Press releases

New minimum income limit as of 1 January 2025 for the residence permit for an employed person

The minimum income limit for a residence permit for an employed person will increase as of 1 January 2025 because of amendments to legislation. A foreign employee who arrives in Finland with a residence permit for an employed person will have to earn at least 1,600 euros per month for his or her work in Finland. The purpose of the amendments is to ensure that employees who move to Finland for work are paid a salary that is sufficient to cover their living costs. The new legislation supports the Government’s objective to increase the amount of full-time employment in Finland.

Employment permit services of the TE Office transferred to the Finnish Immigration Service on 1 January 2025

Starting on 1 January 2025, the Finnish Immigration Service will be fully responsible for processing residence permits for employed persons.

Decision-making on asylum applications from Syrians paused by Finnish Immigration Service

The Finnish Immigration Service decided on Monday morning, 9 December 2024, to pause its decision-making on asylum applications from Syrian citizens because of the changed security situation caused by the change of regime in Syria. The Finnish Immigration Service is reviewing its country of origin information about the area to allow decision-making to restart.

Almost 12,000 Ukrainians have applied for temporary protection in Finland this year

The purpose of temporary protection is to provide swift help to those fleeing the war in Ukraine. This year, the number of people seeking temporary protection in Finland has been lower than in previous years. The total number of applicants is 11,762, which is 37 per cent less than in the corresponding period last year.

Finnish Immigration Service establishes permanent posts

The Finnish Immigration Service will establish approximately 300–400 permanent posts next year. This is due to the exceptional staff structure of the agency, with as much as half of the staff having a fixed-term public-service employment relationship. The establishment of these permanent posts will not increase the number of staff members. Instead, positions with tasks of a permanent nature will be made permanent and filled. At the same time, the agency is adjusting its operations and increasing its operational efficiency, since its operating expenses will be cut by approximately 13 per cent next year.

Work-based migration to Finland higher than before COVID-19, number of international students growing

The growth of labour migration to Finland has slowed down, but the application figures still remain on a higher level than in the years preceding the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of international students in Finland is increasing.

The Finnish Immigration Service is investigating the realisation of the terms of employment of wild-berry pickers from Thailand

The Finnish Immigration Service carried out a new kind of follow-up on the working conditions and pay of wild-berry pickers from Thailand. Follow-up monitoring was carried out at the airport in close cooperation with border authorities.

Migration to Finland increasingly seamless and controlled

According to the current Government Programme, migration to Finland must be streamlined and controlled. The Finnish Immigration Service has contributed significantly to advancing both objectives. The Finnish Immigration Service has now conducted automation-supported post-decision monitoring of residence permits for one year, while successfully accelerating the processing of residence permit applications made on the basis of work or studies.

Contracts for additional places in reception centres not continued next year

Two group homes for minors to be closed down by Finnish Immigration Service

Longer period of residence required for citizenship

Competitive tendering procedure for IT services related to immigration matters completed

New border procedure introduced on 1 September 2024

Finnish Immigration Service to change income thresholds for residence permits as of 1 November 2024

Processing times for students’ residence permit applications continue to improve despite increasing numbers

Wild-berry pickers are applying for a residence permit for the first time – all applications have been processed

The Finnish Immigration Service is reducing the amount of accommodation in the reception system

“Football Belongs to Everyone” tour in reception units – Football serves as a bridge between different cultures

Finnish Immigration Service’s chatbot partly disabled – customer data has not been compromised

Finnish Immigration Service introduces automated post-decision monitoring of specialists' residence permits