Key Points
- As of January 1, 2025, the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) will handle all residence permit applications for employed persons.
- The TE Office previously managed this responsibility and is part of a broader municipal reform of employment services.
- Migri will oversee all process aspects, including employment terms, employer obligations, and labor market testing.
- Employers must continue to report foreign hires through the Enter Finland service, excluding EU citizens and their families.
Overview
Effective January 1, 2025, Finland will significantly change its employment residence permit process. The Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) will assume full responsibility for processing residence permits for employed persons, a function previously handled by the TE Office. This transition aligns with a broader reform aimed at transferring employment-related services to municipal areas, promoting efficiency, and improving the customer experience for both employers and foreign nationals.
Migri will use the new system to manage the end-to-end application process. This includes reviewing employment terms, ensuring employer compliance, and conducting labor market testing to confirm that domestic or EU labor cannot fill the job. By centralizing these responsibilities, the Finnish government aims to reduce administrative complexity and provide a more streamlined process for applicants and employers alike.
Despite the expected long-term improvements, there may be initial delays in processing times as the transition takes effect. Employers hiring non-EU foreign nationals must report the employment through the Enter Finland portal, with EU nationals and their family members remaining exempt from this requirement. This reporting step is crucial for compliance and ensures transparency when hiring foreign labor.
By placing the entire employment permit process under Migri’s jurisdiction, Finland seeks to enhance the user experience and reduce processing bottlenecks, making the system more agile in addressing labor market needs. The transition also aims to create a more uniform approach to processing work-related residence permits across Finland.
Looking Ahead
This reform represents a key step in Finland’s efforts to modernize its immigration framework and align employment services with municipal structures. While some processing slowdowns are anticipated in early 2025, employers should prepare for these temporary disruptions and ensure their applications are submitted well in advance.
As the Finnish Immigration Service becomes the single point of contact for employment permits, companies may benefit from a more cohesive process that reduces redundancies and ensures clearer communication. HR professionals and international mobility teams should stay informed about any further procedural updates and assess how the new structure may impact onboarding timelines for foreign hires.
In the long term, this centralized approach is likely to enhance transparency and adaptability, making Finland an even more attractive destination for skilled foreign professionals and employers seeking international talent.
