Can I appeal a negative decision?

If your asylum application is rejected, you have the right to submit an appeal to the Administrative Court. For this procedure, and if you cannot afford to pay a lawyer, you might consider asking for assistance from the Public Legal Aid Office nearest you or, in some cases, from the Finnish Refugee Advice Center. Note that the appeal must be submitted within 30 days after the decision rejecting your asylum claim was notified to you.

The Administrative Court can either require the Finnish Immigration Service to make a new decision in your case or confirm the decision made by the Finnish Immigration Service that had rejected your application. If the Administrative Court confirms the decision, you can still request the right to appeal the judgment to the Supreme Administrative Court.

Until there is a final decision made by the Finnish Immigration Service or the Finnish courts, you are entitled to stay in Finland with the status of asylum-seeker.

If your appeal is unsuccessful at all stages, you will have to leave Finland. The Finnish Immigration Service provides support for Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration.You can contact them if you require assistance to return to your home country through [email protected] or by sending a WhatsApp message to +358 50 413 8625.  

For more information regarding the asylum procedure in Finland, please visit the website of the Finnish Immigration Service with information in Finnish, English and Swedish.


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