The act on the reception of persons applying for international protection ensures the livelihood and care for persons applying for international protection, persons under temporary protection and victims of trafficking, respecting fundamental and human rights. At the same time, EU legislation and international conventions binding on Finland must be acknowledged.
The act and any regulations pursuant to it apply to the reception of persons applying for international protection and persons under temporary protection, as well as to assisting victims of human trafficking.
Reception centres are responsible for reception services
A reception centre organises reception services. Persons applying for international protection register as its customers and persons under temporary protection are registered as its customers. The reception centre is also responsible for serving people applying for international protection who have arranged their accommodation independently.
Reception services include
- accommodation,
- reception and spending allowance,
- social services,
- healthcare services,
- interpretation and translation services as well as
- employment and education activities.
The activities may include language teaching of Finnish or Swedish or other studies, childcare, domestic work or other maintenance work.
The smooth transfer from reception centres to a municipality of people under international protection requires good cooperation between the reception centre, municipality, wellbeing services county and ELY Centres.
From the perspective of applying the Act on the Promotion of Immigrant Integration, knowing and applying the Act on the reception of persons applying for international protection is important, particularly in matters concerning the representation of unaccompanied children.
Additional information:
Act on the reception of persons applying for international protection (in Finnish)
