Sök

Departments and units Police Department The Police Department deals with matters concerning the police administration under the National Police Board, combating crime, public order and security, licencing, firearms, gambling policy, the private se...

Matti Sarasmaa Permanent Secretary The Ministry’s most senior public official is Permanent Secretary Matti Sarasmaa. The Permanent Secretary assists the Minister in directing, developing and monitoring the work of the Ministry and the agencies wit...

Rescue services reform aimed at improving services Under the Act on Organising Rescue Services, adopted in June 2021, the wellbeing services counties and the City of Helsinki are responsible for organising rescue services from the beginning of 202...

Rescue service operators and responsibilities Rescue departments carry out rescue service duties in their respective regions There are 21 regional rescue departments in Finland. Rescue departments carry out rescue service duties in their respectiv...

Border management operators and responsibilities Responsibility for performing the duties of the Border Guard rests with nine administrative units. These units are the Border Guard Headquarters (which also operates as the Ministry’s Border Guard D...

Oversight of legality at agencies within the Ministry’s branch of government The agencies within the Ministry of the Interior’s branch of government bear the main responsibility for practical oversight activities and the handling of matters relate...

Government Programme measures to reform rescue services and emergency response centre operations The Government aims to ensure high-quality rescue services throughout the country. Rescue services must be of high quality and carried out in a unifor...

Government Programme measures to reform rescue services and emergency response centre operations The Government aims to ensure high-quality rescue services throughout the country. Rescue services must be of high quality and carried out in a unifor...

Frequently asked questions about criminal intelligence legislation Why are the intelligence collection powers of the police being strengthened? One of the key objectives of the Programme of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s Government is to step up th...

18.6.2025 | The Finnish Border Guard will be given new powers concerning the prevention and investigation of human trafficking offences and money laundering offences. The Government submitted the Act on Crime Prevention by the Finnish Border Guard and certain other acts for approval on 18 June. The President of the Republic is scheduled to approve the amendments on 27 June, and they will enter into force on 1 September.

27.3.2025 | The Finnish Government proposes to extend the validity of the Act on Temporary Measures to Combat Instrumentalised Migration (‘Border Security Act’) until 31 December 2026. The purpose of the act is to prevent efforts to put pressure on Finland through the instrumentalisation of migrants. The Government submitted a proposal on the matter to Parliament on 27 March. 

23.1.2025 | The Government proposes that the procedure for compensating the building of permanent barriers, such as the fence on the eastern border, will be made more effective. The Government submitted a proposal for amending the Board Guard Act to Parliament on 23 January.

13.2.2025 | The Finnish Ministry of the Interior has sent out for comments a government proposal to extend the validity of the Act on Temporary Measures to Combat Instrumentalised Migration ('Border Security Act') until 31 December 2026. The purpose of the act is to respond to efforts to put pressure on Finland through the instrumentalisation of migrants.

9.1.2025 | The Finnish Ministry of the Interior has set up a legislative project to extend the validity of the Act on Temporary Measures to Combat Instrumentalised Migration (‘Border Security Act’). The purpose of the act is to respond to efforts to put pressure on Finland through the instrumentalisation of migrants.

19.2.2024 | The Ministry of the Interior will set up a legislative project to combat instrumentalised migration and to bolster border security. The term of the project is from 19 February to 31 March 2024. The aim is for a government proposal to be submitted to Parliament in March 2024.

22.5.2025 | Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen attended a meeting on EU civil preparedness and resilience in Brussels, Belgium, on 22 May. The aim of the meeting, convened by the Netherlands, was to launch a ministerial-level coalition to promote preparedness in the EU. The need for the coalition arises from the current geopolitical situation and the Preparedness Union Strategy published by the Commission in March.

21.5.2024 | The Government submitted a proposal to Parliament for an act on temporary measures to combat instrumentalised migration on 21 May. The aim of the act is to improve border security and ensure that Finland has effective means at its disposal to combat instrumentalised migration that is being used to pressure Finland. The aim is also to prepare for more serious instances of instrumentalised migration.

19.12.2024 | On 19 December, the Government appointed General Staff Officer Matti Sarasmaa, Chief of Division, as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of the Interior. He will take up his new post on 1 February 2025 and his term of office will last for five years.

15.3.2024 | On 15 March, the Ministry of the Interior sent out for comments a draft act on temporary measures to combat instrumentalised migration. The deadline for submitting comments is 25 March. The proposed act is scheduled to enter into force as soon as possible. The act would be temporary and would be valid for one year after its entry into force.

2.9.2025 | The Government of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has reached a decision on its budget proposal for 2026. The Government’s decisions aim to support economic growth, which is picking up. Supporting economic growth and continuing responsible fiscal management is necessary to ensure the security of people in Finland and safeguard their access to important services going forward.