|
Finland |
2022 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The Immigration Service announced in February 2023 that gender alone would constitute a sufficient reason to grant international protection to Afghan women and girls. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Finland |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
A temporary amendment was passed to the Aliens Act to extend the period of an applicant's right to work. Applicants were temporarily able to work in agriculture, forestry, horticulture and fisheries without a waiting period and they could continue to work in these sectors longer, until they are in the country and receive material reception conditions, despite an enforceable removal decision. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Finland |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
The Finnish Immigration Service gave reception centres several operating guidelines, including on health care services, work and study activities. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Finland |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
Based on the ECHR judgement in N.A. v. Finland, the Finnish Immigration Service reviewed the cases of around 500 applicants. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Finland |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Content of protection |
A draft government proposal was sent out for comments to amend the Aliens Act provisions on the family reunification of beneficiaries of international protection. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Finland |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to assess protection needs |
The government submitted a legislative proposal to the parliament to introduce a border procedure that could be triggered by a government decision if an exceptionally large number of migrants arrive in a short period of time or if hybrid activities aiming to exploit migration were directed against Finland. However, the parliament did not manage to consider the proposal by the end of the electoral term (29 March 2023) and it was allowed to lapse. The next government will decide if the changes are proposed again. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Finland |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
The AMIF-funded TERTTU project came to an end, after developing a health examination protocol for assessing applicants' health, well-being and health care needs in the arrival stage. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Finland |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
The start and end point of an applicant’s right to work was clarified. |
FI LEG 01 2019 |
|
Finland |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Legal assistance and representation |
Free legal aid was made available to all applicants for international protection during an interview, not only to vulnerable groups. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Finland |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Resettlement and humanitarian admissions |
The refugee quota was increased by about 500 refugees, with a total of 1,500 persons to be transferred in 2022, due to the deterioration of the security situation in Afghanistan. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Finland |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Access to procedure |
The Finnish Immigration Service published a report on the duty of the authorities to clarify and gather information on immigration matters in general, including for asylum applications. The report forms part of the AMIF-funded MISEC project, which aims to strengthen cooperation between immigration and security authorities. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Finland |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
A survey commissioned by the Ministry of the Interior in 2018 was finalised, examining the asylum procedure as a whole (including the practices of the administrative courts) and cooperation between the different authorities. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Finland |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to process asylum applications |
An amendment to the Aliens Act defined the criteria for subsequent applications. |
FI LEG 01 2019 |
|
Finland |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to assess protection needs |
The Smart Border package was submitted to the parliament, bringing new technological means of processing at the border, concerning specifically the Aliens Act and other relevant legislative provisions. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Finland |
2021 |
Institutional |
|
The Dublin procedure |
The entire staff of the Dublin unit changed and new colleagues received extensive training throughout the year. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Finland |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Interpretation services |
New quality assurance modalities for interpretation services were put in place in 2021 after the launch of the project Tulppani in 2020. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Finland |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Interpretation services |
The Tulppaani project developed a quality control model for interpretation during asylum interviews, using peer-to-peer review, random checks and new guidelines for interpreters. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Finland |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups |
A guide was published for case workers on domestic violence in the context of asylum. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Finland |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The Immigration Service suspended the pronouncement of negative decisions on removals to Afghanistan on 9 July 2021. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Finland |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
The Let's talk about children! method was fully rolled out in reception centres. The Finnish Immigration Service and MIELU adapted the method to the context of asylum in an AMIF-funded project between 2017-2020. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Finland |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
A horizontal action plan against trafficking in human beings was drafted and completed in the beginning of 2021. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Finland |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Content of protection |
The Government Programme's proposal was under examination to eliminate the sufficient financial resources criteria for family reunifications initiated by minor beneficiaries of international protection. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Finland |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Content of protection |
The government put a legislative proposal to consultation on the comprehensive reform of integration. The new system would increase the responsibility of municipalities in the integration process. The programme would include an exam in the Finnish or Swedish language. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Finland |
2022 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The Finnish Immigration Service announced in March 2023 that it had gathered sufficient, updated country information from Afghanistan on the security situation of different provinces and had been able to start making decisions for all Afghan applicants. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Finland |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
The age limit for follow-up care for unaccompanied children was extended from 21 years to 25 years. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |