FAQs about the situation in Iran
We have put together answers to frequently asked questions about the situation in Iran. We will update the answers as the situation evolves.
This page was last updated on 5 February 2026.
Kieliversiot:
1. I am an Iranian asylum seeker in Finland. I have not yet received a decision on my application. What happens to my application now?
The security situation in Iran has changed due to large demonstrations and the exercise of power by Iran’s security forces. Decision-making has been suspended regarding applications that cannot be decided before there is more information on how the security situation in the country develops.
Due to the changed security situation, the Finnish Immigration Service is unable to assess whether the requirements for international protection are met in some applications. Because of this, the Finnish Immigration Service has suspended decision-making regarding some of the applications of Iranian asylum seekers. For now, the decision-making is suspended until 31 March 2026. In these cases, the Finnish Immigration Service will not make decisions on applications until up-to-date country information has been obtained for assessing the applications. Obtaining up-to-date country information about Iran is complicated by the fact that the country’s data connections have been blocked.
After 31 March 2026, we will reassess whether we can continue to make decisions on all applications normally.
2. I am an Iranian asylum seeker in Finland and I want to submit additional information to my application. What should I do?
If you have had an asylum interview, follow the instructions given to you at the interview. You can also find them on the page Processing of asylum applications.
If you have not yet had your asylum interview, you can bring the documents with you to the interview.
3. I am an Afghan asylum seeker in Finland. I have lived almost all my life in Iran. Has the processing of my asylum application also been suspended?
The requirements for international protection are assessed in relation to the country of nationality, in your case Afghanistan. The situation in Iran does not affect the processing of your case.
4. Are persons who have received a negative decision currently removed from the country and sent back to Iran by the Finnish police?
The police are responsible for removals from the country. If you have questions about removals from the country, contact the police.
5. Can you speed up the processing of my application, or my family members' applications, because of the security situation in my country of residence?
We are monitoring the development of the situation and will take it into account as far as possible when processing applications. You do not need to send in a separate request to speed up the process.
The residence permit applications of unaccompanied minors and the applications submitted by family members of a minor (sponsor) who is already living in Finland with a residence permit are processed urgently. Other applications are processed in the order of arrival. If we need additional information concerning your application, we will contact you.
6. I cannot go to the embassy in Tehran to be identified for my residence permit application. Can I identify myself anywhere else?
Decisions about where you can use identification services are made by the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs. For more information, visit the websites of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Finland's missions (finlandabroad.fi). Select your country of origin on the home page. The pages on individual countries explain which mission or VFS centre you can visit to identify yourself. The Finnish Immigration Service has no say over the mission you need to visit.
For more information: Handling your matters at a Finnish mission.
7. I submitted a residence permit application using Enter Finland and should identify myself at the embassy in Tehran. As it is currently not possible to book an appointment for identification there, can you process my application without identification?
Your application cannot be processed without you identifying yourself in person. During the identification, we will verify your identity. If you are unable to book an appointment for identification within 3 months, inform us about this by message using the Enter Finland service.
8. My Afghan family members live in Iran and would now like to come to Finland. What should I do?
The situation in Iran is difficult and we understand your concern about your family members. Unfortunately, as an authority we cannot make an exception to the permit processes laid down by law:
- A person moving to Finland needs a residence permit. Applications for the first residence permit should be submitted to a Finnish mission before arriving in Finland. To apply for a residence permit, the applicant needs to visit a mission to be identified. For more information about residence permit applications, visit the page First residence permit.
- In visa matters, you can contact the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs. A visa is a permit to enter the country for a short-term or temporary period of residence of no more than 90 days. For more information about applying for a visa as well as periods of validity of visas and the fees charged for them, visit the website of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs (um.fi).
- An asylum application can only be submitted by a person who is already in Finland. For more information about applying for asylum, visit Asylum in Finland.
9. I have been granted a residence permit, but I am unable to travel to Finland because I have not yet received a residence permit card. What should I do?
Due to the situation in Iran, there is a delay in the delivery of residence permit cards. However, the embassy in Tehran is currently able to issue residence permit cards to those who have received a positive residence permit decision and whose card is already at the embassy. Contact the embassy in Tehran and agree with the embassy about how you can obtain your residence permit card.
10. I am a citizen of Afghanistan and I live in Iran. I have applied for a residence permit in Finland, and my visa issued by Iran is about to expire. What should I do
We are not always able to make a decision on a customer's application before their visa issued by Iran expires. However, the expiry of the visa is not a sufficient reason for speeding up the processing of the application. You can ask the local authorities if the validity of the visa could be extended. Contact also the Finnish mission in Tehran and tell them about your situation.
The residence permit applications of unaccompanied minors and the applications submitted by family members of a minor (sponsor) who is already living in Finland with a residence permit are processed urgently. Other applications are processed in the order of arrival. If we need additional information concerning your application, we will contact you.
11. My family member was issued with a residence permit in Finland, and their residence permit card was sent to the mission in Tehran. They have left Iran. How can they get their residence permit card?
Your family member should contact the mission in Tehran to try and agree on how they can get their residence permit card.
12. My friend is visiting Iran with an alien's passport and a valid residence permit issued by Finland. They are having problems with their documents on the border between Turkey and Iran. What should they do?
The Finnish Immigration Service cannot comment on how you should deal with authorities in other countries.