Migration affairs will be transferred from the Ministry of Labour to the Ministry of the Interior on the 1st of January 2008. New contact information:

Web address: www.intermin.fi
Email address: givenname.surname@intermin.fi
Telephone: +358 (0)9 16001 (exchange)
Postal address: P.O. Box 26, FI-00023 Government

The web pages providing information on the Finnish working life for foreigners will still be available at www.mol.fi/finnwork. The pages contain information about the rules of working life, permits needed to work and the working culture in Finland.

The Directorate of Immigration changes its name into Finnish Immigration Service on the 1st of January 2008. The new web address is www.migri.fi.

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The concept of immigrant integration became established in Finland when the Integration Act (493/1999) entered into force. The Act aims at enabling immigrants to participate in the functioning of the Finnish society just like everyone else living here. In addition to immigrants themselves, key actors in integration include municipalities, employment offices and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

Learning Finnish or Swedish is one of the essential prerequisites of integration. The objective regarding immigrants of working age is to facilitate their access to worklife and ensure that the Finnish society can benefit from their competence and education. The employment office and municipal advisers specialised in immigrant services help new arrivals get off to a start.