Division of tasks in immigration affairs

Division of tasks in immigration affairs

When a foreigner wants to enter and reside in Finland, he or she may have to deal with several different authorities. Many other authorities in addition to the Finnish Immigration Service handle issues connected to immigration.

The most important partners in immigration issues are

  • Ministry of the Interior as well as the police, border guard authorities, reception centres for asylum seekers and the Ombudsman for Minorities, which are subordinate to the Ministry of the Interior
  • Ministry for Foreign Affairs as well as Finnish diplomatic missions abroad, which are subordinate to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs
  • Ministry of Employment and the Economy as well as Employment and Economic Development Offices and Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment, which are subordinate to the Ministry of Employment and the Economy
  • Ministry of Education as well as The Finnish National Board of Education and Centre for International Mobility CIMO, which are subordinate to the Ministry of Education
  • Ministry of Justice as well as Administrative Courts and the Supreme Administrative Court as appellate authorities, which are subordinate to the Ministry of Justice

The table below provides a general view of the most central matters concerning immigration and the authorities that manage and make decisions on these matters.

Immigration Issues in Finland

IssuesAuthorities in charge

Immigration policy, focus points

Immigration policy is directed by the Minister of the Interior in accordance with government policy

Immigration administration and policy

 Ministry of the Interior

Development of immigration legislation

Ministry of the Interior

Maahanmuuttoviraston tulosohjaus

Ministry of the Interior

Visa Diplomatic missions
Residence permit for a family member of a Finnish citizen in Finland Police
Residence permit for a family member of a foreigner living in Finland Finnish Immigration Service
Residence permit for EU/EEA citizen Police
Residence permit for an employed person

Consideration of workforce needs: Employment and Economic Development Office

Other conditions: Finnish Immigration Service

Residence permit for a self-employed person

Prerequisites for self-employment:

Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment

Other prerequisites: Finnish Immigration Service

Asylum
Residence permit on the basis of subsidiary protection or humanitarian protection

Asylum interview and decision: Finnish Immigration Service

Management and planning of reception of refugees: Finnish Immigration Service

Establishment and closure of reception centres: Ministry of the Interior

Placement into municipalities of quota refugees and asylum seekers who have been granted a residence permit:
ELY Centres

Extension of residence permit Police, in special cases Finnish Immigration Service
Refusal of entry Frontier Guard, Police, Finnish Immigration Service
Deportation

Recommendation: Police, Frontier Guard

Decision: Finnish Immigration Service

Implementation: Police

Finnish citizenship upon application or by declaration Finnish Immigration Service
Appeals

Administrative courts (asylum matters: Helsinki Administrative Court)

Supreme Administrative Court

Integration into society The Ministry of Employment and the Economy, Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment, municipalities
Educational and cultural services Ministry of Education and National Board of Education