Strategy on Expatriate Finns 2022–2026

There are approximately 300,000 Finnish citizens and, according to estimates, up to 1,6–2 million people of Finnish origin living outside Finland. In this strategy drawn up for 2022–2026, the term expatriate Finn refers to Finnish citizens living permanently outside Finland and to the descendants of Finnish citizens who personally identify themselves as Finnish.

The strategy is a continuation of three previous foreign policy programmes. It was prepared by a cross-administrative working group, with the Finland Society and the Migration Institute of Finland also involved in the process. The preparation process included extensive consultations with expatriate Finns and expatriate Finnish actors and use of the results of studies and surveys on expatriate Finns.

The strategy sets objectives and actions related to:

• coordinating the affairs of expatriate Finns in central government
• developing communication by public authorities concerning expatriate Finns
• promoting easy access to services provided by authorities for expatriate Finns
• strengthening the Finnish identity, language, culture and nationality of expatriate Finns
• making use of expatriate Finns in support of trade and industry, export promotion, research and sustainable development
• strengthening the social participation of expatriate Finns
• the attractiveness of return migration.

The implementation of the strategy will be monitored in the working group on expatriate Finns in central government and in webinars, which will be organised annually in cooperation with the Finland Society.