Work-based immigration to Finland fell by 23% in 2024, according to the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri), amid economic downturn and rising interest rates. Yet Southeast Asian nationals continued to play a prominent role in Finland’s foreign workforce, particularly in agriculture and caregiving sectors.
Out of the 11,103 people who received a first work-based residence permit in 2024, a significant number were from Southeast Asia. The largest applicant groups were citizens of Thailand, the Philippines, India, China, and Vietnam. Of these, the Philippines, India, and Vietnam are listed as international recruitment partner countries under the Finnish Government Programme.
Thailand stood out as the second-largest nationality applying for work-based permits, largely due to a new requirement in 2024 that wild berry pickers apply for residence permits — a change that brought approximately 1,300 Thai nationals to Finland for seasonal work.
Although fewer permits were granted in sectors like construction and healthcare — both of which saw sharp declines (construction down 72%) — migration for studies and family ties from Asia remained strong.
Migri data shows:
- 15,024 applications for first work-based residence permits were submitted in 2024, down 12% from 2023.
- Applications by specialists declined significantly, with only 1,224 applications in 2024 (down from 2,995 in 2022).
- Citizens of India remained the largest group of specialist applicants.
Family-related migration also featured strong Southeast Asian representation, with the Philippines, Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, and Nepal among the top nationalities. A total of 18,018 first family residence permits were granted in 2024.
Student migration to Finland is growing. In 2024, a record 14,163 applications for first-time residence permits for study were filed, with South Asian countries like Bangladesh and Nepal contributing many applicants. The number is forecast to grow to 15,000 in 2025 and 16,000 in 2026.
Despite stricter rules for students, Finland remains attractive due to broad work rights for international students, family reunification options and comparatively moderate tuition fees
Looking ahead, Migri expects only 11,000 work permit applications in 2025 but predicts a rebound to 15,000 in 2026 if the Finnish economy improves.
Source: Dailyfinland.fi
