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Government Programme measures to reform migration policy The Government Programme’s objective is to reform Finland’s migration policy so that it offers assistance to the most vulnerable people and prevents abuse of the system. Finland’s asylum pol...

Family members of Finnish citizens or foreign nationals eligible for family reunification Family reunification refers to a residence permit granted to a foreign national on the basis of family ties. Family members of Finnish citizens or foreign na...

Assisted voluntary return provides the opportunity to start a new life in the home country

Removal and departure from the country If a person does not meet the conditions for legal stay in Finland, they are required to leave the country. This applies, for example, to persons whose asylum or residence permit application has been rejected...

9.6.2026 | Legislative amendments to the Aliens Act will make the provisions on removal from the country and entry bans more effective. The enforcement of deportation decisions will be expedited. In addition, an entry ban may in future be imposed in advance if a person is considered a serious danger to security. The President of the Republic approved the amendments on Tuesday 9 June. They will enter into force on 12 June.

The Ministry of the Interior is responsible for the preparation of migration policy and legislation

Refugees flee persecution in their home countries An asylum seeker is a person who seeks asylum and the right to reside in a foreign state. A refugee is someone who has been granted asylum in one state or another. A person may also receive refugee...

Answers to questions about biometric data regulation What is biometric data? Biometric data means personal data that result from technical processing, such as facial images and fingerprints, and allow the unique identification of a person. Who mak...

3.6.2026 | The Government's second supplementary budget for the year proposes funding for the Finnish Border Guard and the police to strengthen counter-drone capabilities and to make removals from the country more effective. Funding will also be provided for a new citizenship test. The Government submitted its second supplementary budget proposal for 2026 to Parliament on Wednesday 3 June.

Illegal entry and stay are prevented through cooperation between authorities Illegal entry and stay remain low in Finland when compared with all migration to Finland. Most people move legally to Finland on the basis of work, family ties or studies...

Stricter conditions for permanent residence permits Conditions for obtaining a permanent residence permit will be tightened. The President of the Republic approved the relevant amendments to the Aliens Act on 22 December. The amendments entered in...

29.4.2026 | The Ministry of the Interior has set up a project to prepare the necessary amendments to the provision of the Aliens Act on sufficient financial resources for family reunification. In future, a government decree would lay down provisions on the euro amounts required to demonstrate sufficient financial resources. This requirement would apply to family members of people who live in Finland with a residence permit.

22.12.2025 | The conditions for obtaining a permanent residence permit will be tightened. For example, the continuous period of residence required for the permit will be extended. Applicants will also be required to demonstrate higher integrity, proficiency in Finnish or Swedish and have a work history of a certain length. The President of the Republic approved the relevant amendments to the Aliens Act on 22 December. The amendments will enter into force on 8 January 2026.

22.12.2025 | The Ministry of the Interior has sent out for comments a draft government proposal to reform the provisions on removal from the country and entry bans laid down in the Aliens Act. The deadline for comments is 2 February 2026.

2.10.2023 | The Ministry of the Interior's project will examine the provisions on detention and entry bans in the Aliens Act. The aim is to tighten the Aliens Act in accordance with the set of measures related to voluntary return and departure laid down in the Government Programme.

22.12.2025 | The start of 2026 will see the entry into force of new acts and decrees. This press release provides a summary of the most important changes in the Ministry of the Interior’s government branch.

25.9.2025 | The Government proposes amendments to acts governing the use of biometric data stored in the registers of the police and the Finnish Immigration Service. Improving the use of biometric data would particularly support the investigation of the most serious crimes. The Government submitted the proposal to Parliament on 25 September.

3.4.2025 | The provisions of the Aliens Act on detention and entry bans will be tightened. In addition, the Act will provide for the possibility of withdrawing a residence permit from an alien staying outside Finland and imposing an entry ban on the alien for security reasons. 

5.6.2025 | The conditions for obtaining a permanent residence permit will be tightened. For example, the continuous period of residence required for the permit will be extended. Applicants will also be required to demonstrate proficiency in Finnish or Swedish and have a work history of a certain length. The Government submitted to Parliament the relevant proposal for amending the Aliens Act on 5 June.

27.2.2025 | The process of granting temporary protection will become easier both for the beneficiaries and the authorities. At its session on 27 February, the Government proposed amendments to the Aliens Act and the entry-into-force provision of the Act on Temporarily Amending the Aliens Act. The President of the Republic is to approve the amendments on 28 February.