Finnish Immigration Service to handle all permits for foreign nationals starting from 2017

Amendments in the Aliens Act have been ratified which means the processing of all permit applications for foreign nationals will be handled by the Finnish Immigration Service from 1 January 2017. New duties for the agency include

• all residence permits that foreign nationals apply for in Finland: first, extended and permanent residence permits
• reception of citizenship applications and declarations in Finland
• registration of EU citizens and applications for their family members' residence cards
• duties relating to alien's passports and refugee travel documents and
• duties relating to service of decisions.

Until now the police have handled these matters.

The Finnish Immigration Service to get service points in nine areas

The Finnish Immigration Service will have nine service points where foreign nationals can submit the aforementioned applications. Previously, there has not been a need for service points as foreign nationals residing in Finland have submitted their applications to the police.

Asylum applications are not received or processed at these service points. As previously, asylum seekers are registered by the police or the Border Guard.

The Finnish Immigration Service will have service points in Helsinki, Lappeenranta, the Turku region, Lahti, Tampere, Vasa, Kuopio, Oulu and Rovaniemi. The service points in Lahti, Tampere and Kuopio are brand new service points for the Finnish Immigration Service.

The Åland Islands will not have their own service point. Persons living in Åland can use a service point on the mainland or book an appointment in Mariehamn with a public official from the Finnish Immigration Service.

Exactly where the service points will be placed is yet to be decided. The Finnish Immigration Service will offer more information as soon as the exact locations have been confirmed.

As a rule, no new employees will be hired at the service points. Employees will be transferred from the police to the Finnish Immigration Service. The employees being transferred are civilians not policemen.

The change brings clarity and efficiency to the processing of permits for foreign nationals

Concentrating the processing of permits for foreign nationals to the Finnish Immigration Service is a way to create better results and more clarity. When one and the same authority is in charge of the processing of permits for foreign nationals, the processes can more easily be developed. Furthermore, the division of tasks is clearer which guarantees uniform practices in customer service and decision making.

The only change that affects the customers themselves is the change of location. The service points will be instituted in locations where the number of permit customers has been highest in recent years.

Most applications can be submitted via the e-service Enter Finland. In this case, the applicant only needs to visit the service point to identify himself or herself and show the original copies of the documents attached to the application. The service is being used by both the police and the Finnish Immigration Service and is already used for applying for first and extended permits.

Further information for the media

Tutta Tuomainen, Head of Development of Immigration Unit, tel. +358 295 430 431, firstname.lastname@migri.fi