Finnish Immigration Service in 2016: Record number of asylum decisions – Reception still the biggest expense

During 2016, the high number of asylum seekers in 2015 was still visible in the work done by the Finnish Immigration Service. The Asylum Unit made 28,252 asylum decisions during the year. The number of residence permit applications also rose, in particular applications for residence permits based on family ties by persons related to people granted international protection. The Finnish Immigration Service received a total of 84,112 applications (figure in 2015: 88,273).

According to the financial statements of the Finnish Immigration Service, the agency spent EUR 673.8 million in 2016. Expenses increased compared to 2015 by EUR 492 million owing to the higher operating costs of the Finnish Immigration Service and an increase in reception costs. The effects of the high number of asylum seekers in 2015 were mainly felt in 2016. Most applications were decided on during 2016, for which the Finnish Immigration Service hired some 500 fixed-term employees. Likewise, the need for reception capacity was highest in early 2016, decreasing as decisions were made.

Income received by the Finnish Immigration Service, consisting of processing fees for residence permit applications and citizenship applications, increased somewhat compared to the previous year, amounting to EUR 8.142 million.

Reception the biggest expense

Most money was spent on the reception of asylum seekers, the total costs of which amounted to EUR 603.6 million last year. A total of EUR 513.8 million was used for the maintenance of reception centres owned by parties other than the state. The operating costs of the state-owned reception centres in Oulu and Joutseno amounted to EUR 10.2 million in total. EUR 77.6 million was spent on assistance, such as reception allowance, paid to the clients of the reception centres.

The average price for one accommodation day, calculated from the total reception costs, was EUR 65 per person. The average price includes all expenses, such as the reception centre's rent and property maintenance, employees’ salaries, material costs, services and the reception allowance paid to residents.

Some of the costs of the reception centres established urgently in the autumn of 2015 were also allocated into 2016. The reception costs of the Tornio registration centre were still being paid for in 2016. The reception expenses also include the closure of units, resulting in extra costs.

The reception centres’ cost-efficiency and performance are monitored continuously and efforts are made to keep their utilisation rate as high as possible. As the number of asylum seekers has reduced, many reception centres established in 2015 have already been closed down or a decision has been made to do so.

The Finnish Immigration Service’s report on operations (in Finnish) has been published on the website of the Finnish Immigration Service.

Further information for the media

Report on operations and financial statements:

Suvi Tiainen, Head of Planning, tel. +358 295 430 431, e-mail: firstname.lastname@migri.fi

Reception:

Pekka Nuutinen, Director of the Reception Unit, tel. +358 295 430 431, e-mail: firstname.lastname@migri.fi