No notable change in the number of asylum seekers
A total of 1,890 individuals applied for asylum in Finland between January and August, which was almost as many as during the corresponding period of the previous year (1,895). A total of 91 of the applicants were unaccompanied minors. The figure is 13 per cent lower than between January and August 2011, when unaccompanied minors numbered 105.
The most asylum applications were submitted by Iraqis (480), Russians (139), Somalis (130), Afghans (128), Syrians (108) and Serbians (63).
Applications received from Syrian and Serbian citizens have increased the most. The number of Syrian asylum seekers began to rise in the summer of 2011 and the number of Serbian asylum seekers at the end of 2011. The number of Russian and Somali asylum seekers, on the other hand, has decreased considerably from previous years, even though they are still among the three largest groups of applicants.
Asylum granted to more applicants than before
The Finnish Immigration Service decided a total of 2,363 individuals’ asylum applications between January and August 2012. Of them, 40 per cent (958 individuals) were given a positive decision, i.e. either granted asylum or a residence permit for one reason or another. During the corresponding period in 2011, 35 per cent of applicants were given a positive decision.
More asylums were granted than in previous years. A total of 321 individuals were granted asylum in Finland between January and August, which was 14 per cent of all decisions. The percentage of asylums was four per cent during the corresponding period of 2011 and between three and five per cent in earlier years.
Asylums accounting for 14 per cent of all decisions corresponds to international levels: In Sweden, eight per cent of the asylum seekers who were given a decision between January and August 2012 were granted asylums (Migrationsverket.se), and in 2010 the figures were 12 per cent in Norway, 16 per cent in Germany and 19 per cent in the UK (UNHCR Statistical Yearbook 2010).
A total of 48 per cent of applicants (1,128 individuals) were given a negative decision between January and August. The most common reason for negative decisions was the Dublin Regulation, and 17 per cent of applicants were given a negative decision on this basis. If an applicant has previously sought asylum in another county participating in the Dublin system, the country concerned is responsible for readmitting the asylum seeker in question and for processing his/her application. The second most common reason for negative decisions was manifestly unfounded applications; these accounted for 11 per cent of all decisions.
Changes in applicants and decision-making practice
One of the reasons for the increase in the number of asylums granted was the considerable increase of asylum applications received from Syrian citizens. They have often been granted asylum.
The number of asylums has also increased as a result of certain rulings of administrative courts, after which the Finnish Immigration Service has revised its decision-making practice.
At the same time as more asylums have been granted than before, the percentage of residence permits granted on the basis of subsidiary protection has dropped. Subsidiary protection is the second strongest form of international protection after asylum. The change reflects developments in decision-making: The Finnish Immigration Service has simplified and modelled practices for assessing the need for international protection and the likelihood of a risk to safety.
More detailed statistics available online
More detailed statistics on asylum applications processed between January and August 2012 can be found in Finnish on the website of the Finnish Immigration Service at www.migri.fi > Tilastot > Turvapaikka- ja pakolaistilastot.
Further information for the media
- Juha Similä, Head of Section, Asylum Unit, tel. +358 71 873 0431, e-mail: firstname.lastname@migri.fi
- Riitta Koskela, Head of Section, Asylum Unit, tel. +358 71 873 0431, e-mail: firstname.lastname@migri.fi
