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Staying in private accommodation

If you wish, you may find another place to stay. If you live in private accommodation, for example with relatives, friends or your spouse, you still need to be registered at a reception centre. Your reception centre will give you the reception services that belong to you, such as health care services and a reception allowance.

Living in private accommodation is not possible if the Finnish Immigration Service applies the border procedure to your application. During the border procedure, you are not allowed to leave the area of the reception centre. For more information, see the page Border procedure.

Tell your reception centre if you find private accommodation

If you want to live in private accommodation, you must give your new address in a written document to the reception centre where you are registered. You must also show your rental agreement or another document of your accommodation. Doing this is a condition for receiving other reception services. You have to live in the address that you give to the reception centre.

Remember to always keep in touch with your reception centre:

  • You should stay in contact with the reception centre where you are registered. The reception centre will offer you reception services and give you plenty of important information and instructions.

  • Always notify your reception centre if your address or your contact details change. If you move, you must also show your new rental agreement or another document of your accommodation. It is extremely important that the reception centre is always able to reach you if necessary. Keeping your contact information up to date is a condition for receiving reception services. If the reception centre tries to contact you several times but cannot reach you, the centre may conclude that you have disappeared. In that case, your asylum application will expire.

You should also frequently read the customer bulletins of the Finnish Immigration Service. We use our bulletins to tell about any changes that apply to asylum seekers or reception centres.