The Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) has confirmed that it issued 169 deportation orders against foreign nationals convicted of crimes during 2025 – the highest annual figure ever recorded. The number represents a 30 percent jump on 2024 and continues a steady upward trend that began after lawmakers lowered the threshold for expelling serious offenders last year.(dailyfinland.fi)
Under the amended Aliens Act, the agency can now revoke a residence permit more quickly when a migrant receives an unconditional custodial sentence or is deemed a threat to public order. Migri officials say the legislative change, combined with closer police-agency cooperation, explains the surge. Iraqis, Estonians and Russians topped the list of deportees, reflecting both the size of those communities and their over-representation in Finland’s prison statistics.(dailyfinland.fi)
![Finland deported a record 169 convicted foreign nationals in 2025, Migri confirms]()
For companies and individuals looking to navigate Finland’s steadily tightening immigration environment, VisaHQ offers a streamlined way to access the latest visa and residence-permit requirements, submit applications, and receive compliance alerts. The service’s dedicated Finland page (https://www.visahq.com/finland/) helps HR teams and assignees stay on top of rule changes—such as the lower deportation thresholds—before, during and after a move.
Corporate mobility managers should note that the stricter rules also affect employees on intra-company transfers or specialist permits: a criminal conviction can now lead to removal even if the underlying work contract remains valid. Companies are therefore revisiting compliance training and background-check policies for assignees, especially in sectors such as construction and logistics where temporary foreign labour is common.
From a policy perspective, the government argues that faster removals deter crime and protect the integrity of the immigration system. Critics, including the Finnish Refugee Council, counter that the new regime risks disproportionate outcomes for long-term residents who have strong family ties in Finland. For global employers, the takeaway is clear: immigration compliance now extends well beyond work-permit paperwork to ongoing monitoring of legal conduct while on assignment.
Under the amended Aliens Act, the agency can now revoke a residence permit more quickly when a migrant receives an unconditional custodial sentence or is deemed a threat to public order. Migri officials say the legislative change, combined with closer police-agency cooperation, explains the surge. Iraqis, Estonians and Russians topped the list of deportees, reflecting both the size of those communities and their over-representation in Finland’s prison statistics.(dailyfinland.fi)
For companies and individuals looking to navigate Finland’s steadily tightening immigration environment, VisaHQ offers a streamlined way to access the latest visa and residence-permit requirements, submit applications, and receive compliance alerts. The service’s dedicated Finland page (https://www.visahq.com/finland/) helps HR teams and assignees stay on top of rule changes—such as the lower deportation thresholds—before, during and after a move.
Corporate mobility managers should note that the stricter rules also affect employees on intra-company transfers or specialist permits: a criminal conviction can now lead to removal even if the underlying work contract remains valid. Companies are therefore revisiting compliance training and background-check policies for assignees, especially in sectors such as construction and logistics where temporary foreign labour is common.
From a policy perspective, the government argues that faster removals deter crime and protect the integrity of the immigration system. Critics, including the Finnish Refugee Council, counter that the new regime risks disproportionate outcomes for long-term residents who have strong family ties in Finland. For global employers, the takeaway is clear: immigration compliance now extends well beyond work-permit paperwork to ongoing monitoring of legal conduct while on assignment.
