Refugees and asylum seekers

People apply for asylum for many different reasons, including persecution experienced in the home country due to political opinion or bad living conditions, such as poverty, war and environmental disasters.

Finland helps those in need by, for example, participating in the prevention of circumstances that promote exile through participation in the operations of the UN peace corps, by using development co-operation funds for areas with refugees and by accepting refugees.

The admission of refugees is carried out within the refugee quota, and by granting residence permits to persons who have applied for international protection.

Customer bulletins

Waiting period of more than half a year for asylum interviews (23.7.2010)

• Dublin decisions normally in a few months
• Decision for EU citizens may take only one day
• Figures refer to Finnish Immigration Service only

Certificate of the asylum seeker’s right to work
will be subject to a charge (30.4.2010)

Further information

Flowchart: applying for an asylum

Flowchart: selection of quota refugees

Flowchart: Applying for a travel dokument

Further information for refugees and asylum seekers

Frequently asked questions: refugees and asylum seekers