The government is driving migrants into a dead end – donate to open the way
The government’s anti-immigrant laws are pushing people into undocumented status.
You can help open a way out. Join the resistance and build safety from below.
🎯 Fundraising goal: €8,000. Even a small amount helps a lot.
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Donation via Bank Transfer
Bank Account: FI03 4055 0010 7993 16
Reference Number: 33019 (general donation)
What’s Happening
The government’s anti-immigrant measures are creating undocumented migrants.
In the summer of 2025, several amendments to the Aliens Act came into force, making life difficult or even impossible for immigrants. Stricter residence permit criteria can lead directly to undocumented status through a negative decision, which, following the legislative change, is now an obstacle to obtaining a residence permit.
In order to “reset” their undocumented status, individuals must leave the country before submitting a new residence permit application. But for many, returning to their home country is not a safe option. The new law thus drives migrants into an absurd dead end from which there is no escape.
A negative decision can be appealed, but appealing does not prevent deportation or expulsion from being enforced. This can lead to a situation where a person who is in danger in their home country is deported before their asylum application has even been properly examined.
At the same time, Migri has a high threshold for examining new asylum applications.
The government is thus actively producing undocumented migrants — while also fueling a public debate in which undocumented people are framed as a problem that must be eliminated.
Free Movement as a safety net
Free Movement receives 10–20 requests for assistance every month from people with low incomes who need money to pay for their residence permit applications or to bring their families to Finland.
We now urgently need more donations to be able to respond to the need for support.
Last May, we raised an impressive €11,800 in donations to cover the costs of family reunification.
Between June and August, 27 families applied for our support, and we were able to assist all of them with their reunification thanks to your donations.
During the fall, we have received an unprecedented number of new assistance requests.
In addition to families, we also receive requests from individuals who need to apply for a residence permit to avoid becoming undocumented.
The government has made it extremely difficult to obtain residence permits through legislative changes, while penalizing people who are forced to live undocumented.
Despite the deadlock created by the government, people are finding ways to apply for residence permits to formalize their status — but many lack the money to submit an application.
Join the resistance and safety net, and donate money to help people formalize their residence!
Free Movement is a network and association of migration activists that supports migrants living in uncertain situations with financial assistance, for example. Funds collected through general donations are used for the association’s assistance and advocacy work. The majority of donations are paid out as financial assistance to migrants in Finland.
📄 Fundraising permit: RA/2021/154
