Government proposes reforms to integration services and funding for integration
The Government has submitted a proposal on the reform of integration services to Parliament. The aim is to reform the integration system to encourage integration, to make it more binding and to increase the immigrants' responsibility for their own integration.
The reform proposal is based on the Government Programme, according to which immigrants will integrate into Finland through work. As per the proposal, immigrants would have a stronger obligation to advance their own integration and employment by seeking access to and participating in services. Immigrants would also be required to take part in an assessment of skills and service needs related to integration. If the immigrant does not comply with their integration plan, their eligibility for unemployment benefits could be restricted or social assistance reduced.
One funding channel for integration
In the future, funding for integration training would be provided through one channel, municipalities. Municipalities would be assigned a new task to provide literacy training. Savings would also be achieved by addressing overlapping funding for integration training. The amendments aim to achieve better results in integration and literacy training in municipalities.
The amendments would enter into force on 1 January 2027.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment will organise a stakeholder event on the Government's proposal on Thursday 7 May 2026 from 9:00 to 10:30 through Teams. At the event, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment will present the proposed changes to training that promotes integration and language skills and the Ministry of Education and Culture their impact on liberal adult education. The Finnish National Agency for Education will also be heard at the event.
Further information:
Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment's press release 23 April 2026: Government submits proposal to Parliament on integration services reform
Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment's information event 7 May 2026 (in Finnish)
Integration services reform project at kotoutuminen.fi
Frequently asked questions about the integration services reform