Finland selects quota refugees on the basis of UNHCR proposal
Finland has decided to increase the 2014 refugee quota due to the prolonged conflict in Syria, accepting a total of 500 Syrian refugees.
Preference in the refugee quota will be given to refugees with the greatest need for protection and resettlement, in other words those with the most urgent need for help.
The first selection will be made by UNHCR. Finland will select the persons to be placed here from among those suggested by UNHCR.
Family ties do not usually help entry into Finland
Each year, Finland notifies UNHCR of the refugee groups selected for resettlement in Finland. This means that Finland announces that it will accept a certain number of people of a certain nationality. In other words, Finland does not ask UNHCR to present preselected persons to Finland.
Due to the small refugee quota, UNHCR usually cannot take account of family ties or wishes concerning the country of resettlement, although relatives living in Finland would understandably like to have their families in Finland. In other words, the need for help is a more important criterion than family ties.
If relatives living in Finland wish to have their families resettled in Finland, they should encourage their relatives to mention their relatives living in Finland and their desire to be sent to Finland while being interviewed by UNHCR.
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