Matti Sarasmaa

Duties of Permanent Secretary

The Ministry’s most senior public official is Permanent Secretary Matti Sarasmaa.

The Permanent Secretary assists the Minister in directing, developing and monitoring the work of the Ministry and the agencies within its branch of government. The Permanent Secretary leads the Ministry’s strategic planning and coordinates its implementation, is responsible for effective internal control, assists the Minister in planning, implementing and monitoring broad-based issues, and manages performance guidance within the Ministry’s administrative branch.

Profile

Matti Sarasmaa has served as the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of the Interior since February 1, 2025.  

Matti Sarasmaa served as Deputy Chief of the Border Guard during January 2025 before taking up his post as Permanent Secretary. Before that, he worked as Chief of the Border and Coast Guard Division at the Border Guard Headquarters from 1 January 2020. His other previous positions include Chief of the Personnel Division at the Border Guard Headquarters, Commander of the Kainuu Border Guard District and a Border Management Specialist at Finland’s Permanent Representation to the EU. 

 Matti Sarasmaa holds the General Staff Officer's Degree and was promoted to major general on 21 March 2023.