Rantanen announced the move after a meeting of EU interior ministers in Luxembourg, describing recent agreement on the EU's new return regulation as a major development in European migration policy.
"Finland is carrying out this joint exploratory work with the other Nordic countries," Rantanen said. "The investigations have begun."
The new EU rules, approved earlier this week, open the door for member states to establish return centres in non-EU countries. The facilities would house people who have received final negative asylum decisions while arrangements are made for their return to their countries of origin.
According to Rantanen, Finland has not yet identified a potential host country for such a centre.
She suggested that any future facility should be located close to countries where European governments face persistent difficulties carrying out deportations.
