EU Pact on Migration and Asylum: changes to Aliens Act and Reception Act enter into force
The EU's new Pact on Migration and Asylum will enter into force in all EU Member States on 12 June 2026. Amendments to the Aliens Act and the Reception Act will enter into force at the same time.
Asylum applications will be submitted to Finnish Immigration Service
Legislative amendments related to the Pact on Migration and Asylum will enter into force at the same time as the Pact itself. The Pact harmonises the processing of asylum applications in the Member States and supports the EU in external border control.
Applying for asylum (international protection) and the processing of the applications will change as of 12 June 2026. In the future, the applicant must go through three stages before the Finnish Immigration Service can process the application. These stages include making, registering and lodging the application. The police or border authority will remain responsible for the registration of applications. However, the application is now submitted to the Finnish Immigration Service. The changes apply to all applications for international protection submitted from 12 June 2026 onwards. Applications submitted before 12 June 2026 will be processed under the old legislation.
The border procedure that is already in use in Finland will become mandatory for Member States under the new EU Pact. The border procedure aims to process unfounded applications immediately at the border, preventing secondary movement and making the investigation more efficient.
There are strict time limits at different stages of the application process for international protection, and the responsibility of the asylum seeker increases. Applicants can learn about their rights and obligations, for example, through the free legal advice provided by the Finnish Immigration Service and the brochures provided by the EUAA, which are consistent in all Member States.
New obligations for reception centre clients
One of the acts of the Pact is the Reception Conditions Directive, which ensures adequate services for those arriving in the EU and seeking international protection. In Finland, the Reception Conditions Directive will be implemented as part of the reform of the Reception Act.
New obligations for all reception centre clients include regular identification, compliance with the rules and regulations and completing a course on Finnish society. If the client fails to comply with these obligations, their reception allowance may be reduced by 20 per cent. In certain cases, reception services may be cancelled if the client continues to violate the rules and regulations after the reception allowance has been reduced.
In the future, reception services will end no later than three months after the person was granted a residence permit and gained the right to apply for a municipality of residence.
Entry bans may be issued in advance
The Aliens Act will be reformed to speed up the enforcement of deportation decisions. In the future, appealing against a deportation decision on grounds other than criminal offences will also no longer automatically prevent the enforcement of the decision, i.e. the decision can be enforced 30 days after it has been served on the applicant.
In most situations, a separate entry ban can be imposed on a foreigner who has resided in Finland on a residence permit without a related removal order. In the future, a foreign national who does not reside in Finland may also be issued with an advance entry ban for the entire Schengen and EU area, even if the person does not have a previous permit history in Finland. The entry ban is imposed by the police either on a proposal from other security authorities or on their own initiative.
Legislative amendments will affect Ukrainians receiving temporary protection
Under the Aliens Act, a residence permit expires as soon as the Finnish Immigration Service has decided to expel a person from the country, the person is granted Finnish citizenship or the purpose of residence has changed and the permit holder is granted a new residence permit or right of residence.
This change will have an impact on Ukrainians in particular who receive temporary protection. In the future, a person receiving temporary protection may only have one valid residence permit or other right to stay in Finland. A residence permit for temporary protection will expire when the purpose of the stay changes and a new residence permit has been granted to the person.
Further information:
Press releases of the Finnish Immigration Service, 12 June 2026
- EU to reform asylum system – reception services and deportation changes as of 12 June 2026 (in Finnish)
- Applying for international protection and the processing of the applications changes as of 12 June
- Changes in legislation affecting reception services as of 12 June 2026
- Aliens Act amended on 12 June 2026, affects beneficiaries of temporary protection
- Aliens Act amended on 12 June 2026, affects removal from country and entry ban