Sök

1.2.2021 | The Ministry of the Interior has set up a project to prepare Finland's strategy on expatriate Finns for 2022–2026. The position of expatriates is in a constant state of change, and the aim is to better respond to the changes, for example by means of digitalisation. The intention is that also Finns living abroad will maintain their contacts and opportunities to influence Finnish society.

10.11.2021 | Parking fines go up in Hyvinkää, Kokkola, Kirkkonummi, Ylöjärvi, and Tikkurila, Vantaa The Ministry of the Interior has issued a new decree on parking penalty charge notices. The parking penalty charge notice, known as a parking fine, will go up in Hyvinkää from EUR 50 to EUR 60, in Kokkola from EUR 40 to EUR 50, in Kirkkonummi from EUR 25 to EUR 50 and in Ylöjärvi from EUR 30 to EUR 40.  The one char...

23.6.2021 | The Government proposal for legislation on establishing wellbeing services counties and reforming the organisation of healthcare, social welfare and rescue services was adopted by Parliament on 23 June 2021. The proposed wellbeing services counties will be established as soon as possible after the passing and approval of the relevant acts. The acts will enter into force in stages, the first ones on 1 July 2021 and the last ones on 1 January 2023.

20.10.2022 | The Government aims to improve the status of victims of human trafficking and strengthen their right to services, regardless of the progress of related criminal proceedings in a human trafficking case. The purpose is to loosen the link between assistance to victims and criminal proceedings by amending 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.

1.9.2022 | The budget proposal for 2023 of Prime Minister Sanna Marin’s Government builds sustainable growth for the future, secures purchasing power and assists people with the hike in electricity prices. The budget proposal responds to the effects of Russia’s war of aggression and inflation, improves safety and security, security of supply, and energy self-sufficiency, and provides further investment in research and development and in the green transition.

22.12.2022 | Under certain conditions, Finland may assist the voluntary return of people to their home country. A study commissioned by the Ministry of the Interior will assess which new client groups should be included in the target group for voluntary return. The study will be conducted by Owal Group.

20.5.2021 | The report ordered by the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment assesses whether Finland could use the so-called community sponsorship integration model when accepting refugees. According to the reports, the model could make the integration of refugees in Finland faster and support the integration work led by the state and municipalities.

29.6.2023 | In its plenary session on 29 June, the Government appointed Päivi Nerg (Master of Science in Agriculture and Forestry), Laura Rissanen (Master of Social Sciences), Timo Jaatinen (Master of Social Sciences), Elina Laavi (Master of Public Administration), Juha Martelius (Doctor of Social Sciences) and Teija Makkonen (Master of Military Science, Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Administrative Sciences) to serve as state secretaries.

20.12.2021 | The Ministry of the Interior has today set up a legislative project to prepare a government proposal for adopting and bringing into force the agreement on police cooperation in the border area between Finland and Sweden.

16.12.2021 | The reception act will be amended so that the Finnish Immigration Service will have central responsibility for preparedness planning concerning the organisation of reception services in the event of a mass influx of migrants. The President of the Republic approved the bill for the act on Thursday 16 December. The act will enter into force on 1 January 2022.

8.12.2020 | The Government proposes that wellbeing services counties be established and healthcare, social welfare and rescue services be reformed. The proposed counties would be established as soon as possible after the passing and approval of the relevant bills. The bills would enter into force in stages, the first ones on 1 July 2021 and the last ones on 1 January 2023. However, Parliament needs to pass the legislative package before the reform can enter into force.

7.10.2021 | The Government proposes that the reception act be amended so that the Finnish Immigration Service would have central responsibility for preparedness planning concerning the organisation of reception services in the event of a mass influx of migrants. The amendment would improve preparedness for large numbers of migrants and clarify the division of duties between the authorities. The Government submitted a proposal on the amendment to Parliament on 7 October.

23.8.2021 | Finland arranged a flight from Tbilisi to Helsinki on 23 August as part of the evacuations from Afghanistan. A total of 102 persons arrived in Finland on the flight. The youngest arrivals are small children.

15.12.2021 | The Government plans to decide on new entry restrictions on Thursday 16 December 2021. Health security measures would be tightened and the existing restrictions on entry at external borders would be extended until 16 January 2022. 

28.11.2021 | As of 15.00 on Sunday 28 November, Finland will restrict entry into the country at its external borders for travellers who have been in Botswana, Eswatini, South Africa, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia or Zimbabwe during the 14 days prior to their arrival in Finland. The Government adopted a decision on the matter on 28 November.

16.2.2023 | The Government has adopted a resolution on the National Strategy for the Prevention of and Response to Environmental Damage extending to 2035. The Strategy was adopted at the government session on 16 February. Its main objective is to guide the authorities’ preparedness for current and future threats of environmental damage. The Strategy needed to be updated to ensure that the responsibilities of different actors are in line with the current legislation.

7.11.2022 | Ukrainian refugees cannot return home while a large-scale war continues in their home country. As many are staying in Finland for longer than they first thought, the authorities are looking to help them settle down. Towards the end of the year, E2 Research will carry out a review of the current situation and future plans of Ukrainians in Finland. The study will expand on the report which the Ministry of the Interior published in September.

7.9.2022 | In June-July, the Ministry of the Interior conducted an online survey to assess the situation and need for different services of Ukrainians who have fled to Finland. A total of 2,136 people responded to the survey.

2.9.2021 | The recruitment procedure for civilian crisis management experts to be sent abroad will be developed. The Government submitted a legislative proposal on the matter to Parliament on 2 September. The aim is for Finland to have at its disposal a sufficiently large, diverse and competent group of experts for civilian crisis management tasks. Attention will also be given to the impact of civilian crisis management work on the human resources of public sector employers.  

16.12.2021 | The restrictions on entry at external borders currently in place in Finland will continue and health security measures will be tightened. The relevant Government decision made on 16 December will enter into force on 20 December and will remain in force until 16 January 2022. According to the decision, passengers arriving from outside the EU and the Schengen area will be required, as of 21 Decemb...