Immigration dominated the Finnish Parliament’s oral question hour on 13 November, with opposition MPs challenging Interior Minister Mari Rantanen over the government’s draft bill to lengthen the qualifying period for a permanent residence permit from four to six years and introduce mandatory B1-level Finnish or Swedish language skills plus two years of documented employment. The debate marks the bill’s first appearance in plenary since committees began line-by-line scrutiny in September.
Critics from the Green League and the Social Democrats argued the stricter rules could deter international talent that Finland’s technology sector desperately needs. They cited Helsinki region labour-market projections showing a 50 000-person shortfall in STEM roles by 2030. Minister Rantanen countered that “integration must be genuine, not merely administrative,” insisting language proficiency is essential for societal cohesion and for ensuring that long-term residents can navigate public-service systems without interpreters.
![Finnish Parliament grilled over permanent-residence tightening during 13 Nov plenary]()
Business Finland and the Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK) are lobbying for amendments, proposing an exemption pathway for top-tier specialists earning over €70 000 and for intra-company transferees on ICT permits, arguing that the bill as drafted could slow the Work in Finland programme’s progress. The government has signalled it may add a ‘talent fast-track’ clause during the second reading.
Procedurally, the session puts the legislation on track for a committee report by early December, after which Parliament will vote before its Christmas recess. If passed unchanged, the new rules would apply to applications filed from 1 March 2026, affecting relocation timelines currently being drawn up for next year’s assignees. Mobility advisers are recommending corporates bring forward permanent-residence filings for key staff already in Finland to lock in the four-year rule.
While the debate was heated, observers noted rare cross-party agreement that processing efficiency at the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) must improve in parallel. An amendment earmarking €8 million for additional case officers is likely to pass as part of the 2026 budget, though unions warned that recruitment will be difficult without salary reform.
Critics from the Green League and the Social Democrats argued the stricter rules could deter international talent that Finland’s technology sector desperately needs. They cited Helsinki region labour-market projections showing a 50 000-person shortfall in STEM roles by 2030. Minister Rantanen countered that “integration must be genuine, not merely administrative,” insisting language proficiency is essential for societal cohesion and for ensuring that long-term residents can navigate public-service systems without interpreters.
Business Finland and the Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK) are lobbying for amendments, proposing an exemption pathway for top-tier specialists earning over €70 000 and for intra-company transferees on ICT permits, arguing that the bill as drafted could slow the Work in Finland programme’s progress. The government has signalled it may add a ‘talent fast-track’ clause during the second reading.
Procedurally, the session puts the legislation on track for a committee report by early December, after which Parliament will vote before its Christmas recess. If passed unchanged, the new rules would apply to applications filed from 1 March 2026, affecting relocation timelines currently being drawn up for next year’s assignees. Mobility advisers are recommending corporates bring forward permanent-residence filings for key staff already in Finland to lock in the four-year rule.
While the debate was heated, observers noted rare cross-party agreement that processing efficiency at the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) must improve in parallel. An amendment earmarking €8 million for additional case officers is likely to pass as part of the 2026 budget, though unions warned that recruitment will be difficult without salary reform.
