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31.7.2026 | Temporary protection for Ukrainians fleeing Russia’s war of aggression has been extended. On 30 July 2026, EU countries agreed to extend the temporary protection status granted to those fleeing Ukraine by one year. Temporary protection for Ukrainians fleeing the war will continue until 4 March 2028.

Temporary protection for people fleeing from Ukraine Temporary protection is intended for people fleeing Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Granting temporary protection makes it possible to provide protection to a limited group of people...

Data protection and processing of personal data at the Ministry of the Interior Contact information Data Protection Officer Data Protection Officer Mikko Levämäki tietosuojavastaava.sm(at)gov.fi Controller Ministry of the Interior, PO Box 26, FI-0...

Oversight of legality safeguards the quality of authorities’ activities All exercise of public powers must be based on the law, and the law must be strictly observed in all aspects of public governance. Laid down in the Constitution, the principle...

Civilian intelligence protects Finland’s national security

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.

10.7.2026 | The Finnish Ministry of the Interior requests views on a draft government proposal to extend the validity of the Act on Temporary Measures to Combat Instrumentalised Migration, known as the Border Security Act. The purpose of the act is to prevent the use of instrumentalised migration to put pressure on Finland. 

Departments and units Police Department The Police Department deals with matters concerning the police administration under the National Police Board, combating crime, public order and security, licencing, firearms, gambling policy, the private se...

About the Ministry of the Interior’s web service The address of the Ministry of the Interior's web service is intermin.fi. The Ministry of the Interior is responsible for the service, and it is maintained by the Ministry’s Communications Unit in c...

Removal and departure from the country If a person does not meet the conditions for legal stay in Finland, they are required to leave the country. This applies, for example, to persons whose asylum or residence permit application has been rejected...

Frequently asked questions about the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war Russia attacked Ukraine on 24 February 2022 and launched a full-scale war. This page contains frequently asked questions about the consequences of the war in Ukraine. Entry into...

Contact information of the management, departments and units Email addresses are in the format [email protected] , unless otherwise indicated. Management Mari Rantanen, Minister of the Interior, tel. +358 295 418 800 Matti Sarasmaa, Permanent Secr...

Answers to questions about biometric data regulation What is biometric data? Biometric data means personal data that result from technical processing, such as facial images and fingerprints, and allow the unique identification of a person. Who mak...

23.2.2021 | The research project ordered by the Government surveys what types of complementary pathways for legal migration are available in different countries for use by people residing abroad who are in need of international protection. The focus is on work- and study-based pathways. This international comparison can help to support the consideration of the need of complimentary pathways in Finland as well as the international community’s efforts to find new solutions.

Frequently asked questions about criminal intelligence legislation Why are the intelligence collection powers of the police being strengthened? One of the key objectives of the Programme of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s Government is to step up th...

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.

20.8.2020 | 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.

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...

Helping Ukrainians People in Finland want to help Ukrainians in their time of need, and many have been asking the Finnish authorities how they can help Ukrainians. People are also asking how they can help Ukraine’s neighbouring countries who are u...

7.9.2023 | At its meeting on 7 September, the Government decided that Finland would no longer grant temporary protection and new residence permits to those third-country nationals who have fled Ukraine and who were not granted international protection or a permanent residence permit by Ukraine. This decision will not affect the protection already granted or the validity of the residence permits already issued.

Interoperability

People found guilty of certain serious offences can lose their Finnish citizenship.

Gambling legislation helps to prevent and reduce gambling-related harm In Finland, gambling games are run by the state-owned company Veikkaus Oy. In line with the Government Programme, the gambling system will be reformed by introducing licences t...

Accident prevention is a joint effort

9.6.2026 | The EU’s new Pact on Migration and Asylum will improve the control of the EU’s external borders and increase the efficiency of asylum and return procedures. The Government proposed that the President of the Republic approve the relevant bills for acts on Tuesday 9 June. The acts will enter into force on 12 June.

Interoperability

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.

26.5.2026 | The Finnish Ministry of the Interior has set up a legislative project to extend the validity of the Act on Temporary Measures to Combat Instrumentalised Migration (‘Border Security Act’). The purpose of the act is to respond to efforts to put pressure on Finland through the instrumentalisation of migrants. 

16.4.2026 | The EU Pact on Migration and Asylum establishes a common EU system to strengthen external border control, ensure effective identification of third-country nationals and enhance procedures for asylum and return. The Pact will be implemented in Finland through a series of national legislative amendments. The Government submitted a proposal on these amendments to Parliament on 16 April.

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...

Ministry of the Interior Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen The Finns Party Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen heads the Ministry of the Interior. She is responsible for internal security and migration matters covered by the Ministry of th...

12.11.2021 | At the initiative of the Ministry of the Interior, the Finnish Government commissioned a study examining the types of complementary pathways for legal migration available in different countries for use by people in need of international protection. The focus of the study was on labour-based and study-based complementary pathways. The results confirm that there is a need for legal pathways, as has been discussed in Finland, and they support the EU in seeking new solutions to migration.

19.2.2026 | The Ministry of the Interior has today sent out for comments a draft government proposal for legislation on police criminal intelligence. The reform would enable the use of criminal intelligence methods in the fight against serious crime on a threat-informed basis. The deadline for submitting comments is 16 April 2026.

Questions and answers about civilian intelligence legislation The aim of civilian intelligence legislation is to improve the capability of Finnish society to protect against threats to national security. What does civilian intelligence legislation...

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.

5.3.2026 | The EU home affairs ministers will gather in Brussels on 5 March for a meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council. The agenda includes the state of the Schengen area and partnerships with third countries concerning migration. Finland will be represented at the meeting by Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen, who will underline the importance of preventing illegal entry and stay.

22.12.2025 | The Ministry of the Interior has circulated for comment the draft government proposal on the national legislative amendments that relate to the implementation of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum. The deadline for comments is 2 February 2026.

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.

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...

30.3.2026 | The Ministry of the Interior has set up a project to improve the efficiency of asylum procedures, bringing together key administrative branches and actors.