Image: Antti J. Leinonen

Immigration authorities in Finland say they have re-assessed the security situation in Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia and found an improvement in the local security situation. Based on the new appraisal, officials say that they believe it is now safe for nationals to return to these countries.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs still advises Finnish citizens to avoid all travel to these locations, however.

In conjunction with recent legal reforms, the security review effectively makes it more difficult for asylum seekers from these three countries to receive extended residence permits on the basis of humanitarian protection.

Humanitarian protection no longer grounds for residence permit

Changes to the Aliens' Act that took effect Monday mean officials will no longer grant residence permits on the basis of humanitarian protection. As a result, asylum seekers applying for extended permits will have to apply for extensions on other grounds. The most common arguments for a permit extension are studies, work, self-employment or family ties in Finland.

Finland has granted a few hundred residence permits annually on the basis of humanitarian protection to applicants coming mainly from Iraq and Somalia. The basis has been used in cases where applicants' country of origin does not meet the requirements for what is known as secondary protection and it is not safe for applicants to return to their native countries.

However the new security assessment means that the secondary protection will also no longer be sufficient grounds for receiving a residence permit in Finland.