🇫🇮 Work & skilled workers

Migri has ended the partial suspension and can now process asylum applications from all Iranian nationals. The authority will use updated country information when assessing applications, including information concerning political and social conditions, the humanitarian situation, human rights and security conditions in Iran. The resumption does not mean that Iranian applicants will automatically receive or be refused asylum. Each application will continue to be assessed individually, and Migri stated that it was processing around 100 asylum applications submitted by Iranians when the suspension ended.

The Finnish Immigration Service is now refraining from issuing new permits for employment with specific wild-berry sector employers where irregularities or neglect have been identified and the employer has not adequately corrected the shortcomings. The restriction can apply to both work-based residence permits and seasonal-work permits. Seasonal-work permits include: Residence permits for seasonal work. Certificates for seasonal work. Visas for seasonal work. When Migri decides to refrain from issuing permits for an employer, the restriction generally prevents both short-term seasonal-work visas and longer-term residence permits for employment with that employer during the specified restriction period, regardless of whether the application is handled by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs or Migri. The restriction is not permanent. Under Finnish law, a decision to refrain from issuing permits can last between 3 and 12 months, with the length determined case by case according to the seriousness of the issue and the corrective measures demonstrated by the employer. Before making a final decision, the employer is given an opportunity to correct the identified shortcomings and is heard again if Migri is still considering a restriction after the deadline.

The government proposes several changes. 1. Migri could suspend residence-permit issuance to an employer Under the proposal, Migri would have greater ability to refrain from issuing residence permits connected to an employer where labour exploitation is suspected. The Finnish Immigration Service could suspend the issuance of residence permits to a company for a specified period. This is an important shift because the immigration system could be used to prevent an exploitative employer from recruiting additional foreign workers. 2. Recruitment fees could prevent a residence permit from being issued The proposal would establish that a residence permit should not be issued where the employer has charged the employee a fee for entering into the employment relationship. This targets recruitment practices in which migrant workers are effectively charged for obtaining employment. 3. Seasonal Workers Act would be amended The proposal also contains technical amendments to the Seasonal Workers Act. These amendments are connected to an infringement procedure initiated by the European Commission. 4. The legislation is not yet effective This is crucial. The government is proposing these changes; it has not yet enacted them. The proposal is scheduled to go to Parliament during the autumn 2026 session, with the government currently anticipating entry into force in March 2027.

Current rules for this policy, plus every recorded change.

Current rules for this policy, plus every recorded change.

Current rules for this policy, plus every recorded change.