Asylum seeker: if you apply again for asylum in another European country, you will be returned to Finland
The countries of Europe have together decided that your asylum application will be processed in only one country. When you have applied for asylum, your information is stored in a databased shared by all European countries. If you have received a negative decision for your asylum application and decide to apply for asylum in another European country, you will be returned to the country where you initially applied for asylum.
This means that if you leave Finland after having received a negative decision and apply again for asylum, you will be returned to Finland.
There have been rumours circulating in the reception centres that everyone who travels to Germany will get a residence permit, even if he or she has initially applied for asylum in Finland.
The German authorities have confirmed that these rumours are not true. Germany respects the EU-level agreements and returns those who have applied for asylum in Germany to Finland.
If you have received a negative decision, you can apply for assisted voluntary return
If you have received a negative decision on your asylum application from the Finnish Immigration Service, you have the following three options:
- you may appeal the decision to the Administrative Court
- you may apply for assisted voluntary return
- you may return to your home country on your own initiative
The appeal to the Administrative Court shall be made no more than 21 days after you have been notified of your decision.
If you appeal your decision and receive a negative decision from the Administrative Court as well, you may apply for leave to appeal to the Supreme Administrative Court. If you are not granted leave to appeal, you have to leave the country. You can still apply for assisted voluntary return.
You may no longer be entitled to reception services after a negative decision
If you have received a negative decision and should leave the country, but the police has not been able to enforce the refusal of entry for practical reasons, your reception centre will inform you of this. After you have been informed, you should return to your home country on your own initiative or apply for assisted voluntary return within 30 days.
If you do not do this, you will no longer have access to reception services. You cannot continue to live at the reception centre, will no longer receive a reception allowance or any other services provided by the reception centre, such as health care.
Please note that you are taking a big risk if you choose to leave Finland for another EU country after a negative decision. When you are returned to Finland, the time limit after your negative decision has likely expired and you are no longer entitled to reception services.
Unaccompanied underage asylum seekers are still entitled to reception services.
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