The Finnish Immigration Service announced that as of 2nd January 2025 the Aliens Act has been amended with regard to the content of protection. As such, the following changes were made:
- the first residence permit on the basis of refugee status will be valid for three years instead of the previous four years and the extension will also be for three years.
- a residence permit on the basis of subsidiary protection will be issued for one year instead of previously four years.
- an extended permit based on subsidiary protection will be issued for two years instead of the previously four years.
- new grounds were added for refusal to grant international protection and for ending the status, precisely asylum will not be granted or will be ended if the person is considered to be a danger to society because they have been convicted of a particularly aggravated crime after 2nd January 2025 when the amendment entered into force.
The aim of the changes is to remove the protection status more effectively from persons who no longer need it.