Government proposes changes to asylum examinations, travel to countries of origin and enforcement of deportations

The Government proposes to improve the efficiency of examining asylum applications. At the same time, restrictions would be placed on the ability of beneficiaries of international protection to visit the countries from which they have fled. The enforcement of deportation decisions would also be streamlined. The Government submitted the proposal for the amendments to the Aliens Act to Parliament on 6 March. The intention is that the proposed amendments would enter into force as soon as possible.

As a rule, the transcript of the asylum interview would no longer be reviewed at the end of the interview. Instead, it would be additional evidence that could be included in the application voluntarily. The aim is to improve the efficiency and quality of the asylum system in line with the Government Programme by introducing more stringent provisions and best practices permitted by the Asylum Qualification Directive and the Asylum Procedures Directive.

The amendments also seek to streamline the asylum process and prevent abuses. In future, greater emphasis would be placed on the importance of the asylum interview in the processing of applications. 

Regulation on travel to countries of origin to be tightened

In line with the objectives of the Government Programme, the legislative proposal has also clarified how travelling to the country of origin affects the decision to withdraw international protection status. 

In addition, the validity of travel documents issued by Finland would be restricted so that beneficiaries of international protection could not use them to travel to their country of nationality or former country of permanent residence. Derogations from this rule could only be made if there are exceptionally serious grounds for doing so. 

Enforcement of deportation decisions to be streamlined

The procedure for removing applicants for international protection from the country would be made more effective by changing the practices for enforcing deportation decisions to correspond to the enforcement of decisions on denial of admittance or stay. This would mean that deportation decisions could be enforced more quickly than at present.

If an alien has not yet had a residence permit and a decision is made to remove them from the country, they will be denied admittance or stay. If, on the other hand, an alien has or has had a residence permit and a decision is made to remove them from the country, this constitutes deportation. The proposed amendment would apply to cases such as where a person who has been ordered to be deported applies for international protection to delay being removed from the country.

The Government Programme requires that rejected asylum applicants return or be returned to their countries of origin as soon as possible. In addition, the Government Programme states that unfounded subsequent applications will be prevented. The Schengen evaluations concerning Finland have also called for more effective implementation of returns. 

A legislative project is under way at the Ministry of the Interior to assess whether the regulation on deportation and denial of admittance or stay can be more extensively harmonised. The related government proposal is scheduled to be submitted to Parliament at the beginning of 2026 at the latest.

Inquiries: 
Eeva-Maija Leivo, Senior Specialist, tel. +358 295 488 316, firstname.lastname@gov.fi 
Jutta Gras, Senior Ministerial Adviser, tel. +358 295 488 650, firstname.lastname@gov.fi (removals from the country)