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16.4.2026 | The EU Pact on Migration and Asylum establishes a common EU system to strengthen external border control, ensure effective identification of third-country nationals and enhance procedures for asylum and return. The Pact will be implemented in Finland through a series of national legislative amendments. The Government submitted a proposal on these amendments to Parliament on 16 April.

30.3.2026 | The Ministry of the Interior has set up a project to improve the efficiency of asylum procedures, bringing together key administrative branches and actors.

22.12.2025 | The Ministry of the Interior has circulated for comment the draft government proposal on the national legislative amendments that relate to the implementation of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum. The deadline for comments is 2 February 2026.

10.4.2026 | Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen is currently visiting Türkiye to meet with the Turkish Minister of Interior Mustafa Çiftçi. Topics on the ministers’ agenda include the effects of the situation in the Middle East on migration as well as counterterrorism and police cooperation.

26.5.2026 | The Finnish Ministry of the Interior has set up a legislative project to extend the validity of the Act on Temporary Measures to Combat Instrumentalised Migration (‘Border Security Act’). The purpose of the act is to respond to efforts to put pressure on Finland through the instrumentalisation of migrants. 

16.4.2026 | On 16 April 2026, the Government submitted to Parliament a proposal to tighten the provisions concerning removal from the country and entry bans. The enforcement of deportation decisions would be expedited. In addition, an entry ban could in future be imposed in advance if a person is considered a serious danger to security.

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo visited Kyiv on 28 May 2025. Finland supports Ukraine On 24 February 2022, Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine in breach of the UN Charter and international law. Finland strongly condemns Russia’s military actions in...

12.6.2025 | On 16 April, the European Commission submitted a proposal to establish a list of safe countries of origin for asylum seekers. The aim is to facilitate a swift examination of asylum applications that are likely to be unfounded: if the applicant comes from a safe country of origin, the examination of their application would be accelerated. The Government informed Parliament of the proposal by submitting a Union communication on 12 June.

15.10.2024 | The Ministry of the Interior has set up a project to prepare the necessary legislative amendments to implement the new EU Pact on Migration and Asylum in Finland.

18.6.2025 | On 20 May, the European Commission submitted a proposal to amend the rules concerning safe third countries. The aim is to make it possible for persons seeking asylum in the EU to go through the asylum process and receive international protection in safe countries outside the EU, the EEA and the Schengen area more often than at present. The Government informed Parliament of the proposal by submitting a Union communication on 18 June.

19.6.2025 | The interior ministers of Finland, Norway, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland and Sweden will meet in Estonia on 19 and 20 June. The topics on their agenda include border issues and the situation in the Baltic Sea. Finland will be represented at the meeting by Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen.

18.6.2025 | The validity of the Act on Temporary Measures to Combat Instrumentalised Migration (‘Border Security Act’) will be extended until 31 December 2026. The purpose of the act is to prevent efforts to put pressure on Finland through the instrumentalisation of migrants. The Government submitted the relevant amendments for approval on 18 June. The President of the Republic is scheduled to approve the amendments on 27 June, and they will enter into force on 1 July.

21.11.2025 | In its meeting on Friday 21 November, the Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs discussed Finland’s proactive efforts to influence EU policy in 2026 and took stock of the success of advance influence efforts in 2025. Other topics on the agenda included promoting defence readiness, the proposal for the EU’s next multiannual financial framework, asylum and migration policy and the EU-African Union Summit.

6.3.2025 | The Government proposes to improve the efficiency of examining asylum applications. At the same time, restrictions would be placed on the ability of beneficiaries of international protection to visit the countries from which they have fled. The enforcement of deportation decisions would also be streamlined. The Government submitted the proposal for the amendments to the Aliens Act to Parliament on 6 March. The intention is that the proposed amendments would enter into force as soon as possible.

16.4.2025 | The Government has renewed its decision on the closure of border crossing points on the eastern border. On 16 April 2025, the Government decided that the border crossing points on the eastern border remain closed and the submission of applications for international protection continue to be centralised. The decision will remain in force until further notice.

27.3.2025 | The Finnish Government proposes to extend the validity of the Act on Temporary Measures to Combat Instrumentalised Migration (‘Border Security Act’) until 31 December 2026. The purpose of the act is to prevent efforts to put pressure on Finland through the instrumentalisation of migrants. The Government submitted a proposal on the matter to Parliament on 27 March. 

26.11.2024 | The Ministry of the Interior has sent out for comments a draft government proposal to reform the procedure for examining asylum applications. At the same time, the enforcement of decisions on deportation would be streamlined and restrictions would be placed on the ability of beneficiaries of international protection to visit the countries from which they have fled.

21.11.2024 | International protection will be made temporary in nature and the length of permits will be shortened to the minimum allowed by EU law. Committing offences and endangering national security will lead to the refusal or end of protection status. The Government submitted the amendments to the Aliens Act for approval on Thursday 21 November. The President of the Republic is to approve the amendments on Friday. The amendments will enter into force on 2 January 2025.

18.4.2024 | On 18 April, the Government submitted to Parliament a proposal for introducing a new border procedure. The Aliens Act will be amended in line with the EU Asylum Procedures Directive to introduce the new border procedure in Finland. The purpose of the border procedure is to enhance the examination of unfounded applications and the return of applicants whose application has been rejected. In addition, this will prevent secondary movements of asylum seekers to other EU countries. 

9.1.2025 | The Finnish Ministry of the Interior has set up a legislative project to extend the validity of the Act on Temporary Measures to Combat Instrumentalised Migration (‘Border Security Act’). The purpose of the act is to respond to efforts to put pressure on Finland through the instrumentalisation of migrants.