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The EU Pact on Migration and Asylum will apply as of 12 June 2026. This page contains outdated information. See our customer bulletin for up-to-date information:  Changes in legislation affecting reception services as of 12 June 2026

Reception services

The purpose of reception services is to secure the livelihood and well-being of asylum seekers. The Finnish law defines the services that you are entitled to receive.

Reception services include:

  • accommodation
  • social and health services
  • reception allowance and spending money
  • interpretation, and work and study activities
  • voluntary return

Your reception centre also gives you information about the following matters:

  • the rights and obligations related to living at a reception centre
  • the rules and regulations of the reception centre
  • legal aid

  • the Finnish society.

In addition, the reception centre offers you advice and guidance, among other things. Some reception centres also offer meals as a part of the reception services.

Your reception services are provided by the reception centre where you are registered as a client.

For more information about reception centres, see our information package ‘Information about the reception centre’. It has been translated into several languages and can be found on the page Brochures and publications.

For further instructions, see the document Give the reception centre your contact details and inform its representatives if you are going to be away (pdf).