The purpose of the Act on the Promotion of Immigrant Integration is to support and promote integration and make it easier for immigrants to play an active role in Finnish society.
Immigrants should be offered measures and services that promote and support integration, especially in the initial period after their arrival in the country. These include instruction in the Finnish or Swedish language, as well as information about the Finnish society and culture and opportunities of finding employment and pursuing education.
The aim is that the measures and services referred to in the act to promote the immigrants’ opportunities of achieving an equal status in society with the rest of the population regarding both their rights and obligations.
The purpose of the Act on the Promotion of Immigrant Integration is also to promote gender equality, non-discrimination and positive interaction between different population groups. The goal of the measures laid down in the act is to support immigrants’ inclusion and possibilities of exerting influence as well as two-way integration.
The Act on the Promotion of Immigrant Integration also applies to persons residing in Finland temporarily
The Act on the Promotion of Immigrant Integration applies to persons possessing a valid residence permit in Finland under the Aliens Act. The scope of the act extends to EU and Nordic citizens and their family members, if their right of residence has been registered or they have been issued with a residence card under the Aliens Act.
The act does not apply to persons with Finnish citizenship, excluding victims of human trafficking.
Persons who immigrate to Finland on a temporary basis also have access to the measures and services referred to in the act. Such persons include students and those who have been issued with a temporary residence permit based on employment.
The current Integration Act has been amended to meet Parliament’s requirements on promoting integration. The comprehensive reform of the Integration Act will enter into force on 1 January 2025. Read more about the reform of the Integration Act.
Additional information:
Act on the Promotion of Immigrant Integration
Government decree on initial assessment associated with promoting integration (in Finnish)
Government decree on reimbursement of the costs of promoting integration to municipalities from state funds (in Finnish)
Government decree on the fees and reimbursement of costs paid to the representative of an unaccompanied minor (in Finnish)
Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment guideline on reimbursing the costs referred to in the Act on the Promotion of Immigrant Integration to municipalities (in Finnish)
The Act on the Promotion of Immigrant Integration guides integration work
