The Finnish Immigration Service sign. Photo: Emmi Korhonen / Lehtikuva
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Finland will open a specialised reception facility in June 2025 aimed at accelerating the voluntary and forced return of asylum seekers whose applications have been denied, the Finnish Immigration Service announced on Friday.
The new “return centre” will operate at an existing reception facility in Vantaa, on Robert Huberin tie, run by private service provider Luona Oy. The site has functioned as a standard reception centre since 2015.
The centre will offer the same core services as other reception facilities, but with a new emphasis on return-related support. These include individual return counselling, logistical support, and the creation of personalised return plans. The goal is to increase the number of voluntary departures and to streamline enforcement of removals by the police.
Ilkka Haahtela, Director General of the Finnish Immigration Service, said the current system lacks sufficient speed and efficiency when processing returns for people not granted the right to stay.
“The pilot is necessary. Voluntary and forced returns are not currently effective enough,” Haahtela said. “This is being addressed at the EU level too, and Finland is now testing a centralised model.”
The return centre will mainly house asylum seekers who have received a final decision on removal, submitted a second or subsequent application, or whose applications are considered manifestly unfounded. It will also host individuals whose asylum cases are being handled by other countries under international agreements such as the Dublin Regulation.
All residents will be transferred following a personal notice and individual assessment. The Immigration Service will oversee placements in cooperation with the police and other reception centres.
The return centre pilot is part of a broader strategy to ensure the functionality and sustainability of Finland’s asylum system. Officials stress that the system relies on timely departures in cases where protection is not granted.
“The principle is simple: if a person is not authorised to remain, they must leave — ideally on their own initiative. If not, they will be removed,” Haahtela said.
Assisted voluntary return is a key element. It is designed for individuals who have changed their view of staying in Finland or whose circumstances in their country of origin have shifted. Some applicants, authorities say, may arrive with mistaken assumptions about Finland’s asylum criteria or reception conditions.
The centre will focus on strengthening this voluntary return pathway, which has already seen growth in 2024. The pilot will evaluate whether centralising services and support increases return uptake further.
The Finnish Immigration Service and the police will deepen cooperation during the pilot, aiming to build a more integrated return process. While the Immigration Service oversees reception and referrals, the police remain responsible for carrying out forced removals.
The pilot will include ongoing assessment of its impact on the volume of returns, the effectiveness of removal procedures, and the willingness of rejected asylum seekers to depart voluntarily.
Comparable return-focused centres are already operating in other Nordic countries.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
