The National Integration 2026 event will take place in Vantaa – Programme planning is starting!
1.12.2025
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The Integration 2026 event will bring together professionals in immigrant integration and refugee reception from all over Finland to Vantaa 28-29 October 2026. We are kicking off the event's programme planning with a workshop in December. Register to join!
KEHA Centre enhances online content for integration
22.10.2025
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The KEHA Centre is developing its national online services aimed at both integration professionals and immigrants. The goal is to improve the quality and user-friendliness of the integration-related content under KEHA’s responsibility, while also making more efficient use of resources allocated to content maintenance.
The government aims to lift municipalities' obligations to promote integration
3.9.2025
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According to the 2026 budget proposal, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo's government aims to remove municipalities' legislative obligations in tasks that promote integration. The budget proposal also presents other measures to promote integration.
Obtaining a permanent residence permit would require language skills and work history in the future
5.6.2025
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According to the government's proposal, the conditions for a permanent residence permit would be tightened, among other things, by extending the continuous period of residence required for the permit. In the future, applicants would also be required to have knowledge of Finnish or Swedish and a work history of a certain length. The legislative amendments are scheduled to enter into force on 8 January 2026.
Employment rate of foreigners fell at the end of 2024
28.3.2025
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According to the Labour Force Survey, the employment rate of foreigners was 59.6 per cent in the last quarter of 2024. The economic downturn is still reflected in the employment rate of foreign citizens, which fell slightly from the previous quarter.
Ukraine, Estonia and Russia most common nationalities among unemployed foreigners
5.3.2025
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The employment review for February shows that 14 per cent of unemployed foreign jobseekers in Finland are Ukrainians. In addition to Ukrainians, Estonians and Russians are the largest nationality groups among unemployed foreigners.
KEHA Centre publishes instructions on cost reimbursements under the Integration Act
5.3.2025
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The Development and Administrative Services Centre (KEHA Centre) has published new instructions on the reimbursement of costs under the Act on the Promotion of Immigrant Integration (681/2023) to municipalities, wellbeing services counties and Åland’s public healthcare services (Ålands hälso- och sjukvård, ÅSH). The instructions are available on the kotoutuminen.fi website.
New guidelines on representation of unaccompanied minors
18.2.2025
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New guidelines on the representation of unaccompanied minors have been published at the kotoutuminen.fi website. The guidelines contain basic information on the duties of persons representing unaccompanied children during their reception and integration in Finland.
A large number of first integration plans were drawn up for the second consecutive year
28.1.2025
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During 2024, a total of 19,770 first integration plans were drawn up for clients of TE services. This is roughly the same as in 2023.
Integration client information system ICDS has been launched
28.1.2025
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The integration client information system ICDS was put into operation on 27 January 2025. Around 40 municipalities are participating in the system during the first phase. Municipalities will be obligated to use the system on 1 January 2027 following a transition period.
Study: Jobseekers with foreign names receive fewer employment opportunities
28.1.2025
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Discrimination in recruitment based on ethnic background has decreased in Finland, but jobseekers with a foreign background still have to submit more applications in order to receive an invitation for a job interview than equally qualified applicants with a Finnish background. Potential workforce remains untapped due to ethnic prejudices.
Final examination of language proficiency begins – Finnish National Agency for Education is in charge of the system
23.1.2025
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In accordance with the new Integration Act, final examination of language proficiency in Finnish or Swedish will be part of integration training courses beginning after 1 January 2025. The Finnish National Agency for Education will be responsible for the final examination system. The examination will be carried out by education providers.
Government integration Programme published
17.1.2025
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The Government Integration Programme for 2024–2027 includes 32 measures based on the Government Programme. Integration policy is based on the learning of Finnish or Swedish, employment, familiarisation with Finnish society and compliance with its rules.
Three decrees to specify the new Integration Act
19.12.2024
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On 19 December 2024, the Government issued three decrees, which specify in more detail the content of the new Integration Act. The new Act will enter into force at the beginning of 2025. The decrees concern the amount of imputed compensation, the assessment of skills and the need for integration services, and the national integration data repository.
Reform to increase overall responsibility of municipalities for integration
18.12.2024
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The comprehensive reform of the Integration Act (KOTO24) aims to speed up the integration and employment of immigrants and to strengthen their knowledge of Finnish society. The reform is related to the T24 reform where employment and economic development services are transferred from the central government to municipalities.
Changes to professional communications on integration during 2025
18.12.2024
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Communications, in particular those on social media, aimed at integration professionals and others involved in the sector will be centralised at the turn of the year. In future, you can follow official communications on integration at kotoutuminen.fi, KEHA Centre’s Tuutti service and on Instagram and LinkedIn.
KEHA Centre to offer work and skills support to professionals from 1 January 2025
16.12.2024
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KEHA Centre will be responsible for the national work and skills support of professionals involved in integration and refugee reception starting at the beginning of 2025. The task will be transferred to the KEHA Centre from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment.
Failure to attend or cancel an integration services appointment involving an interpreter may result in a fee from 1 January 2025
11.12.2024
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Interpretation may be arranged for integration services appointments of the municipality and the employment authority if the customer is unable to communicate in Finnish, Swedish or another language understood by the official. If the customer fails to attend a scheduled meeting and has not cancelled it, a fee could be charged for the interpretation services. A fee may be charged only if there is no acceptable reason for not attending or cancelling the appointment.
Participate in Integration 2024 pre-events on Wednesday 13.11.
29.10.2024
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On Wednesday 13 November, the city of Turku is organising an Integration 2024 pre-event from 2 pm to 8 pm at the Art House (Taiteen talo) with the theme culture supporting Integration. In addition, you can get to know organizations from Turku involved in integration and refugee reception at their own workplaces.
Growth of foreign population is reflected in number of new integration plans
22.10.2024
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In September, the number of unemployed foreign jobseekers totalled 43,952, which is 16 per cent of all unemployed jobseekers. The number of first integration plans is still considerably higher than before 2022, but their number was roughly at the same level as in the third quarter of 2023.
