Parliament passes law hiking income limit for work-based residence permit

The parliament on Wednesday passed the amendments to the Aliens Act hiking the income limit requirement from the existing 1399 euros to 1600 euros to get a Finnish residence permit on basis of employment.

The new law also allowed the government to bring change to the income limit by a decree in future.

The amendments will enter into force during 2024.

According to preliminary estimates, the income limit of EUR 1,600 would primarily affect some part-time employees whose income would fall below it.

The increased income limit would affect certain occupations, sectors and regions, said the report.

Sector-specific impacts would be greatest in the agriculture, forestry and fishery sector and in administrative and support services.

Earlier in September 2023, the four-party alliance government led by the Kansallinen Kokoomus (National Coalition Party-NCP) took the initiative to increase the income limit for work-based residence permit amid protest across the country as a part of its tightening immigration policy.

The right-wing government submitted the proposal to Parliament in June 2024.

On August 25, 2023 several hundreds of people went on demonstrations in Helsinki in protest at the move of the four-party alliance right wing government of tightening the immigration policy.

Separate demonstrations were also held in Helsinki on June 27, 2023 and June 18, 2023 protesting against the immigration policy taken by the government.

Earlier on June 16, 2023, leaders of the four parties announced the programme, which included tougher immigration, residence and citizenship laws.