Helsinki’s right-leaning coalition government is pressing ahead with the toughest overhaul of Finland’s immigration framework in more than two decades. Updated figures released on 1 November 2025 show that 2,070 foreign nationals were removed from the country between January and September—a 30 percent jump on the same period in 2024. Interior Minister Mari Rantanen described the shift as a “paradigm change” designed to align Finland with stricter Nordic standards on asylum and residency.
At the centre of the clamp-down is a package of amendments to the Aliens Act adopted earlier this year. Key measures include: higher income thresholds for many residence-permit categories; a 15-year cap (up from five) on entry bans for third-country nationals; expanded police powers to check residence status; and fast-track deportations for those who overstay visas or whose asylum claims are rejected. The rules also bar undocumented migrants from switching to work-based permits while in Finland—a change that has forced many job-seekers to leave the Schengen area and re-apply from abroad.
![Finland’s deportations surge as government tightens immigration rules]()
The tougher stance is already reshaping life on the ground. At Toivon talo (“House of Hope”), a Helsinki day-centre run by church volunteers, staff report a sharp rise in visitors fearful of removal. Most are men from Morocco, Somalia and Iraq, but the centre has also seen families with children and victims of trafficking seeking last-minute legal help. Advocacy groups warn that mass deportations risk sending vulnerable people back to persecution zones and could push more migrants into irregular work.
Government officials counter that Finland remains open to “genuine” work-based immigration and argue that tighter screening will bolster public confidence in the system. Employers in the technology and care sectors say the message to prospective recruits is now clear: arrive with a job offer, sufficient funds and all paperwork in order—otherwise entry will be denied.
For multinational companies and global mobility managers, the changes translate into higher compliance costs and longer lead times. HR teams must verify that new hires meet the revised income thresholds (EUR 1,600 per month for most employees and EUR 800 per month for students) and be prepared for closer post-decision monitoring by Migri, the Finnish Immigration Service. Firms relying on seasonal or project-based staff face the added burden of ensuring that workers can re-enter Finland after any visa-run, and may need to budget for advance appeals if permits are refused. Despite criticism from human-rights NGOs, the Orpo government shows no sign of softening its approach—meaning strict enforcement is likely to remain the new normal through 2026.
At the centre of the clamp-down is a package of amendments to the Aliens Act adopted earlier this year. Key measures include: higher income thresholds for many residence-permit categories; a 15-year cap (up from five) on entry bans for third-country nationals; expanded police powers to check residence status; and fast-track deportations for those who overstay visas or whose asylum claims are rejected. The rules also bar undocumented migrants from switching to work-based permits while in Finland—a change that has forced many job-seekers to leave the Schengen area and re-apply from abroad.
The tougher stance is already reshaping life on the ground. At Toivon talo (“House of Hope”), a Helsinki day-centre run by church volunteers, staff report a sharp rise in visitors fearful of removal. Most are men from Morocco, Somalia and Iraq, but the centre has also seen families with children and victims of trafficking seeking last-minute legal help. Advocacy groups warn that mass deportations risk sending vulnerable people back to persecution zones and could push more migrants into irregular work.
Government officials counter that Finland remains open to “genuine” work-based immigration and argue that tighter screening will bolster public confidence in the system. Employers in the technology and care sectors say the message to prospective recruits is now clear: arrive with a job offer, sufficient funds and all paperwork in order—otherwise entry will be denied.
For multinational companies and global mobility managers, the changes translate into higher compliance costs and longer lead times. HR teams must verify that new hires meet the revised income thresholds (EUR 1,600 per month for most employees and EUR 800 per month for students) and be prepared for closer post-decision monitoring by Migri, the Finnish Immigration Service. Firms relying on seasonal or project-based staff face the added burden of ensuring that workers can re-enter Finland after any visa-run, and may need to budget for advance appeals if permits are refused. Despite criticism from human-rights NGOs, the Orpo government shows no sign of softening its approach—meaning strict enforcement is likely to remain the new normal through 2026.
