On this page, you will find:
To find organisations working for LGBTQI+ rights, visit our Finland LGBTQI+ Resources page.
For Finland country of origin information (COI) experts, reports, commentaries, and relevant documents visit our Finland COI page.
Refugee protection
Click here to see the numbers and origins of refugees hosted by Finland.
The following sections contain information on the most important international treaties and agreements of which Finland is signatory, as well as national legislation relevant to the protection of refugees.
In 1968, Finland acceded to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and to the 1967 Protocol. Regarding statelessness, Finland also acceded to the 1954 Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons in 1968. Finally, in 2008, Finland acceded to both the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness and the 1997 European Convention on Nationality.
Finally, as a Member State of the European Union, Finland is bound by the Common European Asylum System— the European Union’s framework for asylum seekers.
Finland has a well-established asylum system in place, and the Finnish Aliens Act contains most of the domestic legal provisions relating to asylum. The Ministry of the Interior has the overall responsibility for the issues covered by the Act. The Finnish Immigration Service (“Migri”) is responsible for handling all asylum applications.
Additionally, the Finnish Nationality Act serves as the key piece of legislation with regards to the granting of Finnish citizenship. Finland’s current Nationality Act took effect in September 2011.
Legal aid organisations
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Address: Pengerkatu 6, Kallio, Helsinki, Finland
Email: vapaaliikkuvuus@gmail.com
Free Movement (Vapaa liikkuvuus) is a network of migration activists who support general freedom of movement. The network offers counselling services to migrants and their supporters. Time is taken during counselling sessions to discuss, among other things, the asylum process, threats of deportation and the process of applying for residence. Please find further information here.
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Address: Helsinki, Finland
Tel: +358 29 0092590
Email: info@jurinet.fi
Oikeusapu is a law firm that provides legal aid and support to clients who cannot afford legal services, including refugees and migrants. If you wish for an appointment, please contact the office of your choosing to book an appointment or a remote meeting.
Website
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Address: Pasilanraitio 9 B, Helsinki, Finland
Tel: +358 9 23139300
Email: pan@pakolaisneuvonta.fi
The Refugee Advice Centre is a law firm specializing in immigration law and a non-governmental organization engaged in advocacy and expert work. Contact them if you need a lawyer, information or training on asylum matters.
Details of regional offices are available on their website.
Lawyers of the Refugee Advice Centre give legal aid to asylum seekers in different stages of the asylum procedure. The Refugee Advice Centre also works to promote the legal rights of asylum seekers, refugees and other foreigners. The organisation is recognised as an expert in refugee and aliens affairs in Finland.
Website
Email: contact@w2eu.info or w2eu_info@yahoo.com
The Welcome to Europe website is an independent source of information for refugees coming to Europe. It might be useful on their journey to and through Europe by giving access to counseling and useful contacts in different European countries. Their Finland country page gives information on the Finnish asylum application process and provides useful contacts.
Organisations providing other support to refugees
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Address: Tehtaankatu 1a, 00140 Helsinki, Finland
Tel: +358 20 7012000
Email: info@punainenristi.fi
The refugee activities of the Finnish Red Cross focus on supporting the integration of immigrants and promoting tolerance. The FRC maintains reception centres for asylum seekers and is also prepared to organise the emergency reception of large groups of unexpectedly arriving asylum seekers. FRC’s responsibilities also include practical arrangements for family reunification, receiving quota refugees at the airport and tracing work.
Volunteers are trained to become friend visitors for immigrants. Their contacts with Finnish people are further encouraged through activity groups and international meeting points.
The FRC acts as the representative of the UNHCR in Finland in refugee related legal matters and advocates for a human rights based refugee and immigration policy.
Website
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Address: Ratapihantie 9, Helsinki, Finland
Tel: +358 29 5666817
Email: yvv@oikeus.fi
The Non-Discrimination Ombudsman is an autonomous and independent authority. The task of the Ombudsman is to promote equality and to prevent discrimination. The Ombudsman also supervises removal from the country and is the National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Human Beings. The Ombudsman further works towards improving the rights and status of foreign nationals.
Website
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Address: Linna 6th floor, Kalevantie 5 33014 Tampere, Finland
Tel: +358 (0)3 3551 7696
Email: anitta.kynsilehto@tuni.fi
Contact person: Anitta Kynsilehto
TAPRI is an independent research centre within the framework of the Institute for Social Research, the University of Tampere. Its Mediterranean Studies Project focuses on Euro-Mediterranean relations, international security issues and the evolution of different cultural spheres around the Mediterranean. TAPRI Mediterranean Studies Project is a member of the Euromed Human Rights Network’s Migration and Asylum Working group.
Finland LGBTQI+ Resources
Find organisations working for refugee LGBTQI+ rights in Finland.
Finland COI
Find Finland Country of Origin information (COI) experts, reports, commentaries, and relevant documents.
We are always looking to expand the resources on our platform. If you know about relevant resources, or you are aware of organisations and/or individuals to include in our directories, please get in touch.
Last updated May 2023