In Finland without a residence permit
If you are an asylum seeker, you have the right to stay in Finland without a visa or residence permit for as long as your asylum application is being processed.
Even if you have arrived in Finland legally, your stay may become illegal if, for example, you remain in the country even though you have not received a residence permit or the validity of your visa or residence permit has expired.
Information about how to obtain a residence permit for Finland is available on the InfoFinland page Moving to Finland.
Help and advice
Food assistance and accommodation
If you have no money for food or no place to stay the night, you are entitled to emergency accommodation and food assistance. Emergency accommodation is organised by municipalities, parishes and some organisations.
Help and support for undocumented people
You can get help and support for everyday matters at the Diakonissalaitos day centre in Helsinki. You can get service in several different languages. You can call the day centre or contact the centre by email. You can also visit the centre. You can find the contact information on the Diakonissalaitos website.
Legal advice
You can receive legal advice on issues related to being undocumented from a Pakolaisneuvonta (Finnish Refugee Advice Centre) lawyer. The counselling is free of charge.
Paperittomat (Undocumented people) counselling service
tel. 045 2377 104, Mondays from 14.00 to 16.00
email: paperittomat@pakolaisneuvonta.fi (Link opens default mail program)
Advisory services for persons who have received a negative residence permit decision
If you have received a negative residence permit decision, you can get support and advice from the experts of the Return (Paluu) project for voluntary return of the Finnish Refugee Council (Suomen Pakolaisapu). You can find the contact information on the website of the Finnish Refugee Council (Suomen Pakolaisapu).
Deaconess Foundation
Help and support for undocumented peopleLink redirects to another websiteMedical care
If you fall ill or get injured, you are entitled to urgent and necessary medical care in public health care, for example at a health centre or hospital.
Public health care in Finland is organised by the wellbeing services counties (hyvinvointialue). If you need health services, please contact the nearest health and social services centre (sosiaali- ja terveyskeskus) in your residential area.
If you are in Finland without a residence permit, you can access health-related advice, guidance to treatment and multi-professional help through Global Clinic. You can find the contact information on the Global Clinic website.
Read more on the health services of undocumented migrants on the InfoFinland page Health services in Finland.