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Finland Refrains from Issuing Permits to Certain Wild-Berry Sector Employers Due to Irregularities

🇫🇮 FinlandWork Permits1 recorded versionLast change 9 Sept 2026
ConfidenceVery high · 100%

Current rules

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.

Overview

The Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) has issued initial decisions to refrain from granting employment permits to four employers in the wild-berry sector, with six more cases currently under review. This policy, which took effect from 6 August 2026, prevents the named employers from recruiting third-country workers for periods ranging from three to twelve months, impacting seasonal work permits and work-based residence permits. The decisions are a direct response to identified irregularities and neglect concerning these employers, aiming to ensure fair working conditions.

Who is affected by the latest change

  • Third-country nationals applying for a work-based residence permit to work for an employer subject to a restriction
  • Third-country nationals applying for a seasonal-work residence permit with an affected employer
  • Visa-required seasonal workers whose seasonal-work visa application relates to an affected employer
  • Visa-exempt seasonal workers applying for a seasonal-work certificate for employment with an affected employer
  • Employers in the wild-berry sector that have been found to have relevant irregularities or neglected obligations and have not adequately corrected them

What changed in the latest version

Before

Employers in the wild-berry sector could recruit third-country workers through the applicable work-based and seasonal-work permit routes, provided the relevant immigration and employment requirements were met. Where Migri identified shortcomings in an employer's operations, the employer was given an opportunity to demonstrate that the problems had been corrected before a final decision to refrain from issuing permits was made.

After

The Finnish Immigration Service is now deciding not to issue new permits for employment with specific wild-berry sector employers. This happens when problems or neglect have been found, and the employer has not properly fixed these issues. This 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, and visas for seasonal work. When Migri decides not to issue permits for an employer, this generally stops both short-term seasonal-work visas and longer-term residence permits for working with that employer during the set restriction period. This applies 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 stop issuing permits can last for between 3 and 12 months. The exact length is decided case by case, based on how serious the problem was and what corrective actions the employer has shown they've taken. Before making a final decision, the employer is given a chance to fix the problems found. They are also heard again if Migri is still considering a restriction after the deadline they were given.

This change significantly impacts employers in Finland's wild-berry sector, particularly those with identified irregularities, as they will be unable to recruit third-country workers for up to a year. This inability to recruit could severely affect their operations and the 2026 and 2027 harvest seasons. For prospective third-country workers, these decisions mean they cannot obtain work-based or seasonal permits for employment with the listed employers, regardless of whether they apply through the Finnish Immigration Service or the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. While existing permits and the right to work for current employees are unaffected, new applications linked to these employers will be refused. The process for considering these refusals is more extensive than standard permit processing, requiring employers to demonstrate corrective actions before a final decision is made, and they are heard again if proposed measures are deemed insufficient.

Explained simply

Imagine a fruit-picking farm that isn't treating its workers fairly or following the rules. The Finnish government agency, Migri, has now started to say 'no' when these specific farms try to hire new workers from other countries. It's like a timeout for the farm, lasting a few months up to a year, so they can't hire new foreign pickers until they fix their problems. This helps make sure everyone working in Finland gets treated properly.

Frequently asked

Version history

  1. v1Amended 6 Aug 2026EffectiveHigh impact
    Finland Refrains from Issuing Permits to Certain Wild-Berry Sector Employers Due to Irregularities

    The Finnish Immigration Service has begun making decisions to refrain from issuing employment permits for certain employers in the wild-berry sector. This means that these specific employers, identified due to irregularities and neglect, are barred from recruiting third-country workers for a period of 3 to 12 months. As of 6 August 2026, four such decisions have been made, with six more pending in August. These decisions affect both work-based residence permits and all forms of seasonal work permits, ensuring that identified irregularities do not continue and promoting fair working conditions in Finland.

Timeline

  1. Announced

    6 Aug 2026

    The Finnish Immigration Service has commenced refusing to issue work-based and seasonal work permits for employment with certain companies in the wild-berry sector. These decisions, based on identified irregularities and neglect by employers, mean affected organisations cannot recruit workers from third countries for 3 to 12 months. This measure aims to prevent continued irregularities and ensure

  2. Takes effect

    6 Aug 2026

    The Finnish Immigration Service has begun issuing decisions to refrain from issuing permits for employment with certain employers in the wild-berry sector. These decisions prevent the recruitment of employees from third countries for a given period. To date, four employers have received such decisions, with consideration ongoing for six others. The refusal period is 3–12 months, depending on the s

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