Changes in assistance granted for voluntary return as of 1 January 2024
The Ministry of the Interior has issued a new Decree on Assistance for Voluntary Return, changing the sums that can be granted for assisted voluntary return. The Decree will be in force from 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2025.
You can be granted assistance for voluntary return if you have applied for asylum but have received a negative decision, or if you have cancelled your application for international protection.
Under the new Decree, the amount of assistance granted for voluntary return depends on at what stage of the process you apply for assisted voluntary return. The assistance is mainly granted in the form of in-kind assistance.
Assisted voluntary return as of 1 March 2024
If you return to a country whose citizens are required to have a visa to enter Finland, the amount of assistance will be:
- EUR 5,300 if you apply for assisted voluntary return within 30 days of being served with your first negative asylum decision or of cancelling your first asylum application;
- EUR 2,000 if you apply for assisted voluntary return for over 30 days after being served with your first negative asylum decision or of cancelling your first asylum application;
- EUR 2,000 if you have applied for asylum more than once.
You can only receive the higher amount once.
Assisted voluntary return if you currently have at least 1 negative asylum decision
If you currently have one or more negative asylum decisions and wish to return to your home country:
- You will be granted EUR 5,300 in assistance if you apply for assisted voluntary return between 1 January 2024 and 28 February 2024. If your spouse and children return with you, they each will receive EUR 5,300.
- You will be granted EUR 2,000 in assistance if you apply for assisted voluntary return on 1 March 2024 or after and over 30 days have passed since you were served with your first negative asylum decision.
Other changes in assisted voluntary return as of 1 January 2024
- You cannot be granted assistance for voluntary return if you are a citizen of a country whose citizens do not need a visa to enter Finland. However, your travel costs to your home country can be compensated.
- If you are a victim of human trafficking, you will be granted EUR 3,000 in assistance.
- If you are in a vulnerable position or have special needs, you can be granted EUR 1,000 of discretionary assistance in addition to the usual assistance. Discretionary assistance can be granted for return to visa-exempt countries as well.
Where to get information about voluntary return
If you are staying at a reception centre and wish to return to your home country, please contact the staff of your reception centre.
If you are not staying at a reception centre and wish to return to your home country, you can contact the Finnish Immigration Service:
- By phone or WhatsApp: 050 413 8625
- By using the Securemail service of the Finnish Immigration Service (securemail.migri.fi) to email return@migri.fi. By using the Securemail service you will ensure that your message reaches us reliably.
The Finnish Immigration Service can give advice in Finnish, Swedish, English or Arabic.
For more information, see:
- Press release by the Ministry of the Interior: New Decree on Assistance for Voluntary Return to enter into force at the beginning of 2024
- Voluntary return
Language versions
- تعدیلات على معونات العودة الطوعیة اعتبارًا من ۰۱ / ۰۱ / ۲۰, pdf (ar)
- تغییرات در کمکھای عودت داوطلبانھ از مورخ ۱/ ۱/ ۲۰۲٤ بھ بعد, pdf (da)
- تغییرات در کمک ھای مالی برای بازگشت داوطلبانھ از ۱ ژانویھ ۲۰۲۴ (fa)
- Изменения в пособии на добровольное возвращение с 1.1.2024 (ru)
- Isbeddello lagu sameeyay caawimaadda dib u laabashada ikhtiyaariga ah, laga bilaabo 1.1.2024 (so)
- pdf, (sorani)
Updated 5.1.2024: Translations to Arabic, Dari, Farsi, Russian, Somali and Sorani (Kurdish) added to the language versions.
