Office workers in Helsinki. Photo: Vesa Moilanen / Lehtikuva
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The number of work-based residence permit applications in Finland has fallen by 25 percent in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year, according to the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri). At the same time, applications from foreign graduates have increased by nearly 60 percent.
By the end of June, Finland had received 15,491 applications for work-based residence permits. The decline reflects both legal changes and broader economic conditions.
One factor behind the drop is a legal revision to seasonal work rules in February. Many workers who previously applied for standard permits, particularly in berry picking, have now opted for seasonal work visas instead.
Of the 13,619 decisions issued on work permits so far this year, 82 percent were approved and 15 percent rejected. Rejection rates for first-time applicants rose to 23 percent, up from 19 percent last year. About 14 percent of rejections were due to labour market availability assessments, according to Migri’s development director Johannes Hirvelä.
He said Finland’s slow economic recovery, high unemployment, and global instability are shaping the current migration environment. “There is a broad labour supply in many sectors, and this is reflected in permit decisions,” he said.
Processing times extend amid legal changes
The average processing time for all work-based permits this year has been 61 days. For approved applications, the time drops to 40 days. Permits under the standard worker category (TTOL) were decided in an average of 57 days.
Several legal reforms and a transfer of processing authority from employment offices to Migri at the start of the year have added complexity and delays. Hirvelä said new requirements demand more detailed reviews, leading to more rejections and longer processing.
Around 19 percent of rejections were based on risks of labour exploitation or issues with the employer’s operations.
Specialist and entrepreneur applications fall
Applications from specialists have also declined. By the end of June, 527 first-time applications had been submitted, 28 fewer than in 2024. Overall, specialists submitted around 1,300 applications, down 25 percent. Despite the decline, 98 percent of decisions were approved within an average of nine days, consistently meeting the 14-day target.
Entrepreneurial permit applications remained stable. Growth entrepreneurs submitted 175 applications by June, a 34 percent drop from last year. The rejection rate rose from 5 percent to 15 percent, and processing times doubled from 23 to 45 days.
Standard entrepreneurs submitted 611 applications. Of the 507 processed, only 54 percent were approved. Most rejections stemmed from negative recommendations by regional economic development centres (ELY).
Researcher applications remained steady, with 586 submitted in the first half of the year, compared to 590 in 2024. The average processing time for researchers was 15 days.
Foreign graduates increasingly staying
The biggest increase was seen among foreign students and researchers applying to stay after completing their degrees. These applications rose by 59 percent in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. Migri issued 1,261 decisions, with 99 percent approved. Processing times averaged two months.
Hirvelä said the rise in post-graduation applications aligns with the increase in international student numbers. “This growth is expected and reflects the policy goal of attracting skilled graduates to remain in Finland,” he said.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
