According to the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR, there were more than 120 million people in the world in May 2024 who had had to flee from persecution and conflict. According to the UNHCR, a significant proportion of the world’s refugees, more than 63 million, are internally displaced persons. Many of the world’s refugees fleeing conflict are hosted by their neighbouring countries, and only a fraction of refugees arrive in Europe and Finland. 

Hosting refugees is based on international agreements, such as the 1951 UN Geneva Refugee Convention. Finland is also committed to complying with the Convention. Finland co-operates with the UNHCR and hosts resettled refugees, also referred to as ‘quota refugees’. Finland hosts highly vulnerable people as part of the refugee quota. 

The Finnish Parliament decides on the size of the refugee quota when the Budget is adopted. The allocation of the quota to the different nationalities and countries of origin is made by a Finnish government decision on the basis of a proposal from the UNHCR. Finland’s refugee quota for 2025 is 500 persons.

Quota refugees arrive directly in their hosting municipalities in Finland. 

Asylum seekers also arrive in Finland 

An asylum seeker is a person seeking protection and the right of residence in a foreign country. Asylum seekers do not yet have a Finnish residence permit. 

During the asylum procedure, asylum seekers live in reception centres or private accommodation. Asylum seekers who enter the country as unaccompanied minors, meaning they are under 18 years and arrive without a parent or carer, are placed in group homes while their applications are processed.  Unaccompanied minors can also live in private accommodation or with a person close to them. 

An asylum seeker is granted refugee status if they are granted asylum or subsidiary protection. An asylum seeker can also obtain a residence permit in Finland on other grounds. After an asylum seeker receives a residence permit, they can settle in a municipality either independently or through municipal placement with help from their reception centre. 

In 2023 in Finland, 5,372 asylum applications were made as well as 813 subsequent applications. 

More information:

• Refugee reception 
• UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR)
• Asylum seekers and refugees on the website of the Ministry of the Interior
• Quota refugees on the website of the Finnish Immigration Service
• Applying for asylum in Finland on the website of the Finnish Immigration Service