Foreign-born population – 2025 | 10.4% of the population | Main countries of birth: Former USSR (14%), Estonia (8%), Sweden (6%) |
Size: 0.6 million, 48% women | Evolution since 2015: +81% |
International Migration Outlook 2026
50th Edition
In 2025, Finland received 34 000 new immigrants on a long-term or permanent basis (including changes of status and free mobility), ‑3% compared to 2024. This figure comprises 14% immigrants benefitting from free mobility, 15% labour migrants, 61% family members (including accompanying family) and 8% humanitarian migrants. Around 10 000 permits were issued to tertiary-level international students and 5 100 to temporary and seasonal labour migrants (excluding intra-EU migration). In addition, 34 000 intra-EU postings were recorded in 2024, a ‑12% decrease compared to 2023. These posted workers are generally on short-term contracts.
Ukraine, the Philippines and Nepal were the top three nationalities of newcomers in 2024. Among the top 15 countries of origin, Nepal registered the strongest increase (1 400) and Ukraine the largest decrease (‑5 900) in flows to Finland compared to the previous year.
In 2025, the number of first asylum applicants decreased by ‑13%, to reach around 2 000. The majority of applicants came from Afghanistan (300), Somalia (200) and Iraq (100). The largest increase since 2024 concerned nationals of Afghanistan (100) and the largest decrease nationals of Syria (‑100). Of the 4 150 decisions taken in 2025, 50% were positive.
Emigration of Finnish citizens to OECD countries decreased by ‑2% in 2024, to 9 300. Approximately 18% of this group migrated to Sweden, 13% to Spain and 10% to the Netherlands.
In January 2025, amendments to residence permit rules shortened initial residence permits for refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection, reinforcing the temporary nature of international protection and introducing more frequent reassessment.
In May 2025, Finland extensively amended the Aliens Act to increase the efficiency of asylum and migration procedures. The reforms modified asylum interview procedures, limited the right of beneficiaries of international protection to travel to their countries of origin, introduced faster enforcement of removal decisions for rejected applications, established a formal obligation to co‑operate with authorities following a negative asylum or residence permit decision, tightened rules on entry bans, extended the maximum detention period from 12 to 18 months in matters related to removal decisions, and clarified the conditions for withdrawing residence permits.
Legislative amendments concerning family reunification entered into force in June 2025, introducing a minimum age of 21 for both the sponsor and the spouse (with an exemption for Finnish citizens as sponsors), and a new residence requirement of at least two years under a residence permit where the sponsor is a beneficiary of international protection.
In June 2025, Finland introduced a three‑ or six‑month unemployment period for labour migrants during which residence permits remain valid while job seeking continues. The duration depends on how long the permit has been valid (three months if under two years, six months if two years or more), with longer protection periods for certain specialist categories such as EU Blue Card holders.
At the same time, the scope of work permitted under existing residence permits was broadened to facilitate re-employment. Holders of a residence permit for an employed person may work in occupations in shortage without applying for a new permit, even if those occupations differ from the field for which their permit was originally granted. The government’s shortage occupation list is subject to regular review to reflect labour market needs.
The Finnish Government submitted a legislative package to Parliament on 16 April 2026 to implement the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum. The proposal covered screening procedures, reception conditions, safe country concepts and return arrangements. The new national legislation entered into application on 12 June 2026.
As of January 2026, Finland has tightened the requirements for permanent residence permits by increasing the general residence requirement from four to six years and introducing new language proficiency and employment history requirements (generally at least two years of work experience). Faster access after four years of residence remains possible for individuals who meet specific integration criteria, including high income levels, advanced Finnish or Swedish language skills, or a higher education degree.
Amendments to the Act on the Promotion of Immigrant Integration, entering into force in January 2027, will place greater responsibility on immigrants for their own integration. The amendments focus on streamlining the integration and literacy training and its financing while enhancing the role of labour market training. Amendments to the Citizenship Act introducing a citizenship test enter into force in January 2027.
For further information: https://intermin.fi/ | https://tem.fi/ | www.emn.fi
