Application for employment residence permits in Finland is at historically high levels despite experiencing a slight decrease in 2023, data from the Finnish Immigration Service reveals.
According to the authority, the number of applications for employment residence permits reached 16,999, an 18.8 per cent decrease from 2022 levels. Regardless, the number of applications for such permits is considered soaring in recent years.
The elevated levels of labour migration to Finland come from various factors, including the existing labour scarcity in the country and enhanced recruitment networks of companies.
On the other hand, the significant surge in applications in 2022 can be attributed primarily to the heightened number of submissions from Russian citizens following Russia’s attack on Ukraine. Conversely, the reduced number of applications in 2023 can be linked to factors such as an economic downturn and a slowdown in the construction industry.
Indians Are Top Applicants for Employment Permits in Last Years
Filipinos, Russians, Indians, and Chinese are the main applicants for permits for employment reasons in 2023. This means residence permits for employed persons where the granting of the permit requires a partial decision from the Employment and Economic Development Office.
To give an example, the number of positive decisions on residence permits for employees in healthcare and social work reached an all-time high in 2023 and has increased very rapidly over a few years.
Furthermore, the number of residence permit applications from skilled workers in 2022 was high due to the increased number of requests from Russian citizens after the war in Ukraine started.
In 2023, the number of applications from Russians was exceptionally lower compared to the previous year, from 2,995 in 2022 to 1,604 in 2023 – showing a 46.4 per cent decrease.
Except for this reason, the drop in the number of skilled workers applications may be related to the global competition for skilled workers and the economic downturn that Finland experienced.
In total, in 2018-2021 and in 2023, Indians were the largest applicant group. In addition, the total number of work-based residence permits that were issued was 15,081, slightly down from 16,081.
The Finnish Immigration Service reveals that the number of employment residence permit applications submitted in 2024 is estimated to be 19,000, but the unpredictable economy makes it difficult to produce accurate estimates, as the authority points out.
Record Applications for Study Purpose Permits in 2023
In 2023, there were 12,867 applications for a first residence permit for studies, marking an increase from 9,855 in 2022 – representing a 30.5 per cent increase. This growth can be attributed to legislative amendments related to students’ and researchers’ residence permits, as well as a rise in the number of international study programs.
Moreover, Asian students filed significantly more applications, with the number of applications from citizens of Sri Lanka more than doubling compared to 2022. Compared to the previous year, a 52.6 per cent increase in residence permits for study purposes was recorded, a total of 12,795, up from 8,383 in 2022.
The Finnish Immigration Service expects the number of applications for a first residence permit for studies in 2024 to reach 14,000, as international students express a strong interest in Finland. The overall number of international students in Finland depends on the capacity of Finnish educational institutions to admit new students annually. Other influencing factors include Finland’s appeal as a living and studying destination, global competition to attract students, and the growth of education exports and alternative forms of studying.
Family Reunification Applications Align With the Development of Immigration for Work & Studies
A record number of residence permit applications for family purposes were recorded in 2023. The total number of residence permits is up by 13.7 per cent – from 18,981 to 21,583 in 2023. Sri Lanka, Russia, India, Bangladesh, and the Philippines were the top countries of origin for applicants for family permits.
As the number of applications for work-based and study-based permits has been up since 2021, the number of applications from family members has experienced a similar increase.
Applications from family members of people who have been granted international protection amount to approximately eight per cent of all applications for a first residence permit on the basis of family ties.
Employment Is the Most Common Reason for EU Citizens to Move to Finland
In 2023, a total of 9,570 registration applications were submitted by EU citizens, slightly lower than the 10,166 applications in 2022. Similar to the previous year, the majority of EU citizens filed registration requests based on work, with 3,675 applications in 2023 compared to 4,256 in 2022.
In the preceding year, 8,479 EU citizens confirmed their right of residence in Finland, a decrease from 10,183 in 2022. Among them, 3,261 individuals registered on the basis of employment, down from 4,270 in 2022. The most common nationalities among those registered were Estonian, German, and Romanian.
