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30.4.2026 | The security situation in the Middle East affects the operation of Finland's missions and VFS application centres in the region. The availability of services may be temporarily limited.

28.11.2025 | The Ministry for Foreign Affairs is reforming its network of missions abroad. In the first stage of its strategic review, the Ministry strengthened Finland’s presence in the United States by establishing a Consulate General in Houston. In the next stage, the Ministry will open commercial offices in locations where Business Finland previously had an office. At the same time, the Ministry for Fore...

19.11.2025 | A report of the Independent International Panel on Arbitrary detention in State-to-State Relations was published in New York on 28 October. Ambassador Marja Lehto served as the Vice-Chair of the Panel.

9.9.2022 | At the presidential session on Friday 9 September, the President of the Republic appointed a new Ambassador to Pakistan and three new non-resident Ambassadors and decided on three authorisations to represent Finland.

6.9.2022 | Finland has sent an expert in international civil protection to Pakistan to assist in coordinating humanitarian aid related to monsoon floods. The expert left Finland on Tuesday 6 September.

26.8.2022 | The Ministry for Foreign Affairs will continue to expand the network of Finnish missions abroad. On 26 August, the President of the Republic approved an amendment to the Decree on the Locations of Finland's Diplomatic Missions and the Provision of Consular Services in the Foreign Service. As a result, Finland will open an Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan, and a Consulate General in Mumbai, India, on 1 September 2022.

27.5.2022 | In line with the Government Programme, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs will continue to expand and strengthen its network of missions. The Finnish Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan, which was closed in 2012 due to the reduction of the network of missions, will be reopened in the autumn. Finland will also open a new Consulate General in Mumbai, India.

13.5.2022 | At the presidential session on Friday 13 May, the President of the Republic appointed a new Ambassador to the Embassy of Finland in Jakarta and a new Head of Mission to the Consulate General in Hong Kong.

12.6.2023 | Finland is supporting UN sustainable development goals by channelling aid to demonstrably effective UN agencies. This support for UNFPA, UNICEF, UN Women and UNDP promotes Finland’s foreign policy goals and values, such as enhancing the rights and equality of women and girls, and people with disabilities.

11.2.2022 | Based on the decision to continue evacuations from Afghanistan, 37 Afghans were brought to Finland late on the evening of Thursday 10 February 2022. In addition, about 10 evacuees from Afghanistan will arrive in Finland in the next few weeks.

3.2.2023 | Somalia’s first Minister of Environment and Climate Change Khadija Mohamed Almakhzoumi visited Finland this week on the invitation of Minister Maria Ohisalo.

26.1.2023 | On 9 January, Director General Kauko Aaltomaa, who is on leave of absence from the Police Department of the Ministry of the Interior, took up his duties as Head of Mission of the European Union Capacity Building Mission in Somalia (EUCAP Somalia). EUCAP Somalia is a civilian crisis management mission under the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy. Its tasks include promoting maritime security in Somalia and supporting the building of the country’s police and judicial administrations.

8.9.2021 | FAQ – How to apply for an entry permit from Afghanistan to Finland and how to get consular services in Afghanistan? Ministry for Foreign Affairs Publication date 8.9.2021 7.57 Type: News item I am a Finnish citizen/ I have a residence permit to Fi...

3.11.2022 | Prime Minister Sanna Marin will represent Finland at the meeting of the Heads of State and Government on Monday 7 November, and during the ministerial week between 14 and 18 November the Finnish delegation will be led by Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Maria Ohisalo.

15.7.2021 | On Thursday 15 July, the President of the Republic appointed a new ambassador to Copenhagen and non-resident ambassadors to Liechtenstein and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

1.9.2022 | The Government proposes EUR 1.3 billion in appropriations for the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Support for Ukraine will continue to be at the heart of the Ministry’s budget in 2023.

9.11.2023 | Former President of the Republic of Finland, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Ambassador and State Secretary of the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Martti Ahtisaari passed away in Helsinki on 16 October 2023 at the age of 86. He was born on 23 June 1937 in Vyborg.

10.9.2021 | Today, on 13 September 2021, the United Nations is organising a High-level Ministerial Meeting on the Humanitarian Situation in Afghanistan. The UN estimates that approximately half of the population of the country need humanitarian assistance. Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari will represent Finland at the meeting.

19.5.2021 | Human rights defenders play an important role in strengthening democracy-building and in supporting sustainable development. At the same time, however, human rights defenders continue to be subjected to sanctions, which are getting even tighter. The shrinking space of civil society and restrictions on freedom of expression threaten the position of human rights defenders. At an event in April, Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto exchanged views with women human rights defenders (WHRDs).

6.4.2021 | Climate and economic policies were discussed by the finance ministers of over 60 countries at the meeting of the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action on 6 April 2021. In its spring meeting, the Coalition acquired eight new member countries, including the United States, Japan and South Korea.