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22.1.2021 | On 22 January, the Government decided to tighten the restrictions on entry into Finland. The new restrictions will enter into force on 27 January and will remain in force until 25 February. The new restrictions aim to reduce cross-border traffic in order to prevent the spread of the new COVID-19 variants. The epidemiological situation in Finland differs considerably from that in other Schengen countries.

16.6.2022 | Amendments to the Aliens Act would extend the use of a long-term visa known as a D visa. The amendments would contribute to promoting education-based and labour-based immigration and streamline entry procedures. The Government submitted a proposal on the amendments to Parliament on 16 June.

4.8.2023 | Summary: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues. As a result of the war, around four million Ukrainians have applied for temporary protection in the Member States of the European Union. Other migration to the EU is also growing. Both the number of asylum applications submitted in the EU and irregular migration to the EU are on the rise. At the moment, migration pressure is concentrated on the Central Mediterranean route from Tunisia and Libya to Italy.

22.4.2021 | On 22 April, the Government decided to extend the restrictions on entry into the country until 25 May 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread, and we do not yet have adequate measures available to replace the restrictions. For this reason, and to curb the spread of COVID-19 variants, both internal border controls and restrictions on external border traffic will continue. No substantive changes were made to the decisions taken on 31 March. The decisions will enter into force on 26 April.

18.2.2021 | On 18 February, the Government decided to extend the current restrictions on entry into the country until 18 March 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread, and there are not yet adequate measures available to replace internal border controls. For this reason, and to curb the spread of COVID-19 variants, both internal and external border controls will continue until 18 March. No substantive changes will be made to the decisions taken on 11 February 2021.

3.6.2021 | On 3 June, the Government decided to extend the restrictions on entry into the country until 27 June 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread, and we do not yet have adequate measures available to replace the restrictions. For this reason, and to curb the spread of COVID-19 variants, both internal border controls and restrictions on external border traffic will continue. Some amendments will be made to the decisions adopted on 20 May. These will enter into force on 7 June.

17.6.2021 | Entry into Finland from EU and Schengen countries will be allowed for those who have received an approved COVID-19 vaccination series and those who have recovered from COVID-19 less than six months ago prior to entry. Entry into the country will also be allowed for those travelling from EU and Schengen countries because of their work. The changes will enter into force on 21 June. On 17 June, the Governm...

31.3.2021 | On 31 March, the Government decided to extend the restrictions on entry into the country until 30 April 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread, and we do not yet have adequate measures available to replace the restrictions. For this reason, and to curb the spread of COVID-19 variants, both internal border controls and restrictions on external border traffic will continue. No substantive changes were made to the decisions taken on 11 March. The changes will enter into force on 1 April.

7.1.2021 | On 7 January, the Government decided to extend the restrictions on entry into the country until 9 February 2021. The COVID-19 epidemic is still clearly growing globally, and the number of infections is increasing in most countries more sharply than in Finland. It is therefore not justified to ease the restrictions until the new health security measures under preparation have been made sufficiently available.

13.5.2020 | In line with the Government’s hybrid strategy, Finland is now beginning the controlled dismantling of the restrictive measures put in place to mitigate the COVID-19 crisis. The restrictions and recommendations on border traffic will be gradually dismantled starting on 14 May at 00.00 until further notice.

10.12.2020 | On 10 December, the Government decided to extend the restrictions on entry into the country until 12 January 2021. The COVID-19 epidemic is still clearly growing globally, and the number of infections is increasing in most countries. Although the number of new cases in Finland started to rise in the autumn after a calmer period in the summer, differences between the epidemiological situations in Finland and many other countries have recently grown sharply.

12.2.2021 | The Ministry of the Interior has prepared legislative amendments to implement the EU directive on access to financial information at national level. The directive contains rules to facilitate the use of information held in bank account registries by the authorities for the purpose of preventing, detecting, investigating or prosecuting certain offences.

8.7.2021 | The Government has decided to continue internal border control until 25 July to ensure the introduction of health security measures at borders. After this short transitional period, internal border control and entry restrictions at internal borders will be lifted. Internal border traffic refers to traffic between Finland and other Schengen countries. Changes will be made to external border control as well.

11.2.2021 | On 11 February, the Government decided to change certain entry restrictions, which will take effect from 15 February. Because the coronavirus situation in Iceland has improved, Finland will no longer restrict entry from Iceland. In contrast, entry restrictions will again apply to residents of Rwanda arriving from Rwanda. In addition, the opening hours of certain border crossing points on the western border in Lapland and the eastern border will be limited.

11.3.2021 | On 11 March, the Government decided to extend the restrictions on entry into the country until 17 April 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread, and there are no adequate measures available yet to replace the restrictions. For this reason, and to curb the spread of COVID-19 variants, both internal border controls and restrictions on external border traffic will continue. Only minor changes were made to the decisions taken on 18 February.

12.6.2020 | On 12 June, the Government decided that border control will continue partially at internal borders and external border traffic will continue to be restricted until 14 July 2020. The restrictions will continue to the extent that they are considered mandatory due to a serious threat posed by the epidemiological situation.

11.6.2020 | On 11 June, the Government outlined its proposal that border control will continue partially at internal borders and external border traffic will continue to be restricted until 14 July 2020. The restrictions will continue to the extent that they are considered mandatory due to a serious threat posed by the epidemiological situation. The Government will take the decision on this matter in its plenary session on 12 June.

25.3.2020 | The restrictions concern movement to and from the Uusimaa region. The movement restrictions in the Uusimaa region entered into force on 28 March and remain in force until 19 April 2020.

10.2.2022 | The European Commission wants to harmonise measures taken by the Member States at the EU’s external borders in various crisis situations. The Commission issued a proposal for amending the Schengen Borders Code in December. The aim is to develop the Member States’ joint actions at the external and internal borders and in the area of free movement. The Government expressed its position on the proposal in its communication submitted to Parliament on 10 February.

11.9.2020 | On 11 September, the Government adopted a decision on restrictions on border traffic, which will enter into force on 19 September and continue until 18 October. Restrictions on entry will be lifted for traffic between Finland and Cyprus, Germany, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Poland and Sweden, as well as for residents of Australia, Canada and Japan who are travelling from their home country to Finland.

11.9.2020 | On 11 September, the Government adopted a decision on restrictions on border traffic, which will enter into force on 19 September and continue until 18 October. Restrictions on entry will be lifted for traffic between Finland and Cyprus, Germany, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Poland and Sweden, as well as for residents of Australia, Canada and Japan who are travelling from their home country to Finland.

19.11.2020 | On 19 November, the Government decided to extend the restrictions on entry into the country until 13 December 2020. The COVID-19 epidemic continues to accelerate, and there are significant differences between the situation Finland and in the rest of Europe. It is therefore not justified to ease the restrictions until the new health security measures under preparation have been made sufficiently available.

25.3.2020 | On 25 March 2020, the Government decided to restrict traffic between the Region of Uusimaa and other regions as of 27 March. The restrictions will be in force until 19 April 2020. The purpose of the new restrictions is to prevent coronavirus infections and to slow the spread of the epidemic from Uusimaa to other parts of Finland. On 25 March, the Government submitted to Parliament a decree concerning the use of powers under the Emergency Powers Act relating to the restrictions on movement.

15.5.2020 | Minister of the Interior Maria Ohisalo met with the Ministers of the Interior of the other Nordic countries on 15 May to discuss the restrictions on border traffic imposed due to the COVID-19 situation and their gradual dismantling. The meeting was held via videoconference.

28.3.2020 | On 27 March, the Government submitted to Parliament two decrees concerning the Uusimaa region on the entry into force and the application of the restrictions on movement laid down in the Emergency Powers Act. The restrictions concern movement to and from the Uusimaa region. The movement restrictions in the Uusimaa region will enter into force on 28 March and remain in force until 19 April 2020.

20.8.2020 | Based on the current epidemiological assessment, restrictions on entry into the country will be reinstated for traffic between Finland and the following countries: Iceland, Greece, Malta, Germany, Norway, Denmark, Ireland, Cyprus and San Marino. In addition, the restrictions will apply to Japanese residents on flights arriving in Finland from Japan. The reinstated restrictions will enter into force on Monday 24 August.

8.4.2022 | On assignment by the Government, the Finnish Immigration Service has prepared a procedure where persons in temporary protection are granted the reception services they need without municipalities establishing a reception centre. Municipalities will receive compensation from the central government for providing the agreed services.

6.8.2020 | In its meeting on 6 August, the Finnish Government decided to reinstate internal border control for traffic between Finland and the Netherlands and between Finland and Belgium. Restrictions on external border traffic will be reinstated for traffic from Andorra to Finland. The number of coronavirus cases in the Netherlands, Belgium and Andorra has taken an upward turn since the previous assessment. The reinstated restrictions will enter into force on Monday 10 August.

23.7.2020 | In its meeting on 23 July, the Government decided to reinstate internal border control for traffic between Finland and Austria, Slovenia and Switzerland. These countries have seen an increase in the number of COVID-19 infections since the previous assessment. The reinstated restrictions will enter into force on Monday 27 July.

10.7.2020 | On 10 July, the Government decided on the continuation of internal border control and on the restrictions on external border traffic. As of 13 July 2020, the Government will lift the restrictions on traffic at the internal borders between Finland and countries where the incidence of the coronavirus is similar to that in the countries where internal border control has already been lifted.

8.7.2020 | In its meeting on Wednesday 8 July, the Government also received a briefing on the epidemiological situation and heard a report on the safe entry of berry pickers.

21.12.2022 | The start of 2023 will see the entry into force of amendments to acts and decrees. This press release provides a summary of the most important changes. 

22.12.2021 | The Lotteries Act that regulates gambling will be amended. The focus of the reform is on preventing harm caused by gambling, combating marketing that violates the Lotteries Act, and directing the demand for gambling towards activities that are covered by the Lotteries Act. The President of the Republic approved the bill on 22 December 2021. The amendments will enter into force on 1 January 2022.

13.8.2020 | On Thursday 13 August, the Government appointed Minna Hulkkonen, Master of Laws, as Director General of the Migration Department at the Ministry of the Interior for the period 1 September 2020 to 31 August 2025.

5.12.2018 | The Government wants to amend the processing of subsequent applications for international protection. The Government submitted its proposal on the matter to Parliament on 5 December. The amendments are based on the EU Asylum Procedures Directive. Finland has not previously included all the provisions of the Directive in the Aliens Act.

21.10.2020 | An action plan will be drawn up to prevent bullying. The programme's measures aim to make sure that it is safe for all children and young people to attend school. At their meeting on Wednesday 21 October, the Ministerial Working Group on Competence, Education, Culture and Innovation and the Ministerial Working Group on Child and Youth Policy decided to start preparing the programme.

11.9.2020 | The Ministry of the Interior has launched an update of an action plan for preventing illegal entry and residence for 2021–2024. Along with the issues in the previous action plans, the new action plan will also examine the status of those residing in the country without a residence permit, the phenomena of abuse associated with them and the status of human trafficking victims.

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.

20.8.2020 | On Thursday 20 August, the Government appointed Jari Kähkönen, Master of Administrative Sciences, as the Director General of the Finnish Immigration Service for the period between 1 September 2020 and 31 August 2025.

2.7.2020 | On 2 July, the Government submitted a communication to Parliament on the European Commission’s proposal to amend the Union Civil Protection Mechanism. This is particularly the case against the backdrop of the COVID-19 crisis, which has given rise to the need to enhance the EU's preparedness to respond to broad and serious disasters and crises, especially in situations that simultaneously affect almost all Member States.

12.6.2018 | 1(2) Ministry of the Interior Printable form for information requests in accordance with the EU General Data Protection Regulation The European Union General Data Protection Regulation (2016/679) entered into force in May 2016 and became applicabl...

20.5.2020 | The Decree on Fees Charged for Services Provided by the Finnish Immigration Service will be temporarily amended. Because of the travel restrictions imposed due to the prevailing coronavirus pandemic, there are people in Finland whose right of residence is about to end or has already ended and who are unable to leave the country. They will be charged a lower fee for the processing of their residence permit application than usual.

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.

15.8.2018 | Radicalisation is not a crime, but when it leads to violence, a radicalised person may be a threat to other people and society. The challenge is how to deal with radicalised persons who cannot be subjected to measures under the Criminal Code. The effective prevention of violent radicalisation requires not only that the police can take the necessary measures but also that the person can be referred to other relevant services, if necessary.

16.4.2018 | The position and role of women and children in radical Islamist terrorist organisations are under special review in the new situation overview of violent extremism. According to the 2017 overview, more than half of the suspected crimes reported to the police where an extremist motive was indicated were associated with violent right-wing extremism.

20.12.2019 | The start of 2020 will see the entry into force of amendments to acts and decrees related to the police, immigration and rescue services. This press release provides a summary of the most important changes.

6.5.2020 | In its negotiations on 6 May, the Government decided on measures to ensure the availability of seasonal labour needed in agriculture and horticulture, the entry of seasonal employees from abroad to Finland, and incentives to attract domestic labour.

27.5.2021 | The Government’s third supplementary budget proposal for 2021 includes an appropriation totalling EUR 111 million to alleviate the adverse impacts of the coronavirus on children and young adults.

21.12.2021 | In its negotiations on Tuesday 21 December, the Government discussed the COVID-19 situation and decided on new restrictions and other necessary measures. In addition to increasing vaccination coverage, effective national and regional measures to limit close contacts are needed to slow down the spread of the epidemic. This will allow more time for giving people third vaccine doses.

13.1.2020 | The Ministry of the Interior has set up a legislative project to implement the EU directive on access to financial information at national level. The directive contains rules to facilitate the use of information held in bank account registries by the authorities for the purpose of preventing, detecting, investigating or prosecuting certain offences.

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.

15.3.2018 | Finland intends to update its reserve police system. The purpose of the new system would be to ensure public security in situations where police must focus their resources on dealing with unexpected and unforeseen situations.

20.2.2019 | Permanent Secretary Ilkka Salmi and Finland's Roving Ambassador to Iraq Päivi Laine visited Iraq from 17 to 19 February. They had meetings with senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Displacement and Migration, and Ministry of Justice of Iraq. The topics of the meetings were the relations between Finland and Iraq, the security situation in Iraq, fight against terrorism, and migration from Iraq to Finland.

20.3.2020 | After discussions with the chairpersons of the parliamentary groups represented in the Government, Minister of the Interior Maria Ohisalo has instructed that practices for crossing internal borders be specified in order to combat the threat to internal security posed by the spread of the coronavirus.

7.1.2021 | On 7 January 2021, the Ministry of the Interior sent out for comments a proposal for reforming the Lotteries Act, which regulates gambling in Finland. The key points of the proposal include preventing the harm caused by gambling in an effective manner, combating marketing that violates the Lotteries Act, and securing Veikkaus Oy’s capacity to channel the demand for gambling. The basic premise of ...

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.

21.11.2019 | The Government has appointed a new Advisory Board on Gaming for the parliamentary term 2019–2023. According to the Lotteries Act, the task of the Advisory Board is to monitor the achievement of gambling policy goals and development needs in order to maintain and strengthen the exclusive right system.

14.9.2018 | The Finnish and Russian migration authorities will convene for a seminar on migration in Helsinki on 14 September 2018. The purpose of the meeting is to establish permanent structures for cooperation between Finland and Russia in migration issues. Similar cooperation is already being carried out between the Finnish and Russian police authorities.

15.7.2020 | The majority of Finnish people continue to have confidence in the police. According to the latest Police Barometer survey, a total of 91 per cent of the respondents trust the police a lot or a fair amount. Trust in the police has slightly decreased compared to the previous survey (2018: 95 per cent). Based on the results, the police have succeeded well in performing their most important duties and the work of the police is appreciated.

16.9.2019 | The Conference on Preventing Violent Radicalisation will bring together a wide range of international experts at Finlandia Hall, Helsinki, on 17–18 September 2019. They will discuss the prevention of violent radicalisation from the viewpoint of research, practical experiences and the work of public authorities.