Key Takeaways
• Work-based residence permit applications dropped 12% to 15,024 in Finland during 2024.
• Thailand is the second-largest nationality applying for work permits, driven by berry picker policy.
• Minimum income for work permits rose to 1,600 euros monthly from January 2025.
Purpose and Scope of Analysis
This comprehensive analysis examines the role of Southeast Asians in Finland’s work-based immigration landscape, focusing on recent trends, policy changes, and sector-specific impacts. The report draws on official data from the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri), government policy documents, and recent annual reports to provide a detailed statistical overview. The analysis covers the period from 2022 through 2025, with forecasts extending into 2026. It aims to help policymakers, employers, and prospective immigrants understand the evolving dynamics of work-based immigration in Finland, with a particular emphasis on Southeast Asian nationals.
Data Sources and Periods Covered
– Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) statistics and annual reports (2022–2025)
– European Migration Network Annual Report (May 2025)
– Finnish Government policy proposals (April 2024)
– Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland’s Action Plan for Southeast Asia
– Official population data as of 2024
– Forecasts for 2025–2026
Key Findings at a Glance
- Southeast Asians remain key contributors to Finland’s foreign workforce, especially in agriculture and caregiving, despite a 23% overall decline in work-based immigration in 2024.
- Thailand is the second-largest nationality applying for work-based permits, driven by new requirements for wild berry pickers.
- Work-based residence permit applications dropped by 12% in 2024, with only 15,024 applications submitted.
- Specialist and construction sector permits saw sharp declines, with construction permits down by 72%.
- Minimum income requirements for work-based permits increased to 1,600 euros per month in January 2025.
- Student migration is rising, with record applications from South Asian countries and forecasts of continued growth.
- Policy changes are tightening pathways to citizenship and international protection.
- Southeast Asian nationals are strategically important for Finland’s labor market, with formal recruitment partnerships in place.
Overview of Work-Based Immigration Trends in Finland
Recent Decline in Work-Based Immigration
Finland experienced a significant drop in work-based immigration in 2024. According to Migri, work-based residence permit applications fell by 12% compared to the previous year, totaling 15,024 applications. The number of permits granted also decreased, with 11,103 people receiving a first work-based residence permit in 2024. This decline is closely linked to Finland’s economic downturn and rising interest rates, which have reduced the number of available jobs, especially in sectors like construction.
Southeast Asians’ Ongoing Role
Despite the overall decline, Southeast Asians continue to play a vital role in Finland’s labor market. Citizens from Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam are consistently among the largest groups applying for work-based residence permits. In 2024, Thailand emerged as the second-largest nationality in this category, largely due to a new policy requiring wild berry pickers to obtain residence permits. This change alone brought approximately 1,300 Thai nationals to Finland for seasonal agricultural work.
Visual Description: Shifting Immigration Patterns
Imagine a bar chart showing work-based residence permit applications by nationality from 2022 to 2024. While the overall height of the bars declines in 2024, the segments representing Southeast Asian countries remain prominent, highlighting their sustained contribution even as total numbers fall.
Sector-Specific Analysis
Agriculture: Seasonal Berry Picking
The agricultural sector, particularly seasonal berry picking, relies heavily on workers from Thailand. The 2024 policy change requiring residence permits for wild berry pickers formalized this migration stream, resulting in a noticeable spike in applications from Thai nationals. This sector remains one of the few areas where demand for Southeast Asian labor has not diminished, even during economic downturns.
Caregiving and Healthcare
Southeast Asians, especially Filipinos and Vietnamese, are also present in Finland’s caregiving and healthcare sectors. Although there has been an overall decline in healthcare permits, these workers continue to fill essential roles in eldercare and support services, helping to address Finland’s demographic challenges.
Construction and Technical Roles
The construction sector saw a dramatic 72% drop in work permits in 2024, reflecting the broader economic slowdown. However, specialized technical roles—often filled by Indian nationals—remain in demand, albeit at lower levels than in previous years.
Statistical Overview: Immigration Data 2024
- 15,024 first work-based residence permit applications (down 12% from 2023)
- 11,103 first work-based residence permits granted
- 1,224 specialist applications (down from 2,995 in 2022)
- 18,018 first family residence permits granted
- 14,163 first-time student residence permit applications (record high)
- 623,949 people with a foreign background in Finland (11.1% of the population)
- 10.3% of the population foreign-born
Source: Finnish Immigration Service (Migri)
Policy Changes Impacting Work-Based Immigration
Minimum Income Requirement Increase
As of January 1, 2025, the minimum income required for a work-based residence permit rose to 1,600 euros per month (previously 1,399 euros). This policy aims to ensure that foreign workers can support themselves in Finland’s high-cost environment. For many Southeast Asian workers, especially those in lower-wage sectors like agriculture, this change presents a new challenge. Employers must now offer higher salaries to meet the threshold, potentially reducing the number of available positions.
International Protection and Asylum
On January 2, 2025, Finland reduced the duration of asylum and extended refugee status permits from four years to three. Subsidiary protection permits are now initially issued for one year, with the possibility of a two-year extension. New grounds for refusal or termination of permits include serious crime convictions or threats to society. Temporary residence permits of one year are issued if removal from Finland is not feasible.
Citizenship Pathways
In April 2024, the Finnish Government proposed extending the required period of residence for citizenship from five to eight years. The proposal also seeks to prevent asylum seekers from switching to work-based or education-based residence permit procedures, and to temporarily reduce financial allowances for asylum seekers to the legal minimum.
Student Migration: A Growing Trend
While work-based immigration has declined, student migration is on the rise. In 2024, Finland received a record 14,163 applications for first-time residence permits for study. Many of these applicants come from South Asian countries such as Bangladesh and Nepal, but Southeast Asian students are also well represented. Migri forecasts that student visa applications will reach 15,000 in 2025 and 16,000 in 2026.
This trend reflects Finland’s efforts to attract international students as a way to address future labor shortages and boost innovation. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, student migration is expected to remain a key driver of population growth and skills development in Finland.
Current Foreign Population in Finland
As of 2024, 623,949 people with a foreign background live in Finland, making up 11.1% of the total population. The foreign-born population stands at 10.3%. Major groups include Estonians, Russians, Ukrainians, Iraqis, Chinese, Somalis, Filipinos, Indians, and Iranians. Southeast Asians, particularly from the Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand, form a significant part of this demographic.
Government Strategies and Bilateral Relations
Recruitment Partnerships
The Finnish Government has officially identified the Philippines, India, and Vietnam as international recruitment partner countries. This designation highlights the strategic importance of Southeast Asian labor for Finland’s economy, especially in sectors facing chronic shortages.
Southeast Asia Action Plan
Finland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs has outlined objectives to:
– Strengthen political and economic ties with Southeast Asian countries
– Address cross-border issues such as human trafficking
– Promote tourism and maintain consular services in the region
These efforts are designed to facilitate smoother migration channels and support the integration of Southeast Asian workers and students in Finland.
Forecasts and Future Outlook (2025–2026)
Work-Based Immigration
Migri projects that work permit applications will fall to 11,000 in 2025, but could rebound to 15,000 in 2026 if economic conditions improve. The demand for Southeast Asian workers is expected to remain strong in agriculture and caregiving, while opportunities in construction and some technical fields may recover more slowly.
Student Migration
Student visa applications are forecast to continue rising, reaching 15,000 in 2025 and 16,000 in 2026. This growth is likely to further diversify Finland’s foreign population and contribute to the country’s long-term economic resilience.
Temporary Protection and Asylum
For temporary protection, mainly for Ukrainian refugees, Migri expects 8,000–12,000 applicants in 2025. Asylum applications are estimated at 3,000–4,000 for the same year.
Limitations of the Data and Analysis
- Recent policy changes may not be fully reflected in 2024 data, especially for income requirements and permit durations.
- Sector-specific breakdowns for Southeast Asian nationals are limited; most available data aggregates all foreign workers.
- Forecasts are subject to economic fluctuations and may change if Finland’s economy recovers faster or slower than expected.
- Migration flows can be influenced by external factors, such as geopolitical events or changes in source countries’ policies.
Practical Implications for Southeast Asian Workers
Opportunities
- Agriculture: Seasonal berry picking remains a reliable entry point, especially for Thai nationals.
- Caregiving and Healthcare: Ongoing demand for workers from the Philippines and Vietnam.
- Technical Roles: Indian nationals continue to find opportunities in specialized fields.
Challenges
- Higher income requirements may limit access to lower-wage jobs.
- Reduced job availability in sectors like construction.
- Longer pathways to citizenship and stricter rules for permit switching.
Example Scenario:
A Thai worker seeking seasonal employment in berry picking must now secure a residence permit and ensure their salary meets the new minimum threshold. Filipino caregivers may face increased competition for positions as employers adjust to higher wage requirements. Vietnamese students, on the other hand, may benefit from the growing number of study permits and the potential to transition to work-based permits after graduation.
Actionable Guidance and Next Steps
- Prospective workers from Southeast Asia should confirm that job offers meet the new minimum salary requirement of 1,600 euros per month. Employers must provide documentation to support this when applying for a residence permit for an employed person.
- Students should explore study opportunities in Finland, as the country continues to welcome international students and offers pathways to employment after graduation.
- Employers in agriculture and caregiving should maintain recruitment ties with Southeast Asian countries, as these workers remain essential to Finland’s labor market.
- Stay informed about policy changes by regularly checking updates from the Finnish Immigration Service.
Conclusion
Southeast Asians continue to play a crucial role in Finland’s work-based immigration system, particularly in sectors like agriculture and caregiving. While overall work-based immigration has declined due to economic challenges and stricter policies, the demand for Southeast Asian labor remains strong in key areas. Policy changes, including higher income requirements and longer citizenship pathways, present new hurdles, but also aim to ensure fair wages and sustainable integration. With student migration on the rise and formal recruitment partnerships in place, Southeast Asians are likely to remain central to Finland’s evolving immigration landscape. For the most current information and official guidance, consult the Finnish Immigration Service.
References:
[1] Finnish Immigration Service (Migri)
[2] Migri: Minimum income requirements
[3] Migri: Annual Reports
[4] European Migration Network Annual Report
[5] Migri: International Protection Changes
[6] Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland
[7] Official Population Data
[8] Finnish Government Policy Proposals
[9] Migri: Temporary Protection Forecasts
VisaVerge.com reports that these trends are expected to shape Finland’s immigration policies and labor market needs for years to come.
Learn Today
Work-Based Residence Permit → Official permission allowing foreigners to live and work in Finland for employment purposes.
Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) → Government agency managing immigration applications and enforcing migration policies in Finland.
Minimum Income Requirement → The lowest monthly salary a foreign worker must earn to obtain a residence permit in Finland.
Seasonal Berry Picking → Temporary agricultural work focused on picking wild berries, significant for Southeast Asian workers.
International Protection → Legal status granted to refugees and asylum seekers for safety and residence in Finland.
This Article in a Nutshell
Southeast Asians remain vital to Finland’s labor market despite a 12% drop in work permits in 2024. Thailand leads berry picker applications with new permit rules. Increased income requirements challenge low-wage sectors. Student visas rise, signaling demographic shifts. Policy changes reshape immigration futures, emphasizing sustainable integration and strategic recruitment partnerships.
— By VisaVerge.com
