Finland will introduce a three-month deadline for foreigners with work-based residence permits to find new employment if they lose their jobs.
Announcing the news, the Finnish Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment said that under the new law, which is set to enter into force in June 2025, those who fail to find new employment within the set deadline may risk having their permits revoked, Schengen.News reports.
The three-month deadline to find a new job will apply to most permit holders. An exception will be made for highly skilled workers who are defined as specialists, EU Blue card holders, intra-company transferees, top-level managers, and those who have resided in Finland for more than two years on a work-based permit.
This group of foreign workers will be able to remain within the territory of Finland for six months after losing their job to seek new employment.
As explained by the Helsinki Times, the new rule is set to apply to around 50,000 foreign workers who are currently in Finland.
While the move has been publicly criticised, the authorities said that the measure aligns with the EU directive on this specific matter.
In addition to the above-mentioned, employers will also face a new obligation under the upcoming rules. They will need to inform the Finnish Immigration Service within 14 days if the work-based residence permit of an employee ends.
New Change Has Sparked Concerns Among Many Foreign Residents
Finland’s decision to impose a three-month deadline for foreigners on a work-based permit has sparked concerns among many foreign residents in the country.
A survey carried out by OP Financial Group earlier in February, when the three-month deadline was only a proposal, found that 13 per cent of the respondents considered leaving Finland due to this change.
The same survey said that it is essential for Finland to increase labour immigration in order to increase its competitiveness.
Even though the new rules have not entered into force yet, Finland has been seeing a drop in foreigners’ interest in reaching the country for employment purposes.
The Finnish authorities disclosed earlier this year that due to fewer applications, the country granted 11,000 work-based residence permits in 2024, down by 4,000 compared to 2023.
While there are many professions that have been affected by the decrease in work permits, data show that healthcare professions are facing the deepest shortages. On the other hand, the Finnish IT sector continues to see many foreign workers arriving on work-based residence permits.