At a glance
- The government has proposed amendments to the Aliens Act regarding work-based residence permits in Finland.
- From 1 April 2025, employees on work-based residence permits will have three months to find new employment if their current job ends; otherwise, they must leaveFinland. Extended periods apply for certain employees for example specialists.
- The proposal also provides for sector flexibility. Employees working in Finland on work-based residence permits could switch to another sector.
Update: 14 July 2025
On 11 June 2025, the proposed amendments relating to residence permits for employment persons entered into force.
Where applicable, employers will now have to notify the Immigration Service of termination of employment within 14 days from last day of employment. The notification can be made via online platform 'Enter Finland'. Further, employers must submit an employee announcement when hiring a person from outside the EU / EEA countries who already has a valid residence permit and right to work. The announcement must be submitted within seven days as of commencement of employment via 'Enter Finland'.
On 17 October 2024, the government’s proposal to amend the Aliens Act was submitted to the Parliament.
The proposal includes the following amendments to employees working in Finland on work-based residence permits:
- It is proposed that as of 1 April 2025, if an employee is working in Finland on a work-based residence permit and the employment ends, the employee will have three months to find new employment.
- Otherwise, or if the employee is not granted residence permit on other grounds, the employee must leave Finland.
- An exception is applicable in the case of specialists (including EU Blue Card holders), top and middle management, internally posted specialists and management, and where an employee has resided in Finland over two years on a work-based residence permit. They are granted a six month period to find new employment.
- Employers will be required to inform the Immigration Office about terminated employments.
If the proposal is approved, employees could have the opportunity to work in a different sector in the future. Currently, work-based residence permits are limited to specific sectors. However, an additional condition is that the new sector must be classified as a labour shortage sector in Finland.
If the amendments are accepted, they will enter into force on 1 April 2025.
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