The Finnish Immigration Service has revealed that labour migration remains persistent compared to last year and they predict that the number of citizenship applications will break records this year, despite the number of applications for work-related visas experiencing a decline.
According to a press release by the authority, 14,710 applications for work visas have been submitted, but applications submitted for this type of visa will be lower compared to last year when more than 20,000 requests were filed – a record high for Finnish authorities.
Despite a 26 per cent decrease in work visa applications, the authorities reveal that application rates continue to be higher compared to the 2018 to 2021 period.
Some of the reasons for the decrease in the number of applications filed have been concluded as the economic decline, which affected the number of applications for residence permits by employed persons. These permits account for 55 per cent of all work-related residence permit applications.
Russian citizens have also filed considerably fewer applications, after a surge in these applications due to the war in Ukraine.
The economic slowdown and the rising interest levels are reflected especially in sectors that are susceptible to economic fluctuations, such as the construction business. However, the number of residence permits for employed persons granted to professionals in health care and social services is record high.
The same pointed out this situation is a sign of labour shortage in the healthcare sector and labour migration to Finland is mainly focused in large cities of Southern Finland.
More Students & Family Members Filing for Finnish Visas
Changes to students’ residence permits have made Finland even more attractive for international students, with the number of student visa applicants reaching a historic high in 2023. More specifically, by the end of October, the number of applications for a first permit was 11,401.
According to Hirvala, Asian countries are the main applicants for student visas, as nearly 70 per cent of applicants come from Bangladesh, India, China, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
The increase in work-related and study-related immigration will be reflected in applications for family reunification. The number of applications submitted until November reached 18,253, with the majority of applicants being children or spouses of people who have moved to Finland for work or studies. This number has already reached the whole 2022 levels when 18,981 applications were filed.
Citizenship Applications Soar in Finland
Applications for Finnish citizenship have been on the rise since June, with some changes made in the Government Programme prompting thousands to apply so they can enjoy benefits that are offered by the government before the new ones become effective.
In ten months alone, a total of 14,853 persons have applied for Finnish citizenship. The number of citizenship applications is the highest ever recorded. The number of applications has already surpassed 2021 levels, which held the all-time high application rates, set at 14,366.
Application Rates for International Protection Drop, Except for the Eastern Border
The number of applications for international protection, unlike applications for other purposes, has been low. So far this year, the Finnish authorities have received a total of 2,972 first asylum applications and the majority of asylum seekers were citizens of Somalia, Russia, Afghanistan, Turkiye and Iran.
On the other hand, the EU is dealing with the highest number of asylum applications since 2015 and the number of requests is expected to surpass one million.
