Finnish Immigration Service closes down reception centres

The number of asylum applications submitted in 2024 was 45% lower than in 2023. The number of people fleeing Ukraine has also been declining for some time. At the same time, more and more reception centre clients have become residents of municipalities. For these reasons, not as many reception centres are needed as before.

The Finnish Immigration Service is continuously assessing the need for accommodation capacity in the reception system and its cost-effectiveness. Reducing the number of reception centres aims at keeping the operations cost-effective.

“We will terminate contracts with 18 reception centres in total as of 1 April and 1 July, which will save approximately 21 million euros in costs this year. Additionally, we will terminate eight reception centre contracts that will expire in February 2026. These contract terminations are necessary to achieve savings, but they have been timed with regard to, for example, the best interest of children and young people. The first closures will not take place before the end of June, which means that children and young people are not required to move to a municipality or to another reception centre before the school term has ended,” says Director of Reception Services Department Elina Nurmi.

More than 2,200 clients can move to a municipality in 2025

In its decision to reduce reception centres, the Finnish Immigration Service has taken into account that the reception centres that will close in 2025 have approximately 2,200 clients who are eligible to apply for a municipality of residence in Finland. Around 47% of the clients at the reception centres that are to be closed down could move to a municipality immediately if they so wished.

When clients receive a municipality of residence, they can settle in the municipality of their choice. The reception centres provide advice and support to clients in the process of moving to a municipality.

“Clients who do not, or cannot, apply for a municipality of residence will be offered accommodation in another reception centre. These relocations of clients will be planned in cooperation with the reception centres. Clients can also move to private accommodation if they so wish. Reception centre staff will examine the individual situations of clients and discuss the changes with them,” says Nurmi.

Reception centres to be closed down:

The contracts have been terminated as of 1 March 2025, 1 April 2025 and 1 July 2025.

Reception centres that will close in June 2025: 

• Kemi Reception Centre, Hemcare Oy
• Pieksämäki Reception Centre, Kotokunta Oy
• Varkaus Reception Centre, Kotokunta Oy
• Järvenpää Reception Centre, Luona Oy
• Porvoo Reception Centre, Luona Oy
• Satakunta Reception Centre, FRC Satakunta district
• Vaasa Reception Centre, Pohjanmaan Maahanmuuttokeskus Oy
• Kajaani Unit for Minors, Babando Oy

Reception centres that will close in September 2025: 

• Vantaa Reception Centre (apartment-based), Luona Oy
• West Uusimaa Reception Centre (apartment-based), Luona Oy
• Lieksa Reception Centre, Kotokunta Oy
• Valkeakoski Reception Centre, Kotokunta Oy
• Forssa Reception Centre, Kotokunta Oy
• Jämsä Reception Centre, Kotokunta Oy
• Riihimäki Reception Centre, Kotokunta Oy
• Kajaani Reception Centre, Babando Oy
• Åland Reception Centre, FRC Southwest Finland district

Reception centres that will close in December 2025:

• Oravainen Reception Centre, Pohjanmaan Maahanmuuttokeskus Oy

Reception centres that will close in February 2026:

• Joensuu Reception Centre, Kotokunta Oy
• Kuopio Reception Centre, Kotokunta Oy
• Mikkeli Reception Centre, Kotokunta Oy
• Rovaniemi Reception Centre, Kotokunta Oy
• Tampere Reception Centre, Kotokunta Oy
• Hämeenlinna Reception Centre, Kotokunta Oy
• Lahti Reception Centre, Kotokunta Oy
• Jyväskylä Reception Centre, Kotokunta Oy

Media enquiries

Elina Nurmi, Director of Reception Services Department, email: firstname.lastname@migri.fi, tel. 0295 434 036