Work-based immigration on the rise, refugee inflow ebbs

In 2018, an increasing number of migrants applied for a residence permit on the ground of employment or studies.

Statistics have shown a similar trend for a few years running now. Last year, the number of first residence permit applications on the ground of employment totalled 10,805 (8,650 in 2017). From among them 7,687 applicants (6,751 in 2017) were granted a residence permit, said a government press release.

In the previous term of government, several legislative amendments were introduced to make it easier for entrepreneurs and experts to move to Finland, and thereby promote the country’s economic growth and employment.

“The basic premise is that, in addition to the domestic workforce, Finland needs employees also from abroad. There is intense competition in the world for international talents,” says Ministry of the Interior Migration Department Director General Jorma Vuorio.

The residence permit system must be as smooth as possible so as not to complicate the recruitment of talents for Finland. A preliminary study commissioned by the Ministry of the Interior last year looked into the causes of delays in processing work permit applications and into what could be done to address them. This spring will see the appointment of a coordination group which, among other things, will coordinate the development of the work permit process.

The migration of students and researchers has also been made easier. Following a legislative amendment that entered into force in September 2018, the duration of residence permits of researchers and students from non-EU countries was extended, and these groups are encouraged to take up employment and entrepreneurship with a relevant residence permit. In addition, in March 2019 the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Ministry of the Interior launched a cooperation project to support the entry and integration of higher education students.

The beneficiaries of international protection represent a relatively small percentage of people moving to Finland despite this group of migrants being a prominent topic of public debate. The number of new asylum seekers has already fallen to below the level seen before 2015.

Negotiations towards the reform of the Common European Asylum system have continued in the European Union. Issues of the Dublin Regulation relating to themes including solidarity and responsibility-sharing have yet to be solved.