Asylum seekers face lengthy wait times in Finland, with many applications unresolved

Since last fall, approximately half of the asylum seekers who entered Finland via the eastern border are still awaiting decisions on their applications. Since August of the previous year, over 1,300 asylum seekers have arrived, with only about 130 receiving positive responses and another 130 facing rejections. A significant number of applications have lapsed due to hundreds of seekers disappearing from reception centers.

The average processing time for these applications has been 163 days, roughly five months, which includes those that are no longer active. By law, asylum applications are typically to be processed within six months, but this timeframe can extend due to the high volume of cases being handled.

Among those waiting for decisions is 37-year-old Azzam Zakaria from Syria. He left Syria in October of the previous year, making his way through Moscow to St. Petersburg and ultimately crossing into Finland at the Vaalimaa border crossing when it reopened briefly. Zakaria managed to travel independently without a smuggler, having researched immigration routes online and purchasing a used bicycle in St. Petersburg.

While many asylum seekers have continued onward to other destinations in Europe, Zakaria hopes to settle in Finland, citing his background as a construction engineer and the educational opportunities available for his children.

Efforts are being made by the immigration authorities to expedite the processing of asylum applications by enhancing operational efficiency, including system improvements and better training for staff. Zakaria’s situation underscores the anxiety that many face while awaiting their fate, particularly with recent government proposals that could tighten requirements for family reunification.