When can I apply?

If you are an asylum seeker and have not yet received a decision on your asylum application or if you are a victim of human trafficking you can apply for assisted voluntary return at any stage.

If you have a temporary residence permit because you cannot be removed from the country, you can apply for assisted voluntary return at any time, but no later than on the expiry date of your residence permit.

If you have been granted a residence permit on the basis of humanitarian protection, you can apply for assisted voluntary return at any time, but at the latest when your residence permit expires.

If your asylum application is rejected, you are usually given a period of voluntary departure, which will be no more than 30 days. The period of voluntary departure is written on the decision you have received.

• If you wish to return voluntarily and to receive assistance, you must submit an application within the time limit marked on the decision.
• If you do not apply for assisted voluntary return, the police will escort you to your home country or oversee that you leave Finland. In such a case, you will not be given any cash or in kind support.

If you have received a negative asylum decision, but the police cannot remove you to your home country, your reception centre will inform you about this. You must apply for assisted voluntary return within 30 days of receiving this information. If you do not apply for assisted voluntary return within that period, your reception services will end.

• If your reception services end you have to move from the reception centre, you will not receive any reception allowance, and you cannot use the health care services provided by the reception centre.
• You must independently leave the reception centre and Finland and return to your home country or another country where you can reside legally.
• This does not apply to unaccompanied asylum seeking minors, whose reception services will continue.