Reception centres

The current number of reception centres in Finland can be found on the page Reception centres. 

The Finnish Immigration Service is responsible for directing, planning and supervising the operations of all reception centres.  

The reception centres that are maintained by the Finnish Immigration Service are located in Helsinki, Lappeenranta (Joutseno) and Oulu. In addition to the Finnish Immigration Service itself, reception centres are operated by companies and organisations with whom the Finnish Immigration Service has a contract.

Finland has reception centres for adults and families and reception centres for unaccompanied children. The reception centres for unaccompanied children are group homes and supported housing units.  

Clients do not necessarily stay in the same reception centre during their entire application process. If a reception centre has to be closed down, for example, clients will have to move to another reception centre. Clients who apply for asylum usually stay at a transit centre at first. After the asylum interview, they are usually transferred to another reception centre to wait for a decision.  

Read more about accommodation:

• Living in a reception centre
• Staying in private accommodation

Instead of living in a reception centre, clients can choose to arrange their accommodation elsewhere. This is what we call private accommodation. Clients who have arranged their own accommodation for themselves will still receive other reception services from their reception centre and with the assistance of their reception centre.

Clients who live in reception centres plan and decide on their daily life independently. They usually cook their own meals and are responsible for cleaning their own rooms. Some reception centres also offer meals as a part of the reception services.  

Reception centres have rules that clients must follow when staying at the reception centre. Reception centres are not closed institutions. Clients are allowed to leave the reception centre and move freely. They may have hobbies and can take part in activities. 

The number of reception centres that are in operation in Finland varies, depending on how many reception system clients there are and how much accommodation capacity is needed. If the need for reception centres and accommodation capacity is decreasing, the capacity will be reduced and some reception centres may be closed down. The Finnish Immigration Service is continuously assessing the need of accommodation capacity and the cost-effectiveness of the reception system.

Reception centres provide their clients with the reception services that the clients are entitled to under law. The legislation on reception services determines which services a client can receive and to what extent. Reception services include: 

• accommodation 
• reception allowance and spending allowance 
• social services 
• healthcare services 
• interpretation and translation services 
• work and study activities. 

Meals may also be included in the reception services. In addition, reception centres offer their clients general guidance as well as advice on return matters, for example. In general, full board and lodging is provided in reception centres for unaccompanied children. Read more about reception services. 

Provisions on which healthcare and social services reception centre clients are entitled to are laid down in law. 

Each reception centre has a social worker and a social counsellor. The required number of social workers and social counsellors at a reception centre depends on how many clients the reception centre serves. The duties of social workers and social counsellors include:  

• evaluating a client's need for services 
• providing advice and guidance 
• providing assistance for solving social problems  
• providing and arranging services and support measures. 

Some healthcare services are produced by reception centres. Some are outsourced to external service providers in the private sector. In general, the wellbeing services counties in Finland are responsible for specialised medical care, emergency care and care outside of office hours, school healthcare, maternity and child health clinics, and dental care. Clients who have a job have access to occupational health services through their employer. 

Each reception centre has a nurse or a public health nurse. The required number of nurses and public health nurses at a reception centre depends on how many clients the reception centre serves. Nurses evaluate the need for services, carry out nursing procedures, and help clients access external healthcare services.

Clients of reception centres can be paid a reception allowance. The reception allowance is financial support that is meant to cover the client’s immediate basic needs. 

Clients can apply for reception allowance at their own reception centre.

The amount of the reception allowance and the conditions for receiving it are laid down in law. 

All clients are not eligible for the reception allowance. The actual amount of money may vary depending on the client’s income and funds. Clients with a job, for example, get a smaller sum. A client’s need of financial support is assessed when he or she applies for the reception allowance. Read more about the reception allowance.

Yes. A client’s reception allowance may be reduced if the client refuses to participate in the study and work activities arranged by the reception centre.

All income affects the amount of reception allowance. 

A separate fee may be charged for the reception services. This may be done with clients who have a job and whose salary is high enough so that it is possible to charge a fee for the services.

One of the duties of a reception centre is to organise study and work activities for its clients. Study and work activities are arranged for clients who live in the reception centre. 

Studies usually mean lessons in the Finnish or Swedish language. In addition to language lessons, clients are given information about the Finnish society and the way it operates. Work activities often involve cleaning and repair work on the reception centre premises. Read more about work and study activities.