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Permits and citizenship

Appealing a decision

You can appeal against a decision made by the Finnish Immigration Service to an Administrative Court.

Appeal instructions will be attached to the decision you receive. The instructions specify the Administrative Court to which you may appeal, the appeal period, the attachments needed, and the ways you may submit your appeal to the Administrative Court.

Not all decisions by the Finnish Immigration Service can be appealed. If the decision you get is not open to appeal, this will be mentioned in the decision.

When is a decision final?

If you do not appeal a decision, it will become final when the appeal period expires.

A decision is also final in the following situations:

  • You have not applied to the Supreme Administrative Court for leave to appeal a decision made by an Administrative Court, and the appeal period expires.
  • The Supreme Administrative Court has not granted you leave to appeal a decision made by an Administrative Court.

Hearing of an appeal by an Administrative Court

The Administrative Courts may reject your appeal or overturn a decision made by the Finnish Immigration Service. If an Administrative Court overturns a decision, it will send the matter back to the Finnish Immigration Service for processing.

If you appeal a decision you have received, kindly direct your questions to the instance where your matter is being processed, such as an Administrative Court or the Supreme Administrative Court. If you have received a decision on removal from the country and you are applying for prohibition of enforcement, you can ask for any necessary advice from the administrative court mentioned in the decision.

The majority of decisions made by the Administrative Courts are subject to a fee. Contact an Administrative Court to find out more about court fees.

Appeals to the Supreme Administrative Court

If the Administrative Court rejects your appeal, you can continue appealing by lodging an appeal at the Supreme Administrative Court if it grants you leave to appeal.