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Voluntary return

Would you like to return voluntarily to your country of origin or to a country where you have a residence permit? On these pages you will find information on voluntary return and how to apply for voluntary return assistance. You can find the information in the following languages: Arabic, Dari, Farsi, Sorani Kurdish, Somali, Spanish, and Russian. 

You may be eligible for voluntary return if you are a third-country national and

  • you have applied for asylum and received a negative decision on your application,
  • you have applied for asylum and cancelled your asylum application, or
  • your international protection status previously granted to you has been ended.

Those granted temporary protection can also receive assistance for voluntary return. However, returns to Ukraine cannot be organised at the moment. If you have applied for temporary protection in Finland but would like to return to your country of origin other than Ukraine, you may be eligible for voluntary return assistance.

You are not eligible for voluntary return assistance if you are returning to another EU Member State, Schengen country or third country whose nationals are not required to have a visa for Finland. However, you may still be entitled to compensation of travel costs.

The Finnish Immigration Service cannot grant you a residence permit to Finland if you have been granted assistance for voluntary return and apply for a residence permit to Finland within 5 years of the return. This limitation applies to you only if you have been granted assistance for voluntary return on 1 September 2024 or thereafter. However, you still have the right to apply for asylum.

Voluntary return cannot be arranged to all countries due to the security situation in some countries. You can check the situation of your country of destination by asking your reception centre, by emailing return@migri.fi or by calling +358 50 413 8625.

Assistance for voluntary return 2024-2025

Assistance for voluntary return includes

  • compensation of travel costs
  • help with return arrangements
  • assistance to support your reintegration into your home country.

Assistance is granted primarily in kind. This means a range of services or supplies that help you, for example, with 

  • starting your own business
  • education or training
  • housing costs
  • healthcare costs.

The utility allowance is tailored to your needs and the possibilities available to you.

The amount of the voluntary return assistance depends on the stage at which you submit your voluntary return application.

Assisted voluntary return

If you return to a country whose citizens are required to have a visa to enter Finland, the amount of assistance will be:

  • EUR 5,300 if you apply for assisted voluntary return within 30 days of being served with your first negative asylum decision or of cancelling your first asylum application;
  • EUR 2,000 if you apply for assisted voluntary return for over 30 days after being served with your first negative asylum decision or of cancelling your first asylum application;
  • EUR 2,000 if you have applied for asylum more than once.

You can only receive the higher amount once.

Assistance based on personal circumstances

  • If you are a victim of human trafficking, the amount of assistance paid is EUR 3,000. 
  • If your personal situation requires additional assistance, you may be eligible for an additional amount of EUR 1,000 in addition to your basic assistance. The need for an additional assistance affected by, for example, your age, disability, illness, family situation or other similar reason.
    • Additional assistance may also be granted to victims of human trafficking and returnees to visa-free countries.

Applying for voluntary return assistance

To be eligible for assistance for voluntary return, you must leave Finland voluntarily. You must cancel all pending asylum, a residence permit or an alien’s passport applications.

Are you a client at a reception centre?

Contact the staff at the reception centre.

Have you remained in Finland without a residence permit after your reception services ended?

The Finnish Immigration Service will advise and help you apply for voluntary return. 

  • Phone +358 (0)50 413 8625 (also WhatsApp). 
  • Emails can be sent using the Finnish Immigration Service's Securemail service (securemail.migri.fi) to return@migri.fi to ensure that the message safely reaches the right recipient.

Processing your application

The reception centre or the Finnish Immigration Service will fill in the application forms together with you, process your application and give a decision.

The reception centre or the Finnish Immigration Service will check with the police whether you can return to your country of origin voluntarily. If the police have not started your removal from the country and there are no other factors preventing your voluntary return, the decision will be sent to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), which will start the return arrangements.

Return home

IOM provides information and advice about your return in several languages. If you do not have a passport, you will get help with acquiring a travel document from the embassy of your home country. IOM will then book your travel to your country of return. If you have health issues, they will be taken into account in the return arrangements. When you leave Finland, IOM will give you the details of the contact who provides you with your return assistance. When you leave, you will also receive from IOM the documents held by the Finnish authorities.

Further information: