Finnish Immigration Service (abbreviated Migri,[1] Swedish: Migrationsverket, Finnish: Maahanmuuttovirasto) is an agency under the Ministry of the Interior that implements Finland's immigration policy and provides information services to support political decision-making as well as national and international cooperation.[2] The agency started operations in 1995 under the name Ulkomaalaisvirasto, a name which was used until 2008.[3][4]
The Immigration Office of the Ministry of the Interior was established in 1948 and abolished in 1989, when the Immigration Center of the Ministry of the Interior was founded, known since 1995 as the Directorate of Immigration. Since 2008, immigration matters have been handled by the Finnish Immigration Service.[5]
The Finnish Immigration Service is a decision-making organization on immigration, asylum, refugee, and citizenship matters. Its operations include implementing immigration policy, ensuring good governance, and promoting human and fundamental rights as well as controlled immigration.[6] Since 2017, Migri's responsibilities have expanded to include managing extensions of existing residence permits and residency matters for EU citizens.[7][8]