In 2022, Finland received 40 000 new immigrants on a long-term or permanent basis (including changes of status and free mobility), 31% more than in 2021. This figure comprises 19% immigrants benefitting from free mobility, 32% labour migrants, 41% family members (including accompanying family) and 8% humanitarian migrants. Around 8 400 permits were issued to tertiary-level international students and 8 100 to temporary and seasonal labour migrants (excluding intra-EU migration). In addition, 31 000 intra-EU postings were recorded in 2022, a 32% increase compared to 2021. These posted workers are generally on short-term contracts.
Russia, the Philippines and India were the top three nationalities of newcomers in 2022. Among the top 15 countries of origin, Russia registered the strongest increase (3 300) and Estonia the largest decrease (‑500) in flows to Finland compared to the previous year.
In 2023, the number of first asylum applicants decreased by ‑7.7%, to reach around 4 500. The majority of applicants came from Somalia (800), Syria (700) and Russia (300). The largest increase since 2022 concerned nationals of Somalia (600) and the largest decrease nationals of Russia (‑800). Of the 2 360 decisions taken in 2023, 54% were positive.
Emigration of Finnish citizens to OECD countries increased by 5% in 2022, to 9 500. Approximately 19% of this group migrated to Sweden, 15% to Spain and 11% to the Netherlands.
The Finnish Government decided to close the eight crossing points on its eastern border with the Russian Federation on 14 December 2023 after receiving over 1 300 asylum seekers from different countries. Application for international protection at border crossing points between the two countries is no longer possible, and the Finnish Government is set to draft a law to restrict “instrumentalised migration through asylum seekers”.
The Government of Finland presented changes to the reform of the Integration Act in April 2024 expected to enter into force by January 2025, which gives municipalities a bigger role in the provision of integration services to migrants. The changes include reducing the time allocated for the central government to reimburse municipalities for services related to the integration of refugees.
In April 2024 the Government of Finland submitted different proposals on migration reforms to Parliament, including an amendment to the Citizenship Act that would extend the period of residence required to acquire Finnish citizenship from five to eight years. Additionally, they presented amendments to prohibit asylum seeker applicants from switching to a work-based or education procedure to apply for a residence permit. They also presented to Parliament a proposal to temporarily reduce the reception and spending allowance for asylum seekers and refugees to the legal minimum amounts and to reduce the length of residency permits for refugees to three years instead of four years.
Regarding international students from outside the EEA, the Ministry of Education and Culture appointed a working group to prepare for an increase in tuition fees. This working group will draft a proposal for amendments on the Universities Act and the Universities of Applied Sciences Act, to raise tuition fees and reduce possibilities of circumventing the obligations to pay them.
The Canada-Finland Youth Mobility Agreement came into effect in 2024. There are three categories for persons between 18 and 35 under this program: Working Holiday, International Co‑op (internship) and Young Professional.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment is preparing an amendment to be sent to Parliament, which would allow work permit holders to work in other jobs in the same sector and in sectors that have been identified as suffering from a labour shortage. It would also require employers to notify Finnish Immigration Services of the end of an employment relationship with someone with a work-based residence permit. The ministry has also appointed a working group tasked to improve the employment, competence and working life participation of special groups in Finland, including immigrants.
Until 2023, Finland allowed non-EEA tourist-visa holders, mostly from Thailand, to pick wild berries and sell them for income, but stopped this practice. In 2024, only employees and entrepreneurs could enter. Following a study, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment will amend the Seasonal Workers Act and Decree, to require employment contracts for berry pickers, to ensure minimum wage among other objectives. Simplified procedures and lower permit costs will apply for short-term berry pickers relative to other employees.
For further information: www.tem.fi/en/labour-migration-and-integration | www.migri.fi.
