Finland’s new minimum income requirement « Euro Weekly News

Finland is introducing a new minimum income threshold for foreign workers applying for residence permits, setting the bar at €1,600 per month.

From January 1, 2025, this new legislation will aim to promote full-time employment and ensure that foreign workers can financially sustain themselves, as reported by Schengen News.

Finland’s new €1,600 income threshold for foreign workers

According to the Finnish Ministry for Economic Affairs and Employment, the income limit applies exclusively to earnings from primary employment, excluding other forms of income. This measure ensures that workers have sufficient financial resources to avoid reliance on social assistance, as mandated by Finland’s Aliens Act.

Finland’s income requirements vary by industry

While the minimum threshold for most foreign workers is set at €1,600, income requirements vary across different job categories. According to a report by Business Day, specialist roles require a minimum monthly salary of €3,638. Seasonal workers, such as those in agriculture or forestry, must earn at least €1,399. Minimum thresholds for other roles range from €1,030 to €3,638, depending on the job type and location.

The Finnish Immigration Service also stated that exceptions to these thresholds could be made in special cases, such as for the best interests of a child or for compassionate reasons.

Exemptions to Finland’s minimum income rule

The new threshold does not apply to asylum seekers or quota refugees. Individuals granted residence permits on compassionate grounds, plus family member of Finnish citizens are also exempt.

Impact on existing permit holders in Finland

For those already holding residence permits, the new €1,600 monthly threshold will also apply to permit extensions starting in April 2025. Failure to meet the requirement will reportedly result in rejection of renewal applications.

In a report by Schengen News, to maintain compliance, Finland will introduce automated post-decision monitoring for work-based residence permits. This system will regularly check that employees meet salary requirements throughout the validity of their permits.

According to Business Day, in 2024, Finland received 9,104 applications for work-based residence permits, with most applicants coming from Thailand, the Philippines, India, China, and Vietnam.

For expats and locals in Finland, this development signifies the country’s increasing focus on streamlining immigration policies to balance workforce demands with economic stability. In other recent news, Finnish pensioners who live outside of the country, were warned in October 2024 that the Government was considering stopping the payments of national pensions to recipients living outside Finland in the EU and EEA countries, Switzerland, and the UK.