Government proposal to amend legislation in line with the Pact are submitted to the Parliament

The Ministry of the Interior informed that the government submitted a proposal to the Parliament with amendments to the current legal framework in view of implementing the new instruments of the Pact on Migration and Asylum. The proposal considers both the Pact objectives to strengthen CEAS and the governmental programme top tighten asylum policy and includes new legislation as well as amendments of the current legal framework.

The main highlights of this proposal are:

Screening process: aimed to identify individuals, assess potential risks and direct them either to asylum or to return – will last approximately 3-7 days and will be conducted by the Border Guard and Customs at the external border and by the police inland.

Safe country concept: while EU lists of safe third countries and safe countries of origin may be adopted, the government could adopt national lists by decree, as national solutions when the applicant’s profile in Finland is different than the general situation in the EU.

Reception of asylum applicants or beneficiaries of temporary protection:

• Provided only for first time applicants and for a limited duration compared to the current system. 
• Material reception conditions may be reduced by 20% for refusal to comply with obligations, resulting even in end of services but in such scenario the person’s livelihood will be secured with goods.
• Beneficiaries of temporary protection would have to identify themselves at a reception centre once a month and an asylum seeker 2–4 times a month. The asylum applicant's stay could be limited to a specific geographical area. 
• As a novelty, the applicant's freedom of movement could be restricted on grounds of public order or for procedural reasons, if there is a risk of absconding. Consequently, the applicant would be required to stay at a specific reception centre and report there periodically. This measure is different than and in addition to the current detention measure that can be imposed as a security measure.

Detailed information on the proposal and the legislative process is available here:

1. Government proposal SM/2026/20 includes changes of the national legislation to align it with the Pact, in particular the Aliens Act and the Act on the Reception of Applicants for International Protection and the Identification and Assistance of Victims of Human Trafficking. The scope of the amendments includes in particular the competent authorities, the examination of applications for international protection, legal aid, appeals and reception services.
2. Government proposal SM/2026/21 covers amendments to the Aliens Act on removal, with the aim of speeding up certain decisions on return, while respecting the principle of non-refoulement, and aligning the provisions with the EU law and with needs which emerged from practice. A new ground for prior entry ban is introduced on ground of security risk to Finland and to the Schengen area. The amendments will specify the way to calculate the maximum duration of detention when the measure consists of periods of detention based on several different grounds.