Press releases

REPORT: There are numerous children and young persons in Finland who are victims of human trafficking – yet many more cases remain undetected

Sexual abuse, forced criminal activity and forced marriages. These are forms of human trafficking encountered by children and young persons currently in Finland, according to a report on human trafficking in children and young persons in Finland prepared by the National Assistance System for Victims of Human Trafficking and the European Institute for Crime Prevention and Control (HEUNI), to be published on 21 March 2019. The report is based on a questionnaire circulated among experts working with children and young persons, on expert interviews and on official statistics.

The newsroom of the Finnish Immigration Service is now open: more information available about immigration and news about the work of the Finnish Immigration Service

A newsroom has been added to the migri.fi website of the Finnish Immigration Service. The goal is to offer more information about immigration and the work of the Finnish Immigration Service.

The Finnish Immigration Service now has a new visual appearance – ”We are no longer the same agency we were ten or five years ago”

The visual appearance of the Finnish Immigration Service has been renewed. The new, modern style and logo convey a picture of an agency that keeps up with the times. In the logo, the name of the Finnish Immigration Service is clearly shown in three languages.

The assessment of internal flight in asylum decisions is being developed with support from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

At the request of the Finnish Immigration Service, the UN refugee agency UNHCR has reviewed asylum decisions in which the immigration service has applied the internal flight alternative. Internal flight refers to an assessment of whether an asylum seeker who has fled their area of origin can find protection elsewhere in the home country.

Finnish Immigration Service meets voluntary returnees in Iraq, Somalia and Afghanistan

What are the experiences of people returning voluntarily from Finland to their home countries? The Finnish Immigration Service met 32 voluntary returnees in Iraq, Somalia and Afghanistan All of them had previously been asylum seekers in Finland or elsewhere in Europe, but either their application had been rejected or they had themselves withdrawn their application.

Work and study activities at reception centres will be renewed - the aim is to support the activeness of asylum seekers

Finnish Immigration Service will renew the work and study activities arranged by reception centres for asylum seekers. The intention is to find out whether the reception centres could organise more activities such as workshops, information events and short training courses that would help asylum seekers enter working life.

The National Assistance System for Victims of Human Trafficking trained approximately 750 current and future police officers and border guards in human trafficking issues – the number of clients of the assistance system have increased again

During the autumn of 2018, the IHME project coordinated by the National Assistance System for Victims of Human Trafficking trained nearly 750 members of the police and the Border Guard as well as police and border guard students in human trafficking issues. The original goal of the training was roughly 200–300 people, but due to the high demand during the autumn, the number nearly tripled.

Record number of victims of human trafficking have been referred to Assistance – several sex trafficking victims in Finland

163 new clients were accepted into the Assistance System for Victims of Human Trafficking last year. 52 of them were estimated to have become victims of exploitation indicative of human trafficking in Finland.

Immigration statistics 2018: Last year, more and more people applied for a residence permit based on work

Reception centre operations to end at five centres

Finnish Immigration Service conducted a successful fact-finding mission to Russia

Updated situation reports for Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia

New videos to inform asylum seekers of basic rights, criminal law and sanctions for crimes

Report on the fact-finding mission to Syria and Lebanon published

Report: Uncertain life situation straining for asylum seekers’ relationships and parenthood

Thinking about starting a business in Finland? Come see the Finnish Immigration Service at Slush

Have you met Kamu, PatRek and VeroBot? Chatbots join forces to offer advice to foreign entrepreneurs in Finland

Immigration to Finland remains high – the Finnish Immigration Service is establishing permanent posts and recruiting new personnel

Oulu reception centre to get multi-purpose facilities – no new detention unit will be established

Increase in the number of residence permit applications from students with China, Russia and Vietnam topping the list