Announced, proposed and adopted changes to immigration, residence permits and citizenship.
The government plans to set the income amounts required for family members of residence permit holders in a decree instead of Migri guidelines. The ministry says the thresholds will not be lowered.
Founders would no longer request a separate, free eligibility statement from Business Finland. First-time entrepreneur applicants could get a business ID after the permit is granted. Planned start: 12 January 2028.
The Finnish Immigration Service has warned that scam emails and calls have been made in its name. It explains how to recognise genuine contact and book appointments safely.
Amendments to the Aliens Act that took effect on 12 June 2026 change how appeals affect deportation decisions, the right to work during removal processes and the use of entry bans.
The amended Citizenship Act enters into force on 1 January 2027. Applicants aged 18 to 64 who apply on or after 1 March 2027 must show sufficient knowledge of Finnish society, for example by passing a citizenship test.
The Finnish Immigration Service forecasts 11,000 to 13,000 first work-based residence permit applications in 2026 and 13,500 in 2027, with student applications expected to stay at about 13,000 a year.
