After the change of regime in Syria in December 2024, many Syrians staying in Europe have returned or are considering returning to Syria. Due to growing interest, the Finnish Immigration Service, the Finnish police and wellbeing services counties have made preparations to support return of Syrians.
The assistance and support provided by authorities aims to enable a controlled and seamless return for those who wish to return to Syria. Preparations for the return of Syrians have been made in other EU Member States as well.
Syrians who have been granted refugee status in Finland and who have a municipality of residence in Finland have the possibility of receiving financial support from their wellbeing services county for returning.
“Before returning to Syria, clients who have received an asylum decision at some point must ask the Finnish Immigration Service to end their refugee status. The reason for this is that only those who return permanently can receive support for returning,” says Johannes Hirvelä, Director of Development of the Finnish Immigration Service.
The Finnish Immigration Service and wellbeing services counties will provide each person who wishes to return to Syria with individual guidance on returning and on life after the return. Clients will be informed of the practical return arrangements and of the circumstances in the country of return, for example. Possible charter flights will be arranged by the police.
The Finnish Immigration Service is closely monitoring developments in Syria. For the time being, changes in Syria’s security situation may be sudden and unpredictable. That is why decision-making on asylum applications submitted by Syrians is still mainly on hold in Finland and in other European countries as well. At the moment, the Finnish Immigration Service has approximately 350 pending asylum applications from Syrians. Decision-making on asylum applications will continue as soon as possible.
Decision-making has been resumed for applications that do not require an assessment of the country’s security situation in the same way as first asylum applications do. These include applications for an extended permit and permanent residence permit for beneficiaries of international protection, alien’s passports and applications for a first residence permit on the basis of family ties.
Media enquiries
Johannes Hirvelä, Director of Development, [email protected], tel. 0295 433 037 (Finnish Immigration Service’s phone number for media representatives)
Please visit:
Our Sponsor