International protection becomes temporary – more attention paid to security concerns

International protection will be made temporary in nature and the length of permits will be shortened to the minimum allowed by EU law. Committing offences and endangering national security will lead to the refusal or end of protection status. The Government submitted the amendments to the Aliens Act for approval on Thursday 21 November. The President of the Republic is to approve the amendments on Friday. The amendments will enter into force on 2 January 2025.

In future, a refugee will be granted a residence permit for three years instead of the current four years. The length of an extended permit will also be shortened from the current four years to three years.

The first residence permit based on subsidiary protection will be issued for one year instead of the current four years. An extended permit based on subsidiary protection, in turn, will be issued for two years instead of the current four years. 

As a result of the amendments, the Finnish Immigration Service will assess the need to extend the duration of international protection more frequently than before.

Protection status can be lost more easily

New grounds have been introduced for refusing or ending international protection status. 
In future, persons who are considered to be a danger to society because they have committed a particularly serious offence will not be granted refugee status, in other words asylum, or their status will be ended.

Both refugee status and subsidiary protection status will be ended if a person, after being granted such status, commits or is suspected of having committed a crime against peace, war crime or crime against humanity, or an act contrary to the purposes and principles of the UN.

Subsidiary protection status will be refused or ended when there is reason to assume that a person is a danger to society. Subsidiary protection status will also be ended if a person commits an aggravated offence after receiving the status.

Refugee status and subsidiary protection status will be refused or ended when there is a reason to assume that the alien is a danger to Finland's national security.

Most vulnerable people to benefit from international protection

Finland's asylum policy will be tightened in accordance with the Government Programme so that abuses are prevented and assistance is allocated to the most vulnerable people.

Under the Aliens Act, aliens may be granted international protection in Finland if they fulfil the conditions for refugee status or subsidiary protection. The purpose of the amendments that are to be approved now is to withdraw international protection more effectively from persons who no longer need it or are deemed not to be entitled to it because of their own actions.

The provisions on ending protection status have been amended within the scope permitted by the EU Qualification Directive. The Qualification Directive sets out the grounds for granting international protection and the rights of refugees or persons in need of subsidiary protection.

Inquiries:

Berit Kiuru, Chief Specialist, tel. +358 295 488 283, firstname.lastname@gov.fi
Sanna Montin, Chief Specialist, tel. +358 295 488 314, firstname.lastname@gov.fi