Published: 15.06.2026

• 2026-06-15Amendments to Finland’s Aliens Act change the status of temporary protection recipients

  Amendments to Finland’s Aliens Act entered into force on 12 June 2026. A person under temporary protection may have only one valid basis for residence; when another permit was issued before 12 June, temporary protection ends automatically on 12 August 2026, along with the related right to social support.

• 2026-04-30Temporary restrictions affect residence-permit services in the Middle East

  Security conditions have temporarily closed some Finnish missions and VFS centres in the Middle East or reduced their services. Applicants are advised to check the relevant centre’s website and notify the Finnish Immigration Service through Enter Finland if they cannot prove their identity within three months of submitting an application.

• 2026-04-20Finland introduces new requirements for Russian non-biometric passports

  From 1 June 2026, Finland will no longer recognise Russian non-biometric passports for new visa and immigration applications, subject to specific exceptions. Until 31 December 2026, such passports remain accepted when they contain a Finnish or other EU/Schengen visa issued before 1 June; exceptions also apply to minors and holders of Finnish residence permits.

• 2026-04-17Finnish government submits proposals to tighten immigration policy

  The government has proposed a citizenship test in Finnish or Swedish, scheduled to be introduced at the beginning of 2027. Other proposals would speed up the deportation of rejected asylum seekers, broaden grounds for entry bans and allow asylum procedures to be transferred to safe third countries.