Finland

What changed

The Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) has announced the conclusion of the partial suspension of asylum decision-making for Iranian applicants, effective 1 July 2026. This development allows Migri to resume full processing of all asylum applications submitted by Iranians, following an assessment of the security situation and the compilation of adequate country information. The update signals a return to standard processing for approximately 100 pending Iranian asylum applications, with individual decisions to be made for each case.

What changed

The Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) has initiated decisions to prevent certain wild-berry sector employers from recruiting non-EU/EEA workers due to identified irregularities and neglect. These decisions, which apply to both work-based residence permits and seasonal work permits, mean that affected employers cannot hire workers from third countries for a duration of 3 to 12 months. This measure aims to prevent continued labour exploitation and ensure fair working conditions in the sector.

What changed

The Finnish Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment has started a public consultation. This is about proposed changes to residence permit rules. The goal is to improve efforts against people being exploited at work. This legislative plan would let the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) stop giving residence permits to employers suspected of exploitation. It would also stop permits from being issued if an employer has charged a worker fees for recruitment. These rules are expected to start in March 2027.

What changed

Finland tightened the requirements for obtaining a permanent residence permit from 8 January 2026. The standard residence period increased from four to six years, and applicants are now generally required to demonstrate Finnish or Swedish language skills and a qualifying work history. However, several alternative pathways allow permanent residence after four years or without the standard residence period, including routes based on high income, recognised foreign postgraduate qualifications, strong language skills, or a degree completed in Finland. The reforms also introduced new rules for long-term resident EU residence permits and changed how certain criminal sentences affect the qualifying residence period.

What changed

Finland's Citizenship Act 2027 will implement a new civic knowledge requirement for individuals applying for Finnish citizenship. This change, which comes into force on 1 January 2027, mandates that applicants aged 18 to 64 must demonstrate an understanding of Finnish society, its key principles, history, and culture. The requirement will specifically apply to citizenship applications submitted to the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) on or after 1 March 2027, with the new citizenship test being a primary method of fulfilling this obligation.