Last July, almost 50 unaccompanied children were transferred from Greece to Finland as part of a program coordinated by the European Commission.
15 of them were placed in the Kotka juvenile hybrid unit on the south-east coast of Finland.
The hybrid unit, established in Kotka a couple of years ago, is intended for minor asylum seekers and those who have obtained a residence permit.
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By Tiina Ratia, head of unit, the first young people received a residence permit at the end of last year and the last in May.
The 24-hour hybrid unit is intended for minor asylum seekers and those who have already obtained a residence permit. Children and young people live there until they are 18 years old or until their parents move permanently to Finland.
Minor asylum seekers who come to Finland without a guardian typically receive a residence permit faster than adults. According to the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri), the average time taken to process the first application of children arriving alone last year was 180 days. On the other hand, the first applications from adults were processed in an average of 265 days.
"It is in the best interests of the child that processing times are not long. Unaccompanied minors rarely receive negative decisions," Ratia told Yle.
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The law provides for a maximum processing period of six months for new applications, but may be extended to up to 21 months in certain circumstances specified by law.
The Kotka hybrid unit will soon be downsized. There are currently 26 residents with 36 beds. Capacity will be reduced by eight beds in early October.
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Migri notes that the number of new asylum seekers was at a record low last year, mainly due to the pandemic.
"It is very likely that the number of applicants will start to increase when the restrictions are lifted," said Mikko Vรคlisalo, Senior Adviser at the Migri Reception Unit.
Housing capacity will also be reduced in other reception centers from the beginning of October. The Hรคmeenkyrรถ hybrid unit near Tampere will be reduced by 10 beds and five seats will be removed from the Vรถrรฅ (Vรถyri) unit near Vaasa on the west coast.
Source: The Nordic Page