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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...

14.10.2021 | The Ministry of the Interior has launched a legislative project to make executive assistance provided by the police to child welfare and emergency social services free of charge. Free executive assistance cannot be implemented without a legislative amendment. The free executive assistance provided by the police would concern, for example, the search for a child who has left a child welfare institution without permission and the return of the child to the child welfare institution.

Finnish migration policy is based on Government objectives, EU legislation and international agreements

18.2.2021 | The Ministry of the Interior has prepared a proposal on changing the decree on fees charged by the police. The starting point for the proposal is that the provision of executive assistance provided to child welfare and social and crisis emergency services by the police would be free of charge in the futur. The aim is to guarantee that the most vulnerable individuals, such as children, will receive the required assistance in acute situations.

15.9.2022 | The European Commission proposes a number of measures to help EU Member States prevent and combat child sexual abuse. The Government informed Parliament of the European Commission’s proposal for a Regulation by submitting a Union communication on 15 September. 

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

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.

13.8.2021 | The Ministry of the Interior has sent out for comments a draft government proposal on amending the Aliens Act. The aim of the proposal is to ensure that people who receive international protection can exercise their right to family life as fully as possible. A further aim is to make sure that the best interests of the child are upheld in family reunification cases involving minor children who receive international protection.

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.

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...

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.

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.

9.12.2014 | Ministerit Henriksson ja Räsänen osallistuvat maailmanlaajuiseen konferenssiin lasten seksuaalisen hyväksikäytön torjumiseksi

3.4.2018 | A new shelter has been opened in Järvenperä, Espoo. The shelter is called Turvakoti Pellas. This is a practical example of the prevention of violence against women and domestic violence, and one way to help the victims. Establishing more shelters regionally is one of the goals of the Action Plan to prevent violence against women and domestic violence. The Action Plan was drawn up by an intersecto...

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.

12.9.2024 | The Ministry of the Interior has sent out for comments a draft government proposal on tightening the conditions for family reunification. The conditions would be made more stringent in cases where a third-country national applies for a residence permit based on family ties. The legislative project aims to introduce the additional conditions for family reunification enabled by the EU Family Reunification Directive, and to draft the required amendments to the Aliens Act.

23.12.2025 | The Ministry of the Interior has submitted a draft amendment to the Passport Act and the Identity Card Act for comments. These amendments would extend passport and personal identity card validity to 10 years. The consultation process will last until 16 February 2026.

4.7.2024 | The reception allowance and the spending allowance to persons entitled to reception services will be reduced. On 4 July, the Government proposed that this amendment to the Reception Act be approved. The President of the Republic is scheduled to approve the amendment on Friday. The amendment will enter into force on 1 August and will remain in force temporarily until the end of 2025.

18.4.2024 | On 18 April, the Government submitted to Parliament a proposal on temporarily reducing the reception allowance and the spending allowance. The act would enter into force as soon as possible and remain in force until the end of 2025.

19.2.2024 | The Ministry of the Interior has sent out for comments a government proposal that would provisionally amend 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 deadline for submitting comments on the proposal is 13 March 2024.