Nordic countries often targeted by professionals who are willing to move abroad. However, the immigration process is usually very challenging. Last June 1st, Finland has enabled a fast-track procedure that allows high skilled expats and entrepreneurs to enter the country as soon as they have been granted a residence permit, which expats used to receive upon entering the country.
Finland is a pretty good bet for expats, having recently been cited as the world's happiest country, according to the 2019 UN World Happiness index. However, due to the Covid-19 consequences on the economy, Finland suffered a decline in industrial production. In June 2020, the industrial production decreased by 6.9% compared to May 2019, according to the EU Commission. In June 2021, the value of new industrial orders decreased by 11.7% compared to the previous year. Between January and June, the number of orders decreased by 11.3% from the previous year. In July, companies across all industrial sectors received fewer orders compared to the previous year.
With the recent change in residency permits, Finland expects to attract more expats to work on their economic recovery. From the beginning of June, specialists and growth entrepreneurs who meet the criteria — as well as their family members — will be promised a residence permit within 14 days.
Labour shortage areas
Today, most employed citizens in Finland work in the service sector. The sectors employing the largest number of people are commerce, transport, hotel and catering services, education, health and social services, IT, high-tech, gaming, and other services. Employment in the service industry is furthermore set to increase in the future.
According to the European Commission website, most of the vacancies advertised in Finland are in the health and social services sector, construction industry, services, and commercial sector (demand is particularly high in sales). There is a shortage of workers, particularly in occupations of health and care, according to estimates from just before the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic emerged. Besides, Russia's war in Ukraine has also resulted in some foreigners being more cautious about moving or staying in Finland.
Employers' requirements regarding the staff they employ vary greatly according to the job. The absence of suitable employees in Finland is often due to jobseekers' inadequate training or lack of relevant work experience or specialist skills, which leads the government to look for expat workers.
Fast-track immigration
The reform aims at limiting processing time to two weeks at most and allows a quick move for family members. It comes in response to calls from start-ups and IT companies, particularly the booming gaming industry, which have long complained about stiff bureaucracy and long-winded processes.
Who can apply for a residence permit using the fast-track service?
According to the Finnish Immigration Service, expats can apply for a residence permit using to fast-track service if they are (at least one of the options): a specialist, a start-up entrepreneur, a specialist with an ICT residence permit, has an EU Blue Card or as a family member of one of the above.
Those expatriates who can and are interested must fill in an application for a fee, prove their identity at a service point abroad, and have their fingerprints taken within five working days.
If expats are coming from a country subject to a visa requirement, they can apply for a D visa when applying for a residence permit. The D visa allows them to arrive in Finland as soon as they receive a favorable residence permit decision.
The reform will be broadened “by the end of the government's term” to include “everyone who moves to Finland on the basis of work and education” to ensure processing times are one month at most, Employment Minister Tuula Haatainen from the Social Democratic Party told broadcaster YLE in a comment.
