Published: 29.05.2026
Finland issued about 8,400 work-based permits in 2025, nearly a quarter fewer than the previous year, with particularly sharp declines in social services, healthcare and construction. In early 2026, applications for work-based residence permits were 11% higher than in the first quarter of 2025.
According to Migri, the decline in labour immigration in 2025 was linked to weak economic conditions and tighter immigration legislation, while early 2026 showed a recovery in work-based residence-permit applications. For work-based movers, this means that permit issuance was weaker last year but the current application trend is more positive. The sharpest changes affected social services, healthcare and construction. The figures are useful for assessing relocation prospects, although they do not themselves change permit eligibility rules.