Representative of an unaccompanied child asylum seeker
When a child under 18 years of age arrives in Finland without a parent or guardian and applies for international protection or temporary protection, a district court appoints a representative for the child once the child’s reception centre has submitted an application to the district court regarding the appointment. In Finland, anyone under 18 is considered a child.
The representative’s task is to ensure that the child’s best interests are taken into account in different situations. The representative will use the right to be heard on behalf of the person who has custody of the child in matters affecting the child and in matters concerning the child’s assets. The representative protects the best interests of the child in official matters. The representative will attend the child’s asylum interview, for example, and will be present when the child visits a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service to manage the child’s matters.
The representative is not responsible for the daily maintenance, upbringing or other care of the child. These matters are the responsibility of the child’s reception centre or of the family with whom the child lives.
The Finnish Immigration Service pays the representative's fee in situations where a child who applies for international protection has not been granted a residence permit and in situations where a child who is a beneficiary of temporary protection does not have a municipality of residence. Once the child is granted a residence permit and moves to a municipality, the representative’s fee will be paid by the KEHA centre. For more information on representing a child, see the instructions for representatives of unaccompanied minors in Finland (kotoutuminen.fi).
Read more:
Client information form
Complete the client information form together with the child and send the information about the child to the Finnish Immigration Service before the asylum interview. This speeds up the processing of the child’s application and shortens the interview. Completing the form is voluntary. If you do not submit the form, the necessary information will be reviewed at the interview. Read the instructions for clients (in Finnish) on completing the form and on submitting the form and identity documents.
If an unaccompanied child has been referred to the Dublin procedure, only fill in the family information form together with the child.
Family information form
If an unaccompanied child has been referred to the Dublin procedure, fill in the family information form together with the child and send it to the Finnish Immigration Service before the interview. This will speed up the processing of the child’s application and identification of family members.
Read the instructions for filling in and sending the form: Edustaja: Jos lapsi on ohjattu Dublin-menettelyyn, täytä perhetietolomake hänen kanssaan (only in Finnish).
The form is currently available only in English: Family Tracing Form for Unaccompanied Child Applicants.
Other instructions for representatives are available only in Finnish and Swedish
- Representing a child applying for asylum without a guardian (Finnish, Swedish)
- E-palkkio-ohje edustajille (in Finnish)
- Specification of a representative’s fees and compensations for expenses (Finnish, Swedish)
- Representative's form for specification of travelling expenses (Finnish, Swedish)
- Tietoa turvapaikkaprosessista: ilman huoltajaa olevat lapset (Finnish)
Subscribe to our newsletter for representatives
The newsletter for representatives offers information to representatives of unaccompanied minors and to those interested in duties as a representative. Subscribe to the newsletter to get updates about upcoming training and about amendments to relevant legislation. The newsletter is available in Finnish and Swedish. Subscribe to the newsletter.
Instructions for minors
