The Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) has extended the deadline for the identification of applicants for residence permits, citizenship or right of residence until 31 December 2021.
According to Migri's customer bulletin, this extension applies both to the procedures to be carried out at the service points of the migration agency and at the Finnish missions abroad.
Normally an applicant for a residence permit, registration of right of residence or for citizenship is required to visit a Finnish mission abroad (embassy or consulate) or one of the service points of Migri in Finland within three months from submitting the application in the online service Enter Finland.
This deadline for identification has now been extended until the end of the year.
The extended time limit also applies to those requests for additional information that require visiting a Finnish mission, says the agency.
As explained by Migri in its customer bulletin, the aim is "to ease the situation of those applicants who have submitted their application in the online service Enter Finland, but are unable to visit a Finnish mission abroad or a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service in Finland in time due to the coronavirus epidemic."
Missions affected by local restrictions
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Finnish missions abroad can only see a limited number of residence permit customers.
According to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, restrictions put in place by different countries affect the closure of missions and VFS Global centres. The Finnish Immigration Service says it cannot influence the operation of the foreign missions and centres.
The Finnish Immigration Service reminds that it cannot start processing applications before applicants have proved their identity.
