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  • About the Ombudsman for Minorities »
    • When to contact the Ombudsman for Minorities?
    • How the Ombudsman for Minorities works?
    • Cooperation partners »
      • Advisory Board for Minority Issues
    • Projects and reports
    • Legislation
  • Customer service »
    • Role of the Ombudsman in discrimination cases
    • How to lodge a complaint with the Ombudsman for Minorities
  • Ethnic discrimination »
    • What is ethnic discrimination?
    • Can ethnic discrimination be intervened?
    • What are the consequences of discrimination?
    • Social services
    • Health care services
    • Private sector services
    • Education and training
    • Equality and the duties of the authorities
    • Working life
  • The rights of ethnic minorities »
  • Foreigners' status and rights »
    • The general legal status of foreigners
    • Residence permit and citizenship
  • Expressions of racism »
    • Ethnic agitation
    • Defamation and unlawful threats
  • Reporting on trafficking in human beings »
    • Duties and powers of the rapporteur on trafficking in human beings
    • Human trafficking in Finland
    • Identification of victims of human trafficking
    • Rights of victims of human trafficking
    • Legislation
    • Contact infomation
  • Publications
  • Contact information

Foreigners' status and rights

The Ombudsman for Minorities monitors and promotes the status and rights of foreigners in Finland and provides information about the related legislation. In practice, the Ombudsman can take a stand by providing guidance, instructions and statements in cases where foreigners feel that they have been treated unfavourably or put in an unfavourable position in comparison with others or that their integrity has been violated. The Ombudsman can also take initiatives related to the status of foreigners.

The Ombudsman does not have the power to order other authorities to act in a certain manner in issues including the processing of applications, including the processing order or the final result.