Government issues decree on content and implementation of multilingual civic orientation for immigrants

The new Integration Act, which will enter into force at the beginning of 2025, will be supplemented by decrees. The Government’s integration policy is based on language learning, work, familiarisation with Finnish society and compliance with its rules.

The Government issued decrees supplementing the Integration Act in its plenary session on 24 
October 2024.

Beginning in 2025, municipalities must organise multilingual civic orientation for integration clients as part of integration services. The orientation would give immigrants information on the values and norms of Finnish society, the rights and obligations of individuals, employment and other aspects of participating in Finnish society.

Multilingual civic orientation will be implemented mainly as instruction and in the immigrant’s own mother tongue or a language that the immigrant knows well. It should include at least 70 hours of teaching or independent studies.

In addition, the Government issued a decree on the fee payable to a representative of an unaccompanied minor. The Government plans to issue the other decrees supplementing the Integration Act later.

Inquiries:
Nea Brandt, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 295 047 239