Finnish Immigration Service

Statistical Services

P.O. Box 18, FI-00581 Helsinki

1. Introduction

This metadata information is provided by national authorities to ensure compliance with the requirements of Articles 5 and 7 of Regulation 862/2007 on Community Statistics on Migration and International Protection.

As required by Article 9 of the Regulation 862/2007, Member States must report to Eurostat on the data sources used, the reasons for the selection of these sources and the effects of the selected data on the quality of the statistics. Member States shall provide it with all the information necessary to evaluate the quality, comparability and completeness of the statistical information.

The reference terms for the assessment of quality compliance are provided by Eurostat in the EIL technical guidelines applied for 2014 reference period (See section 3.4 Statistical concepts and definitions from the EIL ESMS file).

2. General description of the statistical domain at national level

EIL National System (level of development, main changes that affected the system in the last years and further development)

Not available information.

Legal national framework relevant for EIL statistics

Aliens Act

Institutional infrastructure (list of the institutions involved in managing the EIL registers and the institutions involved in the production of the EIL statistics)

Finnish Immigration Service, National Bureau of Investigation (Police), Finnish Border Guard

General procedure for recording Non-EU citizens refused entry at the external borders

When filling in the national / EU refusal of entry-form, the data will automatically be transferred to the RVT database

General procedure for recording Non-EU citizens found to be illegally present

Y2: The basic data for the statistics is retrieved from the case management database of the law enforcement authorities PATJA, including case data concerning violations against Aliens Act and asylum applications which are registered in the beginning of the process by the police or border authorities.
The figures include 1) third country nationals who are found by authorities to overstay their permission to remain or otherwise stay without a valid permission (residence permit or visa). Missing or expired passport or other travel document holders are not included. Persons taking unauthorized employment are included in the figure of those staying illegally even if they hold a valid residence permit or visa, with the exception of persons holding a permit for another sector they are actually caught working and persons working for more hours than permitted. According to the national legislation, all these persons are subject to legal sanctions for an infraction against the Aliens' code irrespective of whether they have come to the authorities themselves to settle their affairs or been detected to stay without a permit in some other circumstances; illegal stay as such is however not defined in the national law. Persons apprehended by authorities inland (i.e. inland and at internal borders) as well as those exiting at external borders are included. The figures do not include persons subject to a refusal of entry at external borders.

The figures also include 2) asylum applicants who have been detected staying illegally in the country or entering the country across internal borders before they present their application for asylum. Asylum seekers who are found not to hold documents authorizing their stay after they presented themselves as asylum seekers are not included. Rejected asylum seekers are included only in case they have been caught by authorities when remaining in the country even if their right to stay as asylum seekers has ended. Rejected asylum seekers who renew their applications, even when in custody for the purpose of removal or returned on the basis of Dublin regulations are not included either.

General procedure for recording Non-EU citizens ordered to leave

The decisions are registered in the national UMA-database

General procedure for recording Non-EU citizens returned following an order to leave

The decisions are registered in the national UMA-database

3. Main problems that affect the quality of the data and what tables are concerned including the compliance status with the definitions from EIL Technical Guideline

(See metadata information including concepts and definitions from the EIL ESMS file)

As regards statistics concerning non-EU citizens found to be illegally present, non-recording of complete data about whether the requirements of legal entrance or stay in the country are met among asylum seekers affects the quality of the data; improved procedure to collect the necessary information is being prepared.

Not available.
New concept added with the migration to SIMS 2.0.
Information (content) will be available after the next collection.

Not available.
New concept added with the migration to SIMS 2.0.
Information (content) will be available after the next collection.

Not available.
New concept added with the migration to SIMS 2.0.
Information (content) will be available after the next collection.

Not available.
New concept added with the migration to SIMS 2.0.
Information (content) will be available after the next collection.

Not available.
New concept added with the migration to SIMS 2.0.
Information (content) will be available after the next collection.

Not available.
New concept added with the migration to SIMS 2.0.
Information (content) will be available after the next collection.

Not available.
New concept added with the migration to SIMS 2.0.
Information (content) will be available after the next collection.

Not available.
New concept added with the migration to SIMS 2.0.
Information (content) will be available after the next collection.

National systematic process of gathering data for official statistics.

At Finnish Immigration Service the main source for data is national UMA-register that covers applications and decisions falling under service's competence. Data is extracted either directly from the register or from datawarehouse, which is based on the register. The data is then verified and checked in co-operation with the decision units and then published on our web-site. Available on the web-site is also a statistical application for web-users.

Description of the data validation system at national level

As regards statistics on illegal stay (Y2), validation process is to be established (for the part of the NBI in cooperation with border authorities) in connection of ongoing improvement of the statistics procedure and data availability. This includes in particular checks of consistency and changes over time, integrity and timeliness of basic data and double counting.

Estimations used: Details on the estimations done for EIL statistics (methodology applied and the concerned categories and tables)

Estimations are not used.

No adjustments.

Not available.
New concept added with the migration to SIMS 2.0.
Information (content) will be available after the next collection.

1. Description of the Quality management system at national level

• Good quality (extensive quality) - covers all quality requirements and substantial quality checks are performed and a very good cooperation exists between institutions.
• Sufficient quality (acceptable quality) - covers minimum requirements, but issues still exist and more information/validation is needed for a better quality assessment and acceptable cooperation issues exists.
• Poor quality (inadequate quality) - the data do not meet the minimum requirements or there is not enough information for quality assessment and important cooperation issues exists.

1. General aspects

The statistics collected under the Regulation 862/2007 are widely used in official publications and by a wide range of users at national, European and International level.

Main users of EIL statistics at national level
The EIL statistics produced are regularly used by national administrations: academic researchers and civil society groups working on a wide range of topics including the integration of immigrants, the development and monitoring of national asylum and immigration procedures, and the projection of the future population and labour force.

Main users of EIL statistics at European and International level
The main users of EIL statistics are Eurostat, DG Home Affairs and EASO. The statistics are used in several publications of the Commission, as well as in the preparation of regular reports, policy proposals and analysis. The statistics also provide an input to the EMN studies and reports that address specific issues of current policy importance.

2. EIL data publication at national level

Presentation of the EIL statistics published at national level

No separate presentation of EIL-statistics on national level. However statistics covering these issues are published in different forms or composition, also for media use.

Differences between the data provided to Eurostat and the data published at national level (Comparability of figures)

Depends of the viewpoint the published data.

Not measured.

Completeness of the data provided based on Articles 5 and 7 Regulation 862/2007 (mandatory data provision) and justification of the missing mandatory breakdowns and completeness of the data provided on voluntary basis.

Not available information.

-

Procedures and classifications used in case of missing information (e.g. unknown citizenship, age, etc)

No sampling.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

 *target population refers to the population that should be included (as it is specified in technical guidelines)

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Details related to the data revision policy and expected revisions of the data sent to Eurostat

No revisions expected.

Not applicable.

Not available information.

Not available information.

Not available information.

Problems with data provision to Eurostat in due time and the impact of these problems on the data quality provided to Eurostat

No timetable problems.

Not available information.

1. Provision of data using the Eurostat EIL Technical Guidelines and exceptions applied

Compliance with the guidelines.

2. Details on categories of Non-EU citizens difficult to be classified using the reference definitions from EIL technical guidelines and the categories excluded from these reasons (excluded from the statistics reported)

Not available information.

3. Description of records related to "Unknown" country of citizenship category

Placed to "unknown" category.

4. Description of records related to "Unknown" age category

Placed to "unknown" category.

5. Description of records related to "Unknown" sex category

Placed to "unknown" category.

6. Establishing the reported ground in case of “multiple grounds” for the same refusal and the impact on double counting of the person in the same dataset

Look at 6.1.

There is no impact on double counting. / The person is counted more times.

7. Type of "external border" applicable

Land boarder, Sea border and Air border

8. The definition of “refused Non-EU citizens” applied

The Schengen Borders Code's refusal definition is applies for the Statistics reported to Eurostat

9. The correspondence between the national system of “grounds for refusal" classification and Schengen Borders Code classification.

Schengen Borders Cole classification is implemented in national law and databases

10. The definition of “Non-EU citizens found to be illegally present” applied

The data corresponds with the definition and covers the types of illegal stay given by the EIL metadata criteria. A Non-EU citizen is registered as illegally present when he or she is officially found to be in Finland and does not fulfil, or no longer fulfil the conditions for stay, work or residence after the rules in the Finnish Aliens Act. This means that even short overstays (starting form one day) are recorded in the statistics.

11. The definition of “Non-EU citizens ordered to leave” applied

The national UMA-register contains information according to which there is a decision for a Non-EU citizen concerning "order to leave".

12. The definition of “Non-EU citizens returned following an order to leave” applied

The national UMA-register contains information according to which a Non-EU citizen has been returned".

Not applicable.

Methodological changes between the present reference year and previous year(s)

Finnish Immigration Service: No methological changes in previous years.

National Bureau of Investigation:

- Y2: The methodology of the national data collection and statistics for third country nationals found to be illegally present has been revised in 2017 as the former collection and counting process has been found insufficient both with regard to data coverage and criteria. Therefore the figures for 2017 are not comparable to former annual figures. The improved methodology ensures the inclusion of all national basic data and the selection criteria are harmonized to the best possible extent to the EIL criteria, including the draft EIL criteria discussed in 2017. Double counting has been eliminated as far as possible on the basis of the data.

Finnish Immigration Service:
Methodological change 2021 onwards concerning statistics of:

1. total third-country nationals who have actually left the territory of the Member States after receiving a decision to leave (Quarterly) and
2. third-country nationals unaccompanied minors who have actually left the territory of the Member States after receiving a decision to leave (Quarterly)

Above mentioned two statistics on returns were previously including persons that had refused entry at the external border (overlap with the annual statistic
refusal at the external border). Overlap of the two statistics eliminated from 2021 onwards.

Justification of the important changes in figures reported for the present reference year and previous year(s)

The former collection and counting process for Y2 has been found insufficient both with regard to data coverage and criteria.

Not available information.

1. Links between the statistics on refused Non-EU citizens and the statistics on Non-EU citizens found to be illegally present.

Different register, no direct link

2. Links between the statistics on Non-EU citizens found to be illegally present and the statistics on Non-EU citizens with obligation to leave.

Different register, no direct link

3. Links between the statistics on Non-EU citizens found to be illegally present and the statistics on Non-EU citizens with obligation to leave.

Different register, no direct link

4. Coherence between the EIL statistics and Asylum statistics

Implicit checks

5. Dublin cases included in EIL statistics and the impact on the totals provided 

Dublin cases not included

6. Inclusion of voluntary returned Non-EU citizens in the statistics on Non-EU citizens who actually left the territory 

Voluntary returns included and the distribution is available

Links between the EIL statistics and Asylum statistics and details related to the asylum applicant(s) case(s) included in EIL statistics. 

Part of the data is in the same register.

Not available information.

Not applicable.

1. Links and differences between the Non-EU citizens with obligation to leave and Non-EU citizens who actually left the territory

Obligation to leave > actually left the territory

Decision to leave might actually mean that the person leaves the territory during the next statistical year.

2. Links and differences between the Non-EU citizens who actually left the territory and Non-EU citizens who left the territory to a third country

actually left the territory > left the territory to a third country

Not available information.

Not available information.

Presentation of the National online national database for EIL data accessible to the public and the accessibility procedure

On Finnish Immigration Service's web-page:

http://tilastot.migri.fi/#decisions/23332

Not available information.

Not available information.

Not available information.

Not available information.

Presentation of the available quality management - documentation

Not available information.

Not available information.

Not available information.

Not available information.

Not available information.

Not available information.

The following classification is used for data availability at Eurostat level:

The term "not applicable" relates to the categories of permits which do not exist in national legislation/administrative procedures and therefore such statistics cannot be issued.

The term "not available" relates to categories of data that exist in the national legal/administrative system but cannot be delivered under EIL data collection for various reasons (e.g. data cannot exist, data exist but are not collected, data are unreliable, etc.).