Finland grants fewer residence permits in 2024

The number of residence permits granted by the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) was lower in 2024 than in 2023 despite the high application numbers, according to the statistics published by Migri on Thursday.

Labour migration to Finland has decreased because of the economic downturn in Finland, but the number of applications received is still at a historically high level.

A record number of residence permit applications were submitted by students and family members of employees and students in 2024 but fewer applicants were granted residence permit compared to the previous year.

Meanwhile, there has been a significant decrease in the number of incoming applications for international protection.

“The number of asylum applications has remained moderate despite conflicts and crises and has nearly halved compared with the year before. The situation in the Middle East is not reflected in the number of asylum applications in Finland,” said Ilkka Haahtela, Director General of the Finnish Immigration Service.

In total, the Finnish Immigration Service received 196,003 applications in 2024. The agency issued 188,454 decisions in 2024.

The number of positive decisions decreased and out of all decisions issued in 2024, 84% were positive and 7% were negative.

The Migri issued 119,298 residence permit decisions, 4,176 asylum decisions and 13,373 decisions on temporary protection.

The number of applications for an extended permit was over 20% higher than the year before.

The Migri received 55,766 applications for an extended permit (2023: 43,961). A total of 50,631 extended permits were granted (2023: 42,621). Extended permits were most commonly applied for and issued on the basis of family ties.

In 2024, the Migri received 15,024 applications for a first work-based residence permit.

The number of applications for work-based immigration in 2024 was about 12% lower than in 2023..

“Work-based migration to Finland has stabilised, primarily because of the economic downturn and the challenging employment situation in Finland. The total volume of work-based immigration is affected not only by the economy but also by the collapse in the number of applications from Russian citizens, which has likely been affected by the closing of the border between Finland and Russia,” said Johannes Hirvelä, Director of Development.

In work-based residence permits, the largest applicant groups in 2024 were citizens of Thailand, the Philippines, India, China and Vietnam.

Citizens of Thailand were the largest applicant group because pickers of wild berries were exceptionally required to apply for a residence permit for an employed person in 2024.

About 1,300 citizens of Thailand arrived in Finland for short-term employment under this permit.

The number of applications submitted by specialists was exceptionally low in 2024 (2022: 2,995, 2023: 1,604, 2024: 1,224).

Like the year before, citizens of India were the largest applicant group in 2024. The total number of applications submitted by specialists was 1,224.

In total, the Migri issued 11,103 positive decisions on applications for a first work-based residence permit (2023: 15,081).

A record number of applications for a first residence permit for studies were submitted in 2024, totalling 14,163 applications (2023: 12,867) but fewer students (12,192) were granted residence permit compared to 2023(12,795).

Especially citizens of South Asian countries, such as Bangladesh and Nepal, are currently applying for residence permits to study in Finland.

Migri estimated that the number of applications for a first residence permit for studies submitted in 2025 will be 15,000.

“The primary factor affecting the total number of international students in Finland is the number of new students that educational institutions can admit each year. At the same time, migration, especially from South Asian countries, is maintained by economic push factors, such as standard of living, economic conditions and employment opportunities,” said Hirvelä.

A record number of applications for a residence permit on the basis of family ties were submitted in 2024, totalling 23,701 applications fewer residence permits were granted than 2023.

In 2023, the number of these applications was 21,583.

Last year, family members were granted a total of 18,018 first residence permits, which was 20,278 in 2023.

In family members’ applications, the largest applicant groups were citizens of the Philippines, Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh and Nepal.

Finland is granting temporary protection to those fleeing Ukraine because of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Seeking temporary protection is a different process than seeking asylum.

In 2024, Finland received a total of 12,617 applications for temporary protection. The number of Ukrainian refugees arriving in Finland has decreased but still amounts to a significant share of Finland’s immigration volumes.

Temporary protection was granted to 12,210 people fleeing the war in Ukraine (2023: 18,969; 2022: 45,358). Temporary protection for Ukrainians fleeing the war has been extended until 4 March 2026.

The number of other asylum applications submitted in Finland was 45% lower than the year before. Last year, a total of 2,948 asylum applications were submitted in Finland (2023: 5,372).

Asylum seekers were most often citizens of Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria or Nigeria.

The high number of asylum applications submitted in 2023 was partly due to an instrumentalised migration operation at Finland’s eastern border, which led to approximately 1,300 people seeking asylum Finland in 2023 and 2024.

For asylum seekers arriving via the eastern border, 744 decisions have been made by 26 January 2025, most of them concerning expired applications (422). Additionally, 176 positive decisions and 138 negative decisions have been issued.

The highest number of positive decisions were issued to citizens of Syria and Somalia. The number of clients missing from reception centres was nearly 500. These are clients who have left the reception centre at some point and who have not been reached thereafter.

The conflicts in the Middle East, including the conflicts in Palestine, Lebanon and Syria, are not reflected in the number of asylum seekers arriving in Finland to any significant degree.

In total, 1,581 positive decisions were issued on asylum applications in 2024 (2023: 1,571).