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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...

10.6.2024 | ‘ To the attention of: Ms Ylva Johansson, Commissioner for Home Affairs Ms Ilze Juhansone, Secretary-General of the Commission Mr Anthony Whelan, Acting Head of Cabinet of President von der Leyen Ms Beate Gminder, Acting Director-General for the D...

16.10.2023 | Finland will tighten the naturalisation requirements during this government term in line with the Programme of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo's Government. The plans involve changes to the legal provisions specifying requirements for the period of residence, integrity and livelihood, and the introduction of a citizenship test. The objectives set out in the Government Programme will be implemented in stages in three projects set up by the Ministry of the Interior.

3.2.2025 | Finland’s Ministry of the Interior has sent out for comments a proposal for amending the regulation on biometric data stored in the registers of the police and the Finnish Immigration Service. An objective of the Government Programme is to strengthen crime prevention and improve the conditions for using biometrics in law enforcement and crime prevention. The Ministry proposes that biometric data co...

20.3.2025 | Today, the Government submitted to Parliament a legislative proposal on a new gambling system. The Government proposes to end Veikkaus' gambling games monopoly in betting and in online slot machine and casino games at the end of 2026, and to open the provision of these games to competition.

23.10.2024 | The first national risk assessment of money laundering and terrorist financing for non-profit organisations (NPOs) has been completed. In addition to the assessment of risks, it is aimed at increasing awareness of the Finnish NPO sector among obliged entities specified in the Act on Preventing Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing, supervisory authorities as well as operators in the sector itself.

22.6.2022 | In future, the border procedure could be introduced by decision of the Government if an exceptionally large number of people were to arrive in Finland over a short period of time or if hybrid influence activities that exploit migration were directed against Finland. The Government submitted the relevant proposal for amending the Aliens Act to Parliament on 22 June. The purpose of the proposal is to make it easier to manage migrants who have made their way towards Finland.

10.5.2022 | The Ministry of the Interior has sent out for comments draft amendments to the Aliens Act that would enable the introduction of the border procedure. The border procedure would allow the processing of potentially unfounded asylum applications immediately at or in the vicinity of the border. This would prevent asylum applicants from travelling within Finland or from Finland to other EU countries. The deadline for submitting comments is 23 May.

21.5.2024 | The Government submitted a proposal to Parliament for an act on temporary measures to combat instrumentalised migration on 21 May. The aim of the act is to improve border security and ensure that Finland has effective means at its disposal to combat instrumentalised migration that is being used to pressure Finland. The aim is also to prepare for more serious instances of instrumentalised migration.

15.3.2024 | On 15 March, the Ministry of the Interior sent out for comments a draft act on temporary measures to combat instrumentalised migration. The deadline for submitting comments is 25 March. The proposed act is scheduled to enter into force as soon as possible. The act would be temporary and would be valid for one year after its entry into force.

19.2.2024 | The Ministry of the Interior will set up a legislative project to combat instrumentalised migration and to bolster border security. The term of the project is from 19 February to 31 March 2024. The aim is for a government proposal to be submitted to Parliament in March 2024.

29.11.2022 | On Tuesday 29 November, the European Commission will hold via video conference a High-Level Forum on legal pathways to protection. The Forum will discuss the resettlement of refugees, ways to promote admittance, and work-based complementary pathways to protection for refugees. Minister of the Interior Krista Mikkonen will represent Finland at the meeting.

14.11.2023 | The Government parties agreed that the Ministry of the Interior will present a proposal to a government session on adopting restrictions in accordance with section 16 of the Border Guard Act.

15.5.2025 | In March, the European Commission submitted a proposal for a new return regulation that aims to improve the effectiveness of the return of persons staying illegally in the EU and to prevent unauthorised movements within the Schengen area. The regulation would replace the current Return Directive. The Government informed Parliament of the Commission's proposal by submitting a Union communication on 15 May.

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.

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.

24.2.2022 | A working group chaired by the Ministry of the Interior has assessed legislation falling within the purview of the Ministry and the need for amendments to prepare for hybrid influencing that exploits migration. The study suggests that practical amendments for responding to hybrid influencing and managing situations could be made to the Aliens Act, the Act on the Reception of Persons Applying for Internatio...

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.

Hankkeen tavoitteena on selvittää rahapelijärjestelmän uudistamista hallitusohjelman mukaisesti ja valmistella ehdotus lisenssijärjestelmään siirtymistä koskevaksi säädösperustaksi.

28.8.2023 | Finland's civil defence shelters are largely in good repair, but there is still some need for maintenance and repairs. A new Ministry of the Interior study shows that more than 90 per cent of civil defence shelters would provide people with good protection against the effects of conventional weapons. Shelter equipment is in most need of repair. Based on the report, the Ministry of the Interior has drawn up four recommendations for improving the network of civil defence shelters.