About us

Nearly 4,400 people with a foreign background live in Porvoo, representing about 100 different countries. This accounts for 8.5% of Porvoo’s population. Most of them have moved to the city due to family ties or work. About one-third of the immigrants are refugees.

Municipalities and cities play a key role in promoting the integration of immigrants. The work of promoting integration is primarily carried out through basic services in the municipality: residents with an immigrant background need, like other residents, services such as education, housing, and leisure services.

The work of the integration services is guided by the Act on the Promotion of Integration and the City of Porvoo’s program for promoting integration. The Act on the Promotion of Integration assigns specific tasks to municipalities. The municipality’s responsibilities include managing and coordinating the local development, planning, and monitoring of integration, as well as ensuring that the staff has the necessary expertise related to integration. Additionally, the municipality must ensure that its services are also suitable for immigrants and that there are sufficient measures and services in accordance with the Integration Act to meet the needs.

The main task of the integration services is to manage the reception and initial integration of refugees arriving in the municipality, those who have obtained a residence permit through the asylum process, individuals who have moved due to family reunification, and those who have received temporary protection and relocated to the municipality. Additionally, the integration services provide low-threshold guidance and counseling to all immigrants, regardless of their background.

The goal of the integration services is to support and promote the integration of immigrants in a multidisciplinary manner and to enhance their ability to actively participate in Finnish society.

The integration services are also responsible for continuously developing integration efforts, promoting cooperation between different actors, and increasing knowledge and understanding of migration and diversity.

The Integration Center is a multidisciplinary service center for immigrants. At the Integration Center, you can receive personalized guidance and advice on various matters related to everyday life and dealing with authorities, as well as information about Finnish society and municipal services. We collaborate with other authorities and actors in the area to facilitate smooth and effective integration.

We assist for example with

• questions related to housing
• filling out forms and applications
• applying for residence permits and travel documents
• seeking educational and job opportunities
• finding recreational activities.

We prepare an integration plan if needed and support its implementation.

We provide services via phone, email, and by appointment. Our service languages are Finnish, Swedish, English, German, French, Russian, Arabic, Amharic, and Tigrinya. Additionally, we use interpreting services. Our services are confidential and free of charge.

The City of Porvoo’s integration services is in charge for the reception and integration promotion of quota refugees and others receiving international protection. Porvoo is committed to receiving 25 quota refugees annually. By committing to hosting refugees, Porvoo help to realize human rights and
contribute to a diverse and open society.

Key actors in the reception of refugees and the promotion of integration include employment services, schools, daycare, youth and sports services, as well as the welfare area’s social services for integration. Additionally, organizations within the third sector that offer diverse low-threshold activities are important during the early stages of integration and in getting to know the municipality. The integration center maintains a cooperation network of organizations and other volunteers, with the goal of making all immigrants feel welcome in Porvoo.