Press releases

Finnish Immigration Service has updated its application volume forecasts

The foresight network of the Finnish Immigration Service has updated its application volume projections for the end of 2025 and for the year 2026. The foresight network consists of experts who meet three times a year to make quantitative and qualitative forecasts about migration to Finland and about asylum seekers arriving in Finland.

Increase in number of international students’ applications halted – decline in number of asylum seekers continued

The rapid growth in the number of students’ applications during the previous few years has come to a halt this year. However, students and their family members continue to have a historically high level of interest in Finland. At the same time, there has been a decline in the number of employees intending to move to Finland and in the number of asylum seekers.

Determination of citizenship status and definition of national travel document for residence permit applications reviewed by Finnish Immigration Service

The Finnish Immigration Service has reviewed the definition of a national travel document which is required for issuing a residence permit. Determination of citizenship status has also been examined in this context.

Finnish Immigration Service resumes issuing asylum decisions for Syrians

The Finnish Immigration Service suspended making decisions on asylum applications from Syrians in December 2024 because of the considerable changes in the security situation in Syria. The Finnish Immigration Service will now resume issuing decisions for Syrian asylum seekers. The Finnish Immigration Service constantly monitors the security situation in different countries, as the most recent country of origin information is needed to assess the need for protection when processing asylum applications. In order to ensure decision-making of high quality, the Finnish Immigration Service maintains awareness of the security situation and its changes in different countries.

Finnish Immigration Service to review its policy on which travel documents can be accepted for a residence permit application

Finland’s residence permit legislation was amended in September 2024 to implement a stricter immigration policy, which has been established in the current Government Programme. Under the amended Aliens Act, one of the requirements for obtaining a residence permit is that the applicant must prove their identity with a national travel document. As required by the amended provisions, the Finnish Immigration Service has issued negative decisions on residence permit applications, also for Palestinian applicants. The Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs has stated in discussions between authorities that the Ministry’s definition of a national travel document is also applicable in the context of residence permit legislation. This is not expressed in the provisions of the amended Act or in the preparatory material for the approved Act. The Finnish Immigration Service wishes to assess the factors set forth by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in relation to the agency’s own guidelines for application of law.

Asylum not automatically granted to all Palestinians from Gaza

There has recently been public discussion about the Finnish Immigration Service's guidelines regarding decision-making on international protection and Palestinians from Gaza. The guidelines that have been discussed are internal instructions of the Finnish Immigration Service and, if presented and interpreted as such without context, give an erroneous picture of the asylum procedure, which also must comply with several other instructions and guidelines. All relevant instructions and guidelines are applied in decision-making on asylum applications, and consideration of an individual applicant's situation is always required.

Cooperation helps combat human trafficking

According to early-year statistics from the Assistance System for Victims of Human Trafficking, forced marriage and forced labour are the most common forms of exploitation among victims of human trafficking. National and international cooperation are necessary in order to combat trafficking.

Decline in number of work-based residence permit applications – growing number stay in Finland after completing a degree

During the past year, many changes have occurred in the operating environment surrounding immigration. This has affected the number of work-based residence permit applications and their processing times.

Summer berry season: Wild-berry pickers apply for permits under the Seasonal Workers Act for first time

Support and assistance for returning to Syria available

Number of asylum seekers declining, work-based residence permits expected to rise next year – Finnish Immigration Service updated estimates of future application numbers

Legislative amendments and new requirements for family reunification

Changes to work-based residence permits – protection period for unemployment and new notification obligation for employers

New provisions clarify enforcement of removals from the country and protection status impacts of travelling to home country

European Migration Network Annual Report 2024: People move to Finland mainly from Asia to work and study

Finland pilots a reception centre specialised in promoting returns

Entry ban and maximum detention period extended, more detailed provisions given on the right to reside in Finland after a decision on removal from the country

Immigration legislation contains no exceptions for athletes

Finnish Immigration Service closes down reception centres

Finnish Immigration Service achieved significant reforms and development in 2024