Finland Proposes Extending Border Security Act Until 2028
The Finnish government has proposed extending the validity of the Act on Temporary Measures to Combat Instrumentalised Migration, commonly known as the Border Security Act, until 31 December 2028. The Ministry of the Interior has opened a consultation period for the draft proposal, which will run until 14 August.
The act, which entered into force on 22 July 2024, was initially valid for one year before being extended until the end of 2026. The current proposal seeks to prolong its duration without altering its content. According to the Ministry of the Interior, the legislation allows Finland to restrict the reception of asylum applications in designated border areas if instrumentalised migration—where a foreign state directs migrants to Finland’s borders to exert pressure—is detected. The application of the act requires a separate government decision.
Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen stated that security authorities assess the threat of instrumentalised migration at Finland’s eastern border as remaining high for the foreseeable future, with no rapid changes in the security situation expected (Finnish Ministry of the Interior). The act aims to equip border authorities with the necessary powers to counter such threats effectively.
Finland’s land border crossings with Russia have been closed since 15 December 2023, following a series of government decisions. The most recent extension, made on 4 June 2026, keeps the border closed indefinitely. The Ministry of the Interior has indicated that the risk of instrumentalised migration resuming would likely increase if the border were reopened (MTV Uutiset). Applications for international protection can still be submitted at other open border crossing points, including those handling air and maritime traffic.
The government’s decisions to close the eastern border have reportedly achieved their intended effect, with instrumentalised migration at the border currently halted (Finnish Ministry of the Interior). The proposal to extend the Border Security Act is scheduled to be submitted to Parliament in September 2026.