Quota refugees to Finland

You can find information on applying for asylum on the InfoFinland page Asylum in Finland.

You cannot apply to become a quota refugee (kiintiöpakolainen) through Finnish officials. Nor is it possible to suggest another person, such as a friend or a relative, as a quota refugee. As quota refugees, Finland accepts persons who are considered refugees by the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR. Quota refugees are selected from among the persons proposed to Finland by the UNHCR. The Finnish authorities interview the refugees proposed by the UNHCR and, on the basis of these interviews, select the persons who will be admitted to Finland. Such interviews are performed in the refugees’ countries of residence, usually in refugee camps or the UNHCR’s premises.

The Finnish Parliament decides how many refugees are admitted to the country. Finland’s refugee quota in 2025 is 500 persons. Together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, the Ministry of the Interior decides which countries to admit quota refugees from.

The Movingtofinland.fi website provides a range of information for quota refugees on moving to and living in Finland.

Quota refugees arrive at Helsinki-Vantaa airport, where employees of Luona Oy are responsible for arranging their reception, together with that of their families, and for facilitating their contact with the municipality.

The municipality and the wellbeing services county provide the local services needed by the quota refugees. These include counselling and guidance, integration services as well as health and social services.

In addition, volunteers from the Finnish Red Cross (SPR) are involved in welcoming refugees in municipalities and supporting integration. They organise, among other things, joint activities, housing assistance and friendship services.

Refugees can seek assistance and legal advice from the Finnish Refugee Advice Centre or legal aid offices, for example.

The Finnish Refugee Council also helps refugees and immigrants with issues related to things like integration, housing and establishing their own organisations.

Trauma and mental health

You can seek help and treatment in Finland if you have been in traumatic situations, for example, tortured in your home country, witnessed violence or have had difficult war experiences. Read more on issues related to mental health on the InfoFinland page Mental health.