More Specialist Workers Are Moving to Finland, Authorities Say

According to the authority, a total of 1,627 first residence permit applications have been filed from January to July from third-country nationals qualified as specialists. The number of such applications had surged by 1,000 compared to the corresponding time in 2021 when 621 applications were filed, AtoZSerwisPlus.com reports.

The Immigration Service further reveals that the majority of specialist workers came from Russia, India and China, with these countries remaining the source market for some years now. Moreover, regarding the increase in the number of applications filed by Russian citizens this year can be linked to the number of employees who were working in Finnish companies that have decided to move to the country.

The number of incoming applications from specialists peaked in June when 345 applications were submitted; however, compared to May, the number of applications increased by 56 per cent.

“This year, the number of specialists moving to Finland is record-high. Last year’s figures were exceeded already in July, and more applications keep coming in. We at the Finnish Immigration Service are pleased to say that despite the huge increase in incoming applications, we have been able to grant the residence permits within less than two weeks, often in an even shorter time,” the Deputy Director Elina Immonen, said, pointing out the importance of digitalisation.

In addition, Finland has been working to decrease the waiting time. This year, the average processing time of residence permit applications for specialists dropped to nine days, with the main reason being improvements in automation, which speeds up the permit processing time.

Since the beginning of June, specialists, in addition, to start-up entrepreneurs and their families, have been able to apply for a residence permit using the fast0track service, which has decreased the waiting time for these people’s applications, as it is the fastest way to move to Finland.

The fast-track service is supposed to include deciding on a residence permit application within 14 days and the applicant being able to move in immediately.

“To achieve shorter processing times, we have also had to widely develop and improve our working methods. This is something our staff has been very active in advancing,” Kaj Swanljung, from the Branch for Work and Studies, says.

In order to apply for a residence permit, the applicant has to submit and pay the application and send proof of identity within five working days.