. The Government submitted a proposal on the amendment to Parliament on Friday 8 May.

25.1.2019 | On 25 January, the Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs supported the Ministry of the Interior’s proposal to draft a special act to continue, for a fixed term, UK citizens’ right of residence in Finland. The act is being prepared for the eventuality of a no-deal Brexit, where the UK withdraws from the EU without an agreement at the end of March.

20.8.2014 | Right to choose -hanke käyntiin – tasavallan presidentti Sauli Niinistö toimii hankkeen suojelijana

20.8.2014 | Right to choose -hanke käyntiin – tasavallan presidentti Sauli Niinistö toimii hankkeen suojelijana

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...

14.7.2026 | Suur-Karja 23 / 15076 Tallinn, Estonia / + 372 628 2222 / [email protected] / www.kul.ee / Registration No 70000941 Commissioner Glenn Micallef European Commission [email protected] Dear Commissioner Glenn Micallef, We sincerely appreciat...

28.3.2019 | UK citizens’ right of residence after Brexit will be protected by a special act. The Government submitted the act for approval on Thursday 28 March, and the President of the Republic will approve it on Friday.

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.

7.2.2019 | UK citizens’ right of residence in Finland will continue for a fixed term under a special act. The act is being prepared for the eventuality of a no-deal Brexit in which the UK withdraws from the EU without an agreement at the end of March. The Government submitted a proposal on the special act to Parliament on 7 February.

25.6.2020 | Asylum seekers’ right to work will be extended by a temporary amendment to the Aliens Act. The amendment will concern the start and end of the asylum seekers' right to work. The Government submitted the bill amending the Aliens Act for approval on Thursday 25 June. The President of the Republic is expected to approve the bill on Friday. The Act will enter into force on 29 June.

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

13.3.2020 | As a result of the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the EU, UK citizens living in Finland will have to submit a separate application for a right of residence under the withdrawal agreement. The Ministry of the Interior has launched a project to prepare legislation that will specify the procedure and the timetable.