EU Pact on Migration and Asylum

The Pact on Migration and Asylum is a set of new rules for migration to be applied across the EU. The Pact will strengthen the control of EU’s external borders and make the procedures for asylum and return more efficient while protecting asylum seekers’ rights. The Pact establishes a solidarity framework, ensuring that no Member State is left alone to cope with migratory pressure.

Yes, there will be changes. Before the Pact, asylum applications were submitted to the police or the border authorities. As of June 2026, the procedure for seeking asylum has 3 phases. 

Stages of applying for asylum:

1.    Making an application:

• The applicant tells the police, the border authorities, the Finnish Immigration Service, or a Finnish Immigration Service reception centre, service point or detention unit that they wish to apply for international protection.
• The authorities record basic details of the applicant and observations on possible special needs and refer the applicant to a reception centre.

2.    Registering the application:

• The police or the border authorities register the application. The applicant must visit the police or the border authorities in person in person to have the application registered. The applicant must do this within 5 days of making the application.
• Upon registration, the applicant’s identity, entry into the country and residence in the territory of Member States is investigated. The applicant provides their biometric data.
• The applicant receives instructions and information about their obligations. The applicant must confirm with their signature that they have received the information. The applicant must read the instructions carefully because following the instructions will be necessary at the different stages of the procedure.

3.    Lodging the application:

• After having the application registered, the applicant will have 21 days to lodge the application with the Finnish Immigration Service. If the applicant is subject to the border procedure, the time limit is 5 days. The Finnish Immigration Service invites the applicant to a meeting in which the application is lodged.
• The applicant presents the documents they have at their disposal to support and justify their application. If any biometrics are missing, the applicant provides them, too.
   

The recast Reception Conditions Directive aims at an increased harmonisation of reception conditions across the EU and promotes the applicants’ own initiative. The Reception Conditions Directive will be transposed into national legislation.

The information below is based on the government proposal on amending the act on the reception of persons applying for international protection (hereinafter ‘Reception Act’). The government proposal has been submitted to the Parliament for consideration, meaning that the proposed act may still change.

Key changes that have been proposed:

•  Clients who receive reception services will have an obligation to report at the reception centre regularly and keep their contact information up to date.
• Work and study activities will end, but all clients over 18 who receive reception services will have to complete a Finnish society course.
• The Finnish Immigration Service will issue reception centre rules that will be applied by all reception centres. Clients must confirm that they have been informed of the reception centre rules. 
  • A client who repeatedly and in a serious way breaks the reception centre rules may have their reception allowance reduced or, in more serious cases, have their reception services withdrawn.
• Clients who have been granted a residence permit will receive reception services during the arrangements for their move to a municipality, but for a maximum of 3 months of when they gain the right to apply for a municipality of residence.
  • Unaccompanied children will receive reception services until they move to a municipality. 
  • The limits on the duration of reception services provided to clients who have been granted a residence permit have been proposed to become applicable as of 1 September 2026.

Some of the changes to the Reception Act will also affect clients who apply for or receive temporary protection and receive reception services. The proposed amendments to the Act are still being discussed by the Parliament, and these answers are based on the government proposal that has been submitted to the Parliament for consideration. 

Clients to report regularly at their reception centre

According to the government proposal, clients with reception services will have to report regularly at the reception centre. Temporary protection clients would have to report once a month. The obligation does not apply to children under 18 or clients who are employed. 

Termination of reception services

Temporary protection clients have the right to reception services starting from when they apply for temporary protection. Clients who apply for temporary protection have the right to apply for a municipality of residence at the latest when they have lived in Finland for one year. Applying for a municipality of residence and moving from reception services to the services provided by a municipality and the wellbeing services counties has so far been voluntary. Read more about applying for a municipality of residence: Municipality of residence | Finnish Immigration Service.

A change has been proposed: After a beneficiary of temporary protection gains the right to apply for a municipality of residence, they will receive reception services for a maximum of 3 months. The limit on the duration of reception services has been proposed to become applicable as of 1 September 2026.

After the amendments, reception services may under certain conditions be withdrawn from a temporary protection client who does not have the right to remain in the Finnish territory or who continues to break reception centre rules.

Asylum seekers are allowed to be in gainful employment only when their right to work is valid. The right to work will start either 3 or 6 months after the police or the border authorities have registered the application for international protection. The waiting period is 3 months if the applicant has presented a valid and authenticated passport or other travel document to the authorities.

An asylum seeker’s right to work is unrestricted, meaning that asylum seekers may work in any field of employment.

Changes to be noted:

1. If the applicant has received a decision on being transferred to another EU Member State, the applicant will not have the right to work. 
2. If the application is referred to the accelerated procedure, the right to work depends on why the application has been referred to the procedure. 
3. If the applicant makes a subsequent application, the right to work begins 3 or 6 months after the police or the border authorities have registered the subsequent application.

The right to work may end:

• If the applicant receives a negative decision on their asylum application.
• If the applicant receives a negative decision, the right to work will continue during the appeal period. For applicants in the normal procedure, the appeal period is 30 days from the day when the applicant is served with the decision of the Finnish Immigration Service.
• If the applicant appeals against the Finnish Immigration Service’s decision to an administrative court, the right to work will continue until the applicant is served with the decision of the administrative court.
  If the applicant has a valid right to work and the application is referred to the accelerated procedure, the right to work will be withdrawn.
   

For persons who have applied for or been granted temporary protection, the right to work will remain unchanged: Work and studies | Finnish Immigration Service