Warnings to the Finnish Immigration Service over asylum application processing times. Photo: Emmi Korhonen / Lehtikuva
- Previous Article Record heat grips Finland with storms in the southwest
- Next Article Rainy summer triggers early mushroom surge in southern Finland
The Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) has received four formal warnings for breaching statutory time limits in asylum application processing.
The reprimands followed complaints about the handling of applications submitted by Russian nationals in 2024 and early 2025.
According to a review by the Deputy Parliamentary Ombudsman Mikko Sarja, several cases exceeded the maximum legal processing time of 21 months.
The delays ranged from 24 to 28 months from the date of application.
The ombudsman stated that public authorities failed to uphold the legal requirement for timely processing in international protection cases. The investigation focused on applications that had not undergone court appeals. In these examined cases, the Immigration Service had no legal justification for exceeding the time limits.
By the end of November 2024, Migri had approximately 700 Russian asylum applications pending. The backlog increased after the land border between Finland and Russia closed in December 2023, prompting a surge in applications.
According to the Immigration Service, delays were also caused by repeated returns of cases from administrative courts, adding to internal bottlenecks. In addition, authorities reported difficulties obtaining background information from Russian institutions, which complicated the assessment of claims.
Migri said it has begun reforms to shorten processing times. These include a new appointment system and an increase in the number of interpreters. The Ministry of the Interior is monitoring the progress of these measures and is expected to report back to the ombudsman by the end of 2025.
Despite these efforts, the ombudsman’s report concluded that the steps taken had not adequately ensured lawful processing standards. The office received several complaints from applicants and legal representatives, prompting the formal rebuke.
“The legal maximum for processing an asylum application is 21 months,” Mikko Sarja said. “In these cases, that limit was breached without legal justification.”
The Immigration Service has not disputed the ombudsman’s findings. In a statement, it acknowledged the excessive durations and said measures were being taken to address the situation.
The ombudsman did not review cases currently under appeal but stressed that even those should aim for decisions within six months, in line with best administrative practices.
The rebuke from the Deputy Parliamentary Ombudsman adds pressure on the government to improve asylum processing capacity. Migri’s internal reforms remain under evaluation, and the legal requirement for timely decisions remains binding under Finnish immigration law.
HT
- Previous Article Record heat grips Finland with storms in the southwest
- Next Article Rainy summer triggers early mushroom surge in southern Finland
Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
