Budget boost keeps Migri funded for the end of the year

The extra money will help Migri tackle visa and residence permit processing times, and means they don't have to start cutting staff.

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File picture of Migri logo on glass door / Credit: Migri Twitter

The government has earmarked more funds for the Finnish Immigration Service Migri, to try and reduce waiting times and stop staff cuts.

The agency will get an extra €4.7 million for operating costs plus an extra €1.1 million for security development and €2 million for new technology.

The aim is to ensure no further slowdown in the time it takes officials to process visa applications and residence permits. Without the additional money, Migri was planning to cut 10% of its staff in the coming weeks.

Migri’s budget increased significantly when the number of asylum seekers increased in 2015 and 2016, however the level of funding has been declining since 2018.

But critics say the service has performed poorly, especially when it comes to handling the growing number of student visa applications and work permits.

Recently, News Now Finland spoke to students who were waiting months for their residence permit approvals, and couldn’t even arrive in Finland until after their university courses began.

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