Decline in Residence Permit Applications in Finland
In a revealing update, the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) has reported a significant drop in the number of study-based residence permit applications, reflecting a five percent year-on-year decline in the first ten months of 2025.
The agency’s announcement shed light on the broader trend affecting work-related permits as well. The number of first-time employment-based residence permit requests during this period was nearly one-third less compared to the same timeframe last year. This information was part of a press release detailing an updated forecast for permit application volumes, which is based on assessments made by a team of experts who convene three times a year to evaluate the agency’s expected workload.
According to Migri, from January to October 2025, the agency recorded 9,593 applications for first work-based residence permits—a striking 29 percent decrease from 2024. Remarkably, application numbers have fallen to levels not seen since 2018, underscoring a substantial shift in the landscape.
Johannes Hirvelä, Migri’s chief of information services, indicated that this trend is unlikely to change in the near future. He stated, “Given the slow economic growth and rising unemployment in Finland over recent years, coupled with uncertainties in the global economy, we anticipate that the volume of applications will remain at a similar level for the coming year.”
Hirvelä elaborated on the situation, predicting Migri will handle approximately 11,000 work-based residence permit applications this year, with a projected range of 11,000 to 13,000 for the next. He further noted that even if the Finnish economy experiences a rebound, the labor market typically reacts with delays, suggesting that the demand for foreign labor often lags behind the recovery of domestic employment.
A Shift in Study-based Applications
The decline in study-based permits has raised concerns within educational and immigration circles. Hirvelä attributed part of this stagnation to the introduction of a €100 application fee for prospective students, which began at the start of 2025. “This fee has resulted in a decrease in applications from non-EU and non-EEA citizens seeking to enroll in higher education in Finland,” he explained. Furthermore, the recent implementation of full tuition fees is expected to deter international students, at least in the short term.
Additionally, there has also been a noticeable decline in asylum applications across Finland, mirroring trends seen throughout the European Union. In the first ten months of 2025, Finland received 1,709 first asylum applications—a 15 percent drop compared to the same period last year.
This multifaceted decline in applications paints a complex picture of Finland’s immigration landscape, highlighting the intertwined effects of economic conditions, policy changes, and broader global trends.
