International Legal Assistance These pages contain information on international legal assistance in all its aspects, the relevant legislation and treaties and their ratification as well as links, addresses and instructions. This is only a general ...

International Recovery Of Maintenance The EU legislation and several international treaties binding on Finland contain provisions on the international aspects of maintenance obligations and payments. Within the framework of these arrangements, it ...

International Legal Assistance In Criminal Matters International legal assistance in criminal matters encompasses cooperation between countries on account of crime. In a broad sense cooperation covers mutual legal assistance, extradition and trans...

International child abduction A case usually concerns international child abduction if the following criteria are met: A child is taken to or retained in a foreign country without the consent of the person who has custody of the child , the child ...

Civil Matters - General Information International legal assistance may be divided in to legal assistance in civil matters and in criminal matters. This section contains information on legal assistance in civil matters. Petitionary matters and disp...

Extradition General Extradition deals with handing over of suspects or sentenced persons to a foreign country for legal proceedings or service of sentence. Extradition from Finland is regulated in the Act on Extradition. The Act contains only a fe...

Mutual Legal Assistance Whenever evidence is available in a foreign country or a party to criminal proceedings or witness is located there, mutual legal assistance is required. The most important categories of mutual legal assistance are procuring...

Transfer of Sentenced Persons General The purpose of transferring sentenced persons to their home countries is advancing their rehabilitation into society. Accordingly, a sentenced person is offered a possibility to continue serving his sentence i...

Enforcement of Civil Judgments This page contains general information on the enforcement of judgments in civil matters (such as judgments establishing a payment liability) in Finland. There are international treaties, EU legislation and national l...

Child Welfare In Cross-Border Situations This section contains information on the procedures, legislation and agreements related to cross-border situations concerning child welfare. Child welfare falls within the mandate of the Ministry of Social ...

Recognition And Enforcement Of Decisions On Child Custody And Right Of Access The enforcement of a decision on child custody and/or right of access in a foreign country requires usually the existence of an international treaty. If a decision canno...

Operation and finances Operational and financial planning in the administrative sector of the Ministry of Justice is based on the four-year appropriation framework and the performance agreements. The Ministry of Justice is responsible for creating...

Processing of personal data in the services of the Ministry of Justice The Ministry of Justice processes personal data in order to comply with a legal obligation or, in certain situations, to perform a task carried out in the public interest or ba...

Taking of evidence Taking of evidence through international legal assistance is required when a witness to be heard or a document to be used as evidence in judicial proceedings is located abroad. As a rule, courts have three options if they wish t...

Service of Documents In connection with judicial proceedings, courts sometimes need to serve documents, such as summonses and invitations to appear in court, on persons residing or companies located in another country. When the service of document...

We work for a strong rule of law The updated strategy of the Ministry of Justice strengthens the role of the Ministry of Justice as the ministry responsible for the rule of law and democracy. The six impact objectives of the strategy form the key ...

2.9.2025 | The Government of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has reached a decision on its budget proposal for 2026. The Government’s decisions aim to support economic growth, which is picking up. Supporting economic growth and continuing responsible fiscal management is necessary to ensure the security of people in Finland and safeguard their access to important services going forward.

3.5.2022 | In May, the Ministry of Justice will organise an international webinar to share information on the practices of restorative justice in addressing hate crimes and hate speech.

30.5.2017 | 1 Reports and guidelines Layout: Government Administration Department, Information Support and Publications Unit, Anne-Marie Paakkari Description sheet Published by Ministry of Justice 28 February 2017 Authors Corinna Tammenmaa, Vava Lunabba Unit ...

10.11.2017 | Prime Minister’s Office Publications 7/2012 STRATEGY FOR THE NATIONAL LANGUAGES OF FINLAND Government resolution STRATEGY FOR THE NATIONAL LANGUAGES OF FINLAND Prime Minister’s Office Publications 7/2012 Government resolution Published by PRIME MI...