Fees for residence permits and criteria for granting international protection to be amended

In future, first residence permit applications lodged by the family members of those who have been granted international protection will be subject to a fee. This amendment will be made because of the anticipated increase in the applications, as a result of which more resources will be needed for their processing. The amendment was supported by the Ministerial Finance Committee on 28 April.

With a tenfold increase in asylum seekers in 2015, the number of residence permit applications of the family members of those who have been granted asylum is expected to grow significantly starting in summer 2016.

The Finnish Immigration Service has estimated that the number of applications will reach 17,000 in 2016. The total figure for 2015 was 770.

The revenue from processing fees will cover a part of the costs incurred by the Finnish Immigration Service and Finnish missions abroad because of their need for more human resources

Most residence permit applications already subject to a fee

As a rule, a fee is currently payable for residence permit applications, including applications by family members. However, the family members of those who have been granted international protection have been an exception under certain conditions. Now this exception will be abolished.

Nevertheless, residence permit applications by refugees admitted to Finland under the quota as well as asylum applications will remain free of charge.

Application fees to cover processing costs

The first residence permit of adult family members costs EUR 455, including processing costs, and residence permits for children EUR 230, that is, about half of the cost price. Application fees are determined annually by Ministry of the Interior decree.

Residence permits on the basis of humanitarian protection to be abolished

In future, those applying for international protection in Finland may be granted asylum or a residence permit on the basis of subsidiary protection. Residence permits will no longer be issued on humanitarian grounds. Parliament adopted the relevant government proposal as it was. The President of the Republic will approve the bill on Friday 29 April.

The aim is to bring the Finnish legislation in line with EU law and the relevant legislation in other member states. The concept of international protection will be in compliance with Union legislation and refer to refugee status and subsidiary protection only.

The collection of processing fees will also be enhanced. The Aliens Act will be amended to specify that the authorities will not continue the processing of an application until the applicant has paid the chargeable processing fee.

The amendments will come into force on 16 May.

Inquiries:

Tuuli Tuunanen, Senior Officer, tel. +358 295 488 658, [email protected] (Ministry of the Interior decree)
Elina Immonen, Senior Specialist, tel. +358 295 488 593, [email protected] (humanitarian protection)