Finland’s immigration enforcement statistics, published on 30 December 2025, show that 104 Russian nationals who applied for political asylum were deported during the year, most of them men who had fled Moscow’s expanded mobilisation orders. The figure—confirmed by National Police Board data obtained by Yle—marks the first large-scale removals since Finland tightened asylum rules in response to a surge of irregular arrivals at its eastern border in late 2023.
Under guidance issued by the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) in September, the mere threat of conscription is no longer deemed sufficient grounds for refugee status unless an applicant can demonstrate individual risk of persecution or potential involvement in war crimes. While some applicants met that threshold, many did not, and 18 people were forcibly removed under police escort after refusing voluntary return. Most deportees were flown to Istanbul or Tallinn before continuing to Russia.
For employers the development has practical implications. Russian software developers and engineers who entered Finland on humanitarian grounds in 2023–24 had begun integrating into Finnish tech clusters under temporary work permits. Those with pending asylum claims now face increased uncertainty, and HR departments are urged to verify employees’ right to remain beyond January 2026 when new residence-permit fees and stricter permanent-residency rules take effect.
![Finland Accelerates Deportations—104 Russian Draft Evaders Removed in 2025]()
VisaHQ can help both individuals and companies make sense of these shifting requirements. Through its Finland portal (https://www.visahq.com/finland/), the service provides up-to-date guidance on visa categories, document checklists and application timelines, and can coordinate courier filing or embassy appointments—support that is particularly valuable when last-minute rule changes threaten travel or work-permit plans.
From a compliance perspective, companies sponsoring Russian staff should prepare for more rigorous checks of employment contracts, language-training records and social-assistance usage. Migri has indicated that any future work-based residence applications from rejected asylum seekers will be scrutinised for signs of “migration circumvention”.
Politically, Helsinki argues that the deportations demonstrate Finland’s determination to enforce immigration law consistently, thereby deterring what officials call “instrumentalised migration” from Russia. Critics, including several Finnish NGOs, counter that the policy risks violating international protection obligations. The debate is likely to intensify in Parliament when it reconvenes in mid-January, but for now, mobility managers should assume a stricter line on Russian nationals and plan workforce moves accordingly.
Under guidance issued by the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) in September, the mere threat of conscription is no longer deemed sufficient grounds for refugee status unless an applicant can demonstrate individual risk of persecution or potential involvement in war crimes. While some applicants met that threshold, many did not, and 18 people were forcibly removed under police escort after refusing voluntary return. Most deportees were flown to Istanbul or Tallinn before continuing to Russia.
For employers the development has practical implications. Russian software developers and engineers who entered Finland on humanitarian grounds in 2023–24 had begun integrating into Finnish tech clusters under temporary work permits. Those with pending asylum claims now face increased uncertainty, and HR departments are urged to verify employees’ right to remain beyond January 2026 when new residence-permit fees and stricter permanent-residency rules take effect.
VisaHQ can help both individuals and companies make sense of these shifting requirements. Through its Finland portal (https://www.visahq.com/finland/), the service provides up-to-date guidance on visa categories, document checklists and application timelines, and can coordinate courier filing or embassy appointments—support that is particularly valuable when last-minute rule changes threaten travel or work-permit plans.
From a compliance perspective, companies sponsoring Russian staff should prepare for more rigorous checks of employment contracts, language-training records and social-assistance usage. Migri has indicated that any future work-based residence applications from rejected asylum seekers will be scrutinised for signs of “migration circumvention”.
Politically, Helsinki argues that the deportations demonstrate Finland’s determination to enforce immigration law consistently, thereby deterring what officials call “instrumentalised migration” from Russia. Critics, including several Finnish NGOs, counter that the policy risks violating international protection obligations. The debate is likely to intensify in Parliament when it reconvenes in mid-January, but for now, mobility managers should assume a stricter line on Russian nationals and plan workforce moves accordingly.
