Family members received the highest number of residence permits in 2013
In 2013, the Finnish Immigration Service granted residence permits to 17,503 applicants.
Most of the permits were granted on the basis of family ties, studies or work. Based on family ties, the permit was granted to 37 per cent of permit recipients (6,460 persons). The second largest group of permit recipients were student applicants, who accounted for 31 per cent of all permit recipients (5,426 persons), while applicants for work-based residence permits were the third largest group, 28 per cent (4,938 persons).
A negative decision was given to 22 per cent of applicants (5,005 persons).
There are no significant changes in the residence permit statistics for 2013 compared to the previous year. The number of residence permits granted remained similar to previous years. The nationality groups with the highest number of applications were the same, and the number of residence permit applications was only a few lower than the previous year (21,959, 2012: 21,264).
Russians were the largest applicant nationality group
A total of 21,259 persons applied for a residence permit in 2013 (2012: 21,264). The nationality group with the most residence permit applications was Russian (4,128, 2012: 4,731), followed by Indian (1,744, 2012: 1,179) and Chinese (1,698, 2012: 1,566).
Similar to previous years, the most common reason for an application was family ties. A total of 42 per cent (8,950, 2012: 8,614) applicants wished to move to Finland to live with a family member. The second-most common reason for an application was for work (5,800, 2012: 5,744), followed by studying (5,755, 2012: 6,023).
A total of 18 per cent of applications were submitted via the e-service. Students in particular applied for permits electronically: more than one-half (54 per cent) of student applications were submitted electronically.
Most residence permits granted by the Finnish Immigration Service can be applied for electronically. E-services make it easier to begin the processing of the application as the application is quickly forwarded between authorities. Applicants can also monitor the processing of their applications via the e-service.
Fewer returnees, more specialists
The number of returnees from the former Soviet Union is decreasing at a steady rate. In 2013, there were only 250 applicants (2012: 326). The remigration queue was closed on 1 July 2011, and those who had signed up for the queue before that can apply for a residence permit in Finland during a five-year period ending on 1 July 2016.
Small growth was seen in the number of specialists, for example. Specialists include IT experts, among others. A total of 995 persons applied for a specialist’s work-based residence permit in 2013 (2012: 748).
Method of compiling statistics of residence permits has been enhanced
The Finnish Immigration Service enhanced the basis for its statistics in 2013, making them more accurate. Currently, the type of residence permit used in the statistics is based on the decision, not the grounds for the application. If the customer has submitted the application incorrectly, such as other family member of another foreign citizen, but the grounds for the application has been corrected as other family member of a person who has received international protection, the decision is entered in the statistics as “other family member of a person who has received international protection.”
Therefore, some of the figures may differ slightly from the figures published in previous years. However, the differences in the statistics are very small.
More detailed statistics available online
A more detailed review of residence permit matters in 2013 is available in Finnish on the Finnish Immigration Service website www.migri.fi > For the media > Statistics > Statistics on residence permit.
Further information for the media
Head of Section Pauliina Helminen, Immigration Unit
tel. +358 295 439 431, e-mail: firstname.lastname@migri.fi
