Finland has approved visas for just 123 Thai berry pickers this year after rejecting more than 2,000 applications, a decision expected to worsen labour shortages during the country’s wild berry harvest.
The Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs confirmed on 20 July that all visa applications for the 2026 berry-picking season have now been processed.
According to Jussi Tanner, Director General for Consular Services, the Finnish Embassy in Bangkok examined 2,145 applications from Thai berry pickers.
Of those, 2,022 applications were rejected, while only 123 applicants were granted visas to travel to Finland.
The high rejection rate follows increased scrutiny of Finland’s wild berry industry after several criminal investigations and court cases involving the treatment of foreign berry pickers in recent years.
The Foreign Ministry has said many applications were rejected because the embassy was not satisfied that employers would be able to meet their legal obligations towards workers.
The ministry also cited ongoing criminal investigations and legal proceedings involving companies in the berry industry as part of its assessment.
The decision is expected to have a significant impact on this year’s harvest.
The Rural Employers’ Association has estimated that the industry needs around 3,000 seasonal workers for the berry-picking season.
Retailers have also warned that the worker shortage could reduce the availability of Finnish wild berries in shops this summer.
