The Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) revealed on 27 February that it issued 169 deportation orders against foreign citizens convicted of crimes in 2025, up 30 % on the previous year and the highest total on record. Overall, Migri made 2,774 deportation decisions—criminal and administrative—an increase of 41 %.
The spike follows amendments to the Aliens Act in 2024 that lowered the threshold for expelling individuals who have received unconditional custodial sentences or whom police deem a threat to public order. Strengthened data-sharing with law-enforcement agencies means that prison releases now automatically trigger immigration reviews.
Iraqis, Estonians and Russians constituted the largest deportee groups, reflecting both community size and over-representation in crime statistics. Human-rights NGOs have voiced concern that rapid removals limit access to appeals, but the Interior Ministry argues that public-safety considerations justify the tightened policy.
![Migri reports record deportations of criminal foreigners in 2025]()
Businesses and individuals navigating Finland’s dynamic immigration rules can find practical assistance through VisaHQ, which maintains a dedicated Finland portal (https://www.visahq.com/finland/). The platform consolidates visa requirements, document checklists and real-time regulatory updates, helping applicants stay compliant—especially valuable when policy shifts, such as the 2024 reforms, occur with little notice.
For employers, the numbers highlight the importance of robust background checks: a criminal conviction can now result in the loss of both the employee and any family members holding linked residence permits. Companies sponsoring work-based permits are advised to keep compliance files up to date; immigration lawyers expect more frequent spot audits as Migri refines its risk-scoring model.
Looking ahead, officials hinted that electronic monitoring of foreign offenders on probation may be expanded, potentially feeding real-time alerts to immigration databases. The government will assess the impact of the 2024 reforms later this spring and could propose further changes before the summer recess.
The spike follows amendments to the Aliens Act in 2024 that lowered the threshold for expelling individuals who have received unconditional custodial sentences or whom police deem a threat to public order. Strengthened data-sharing with law-enforcement agencies means that prison releases now automatically trigger immigration reviews.
Iraqis, Estonians and Russians constituted the largest deportee groups, reflecting both community size and over-representation in crime statistics. Human-rights NGOs have voiced concern that rapid removals limit access to appeals, but the Interior Ministry argues that public-safety considerations justify the tightened policy.
Businesses and individuals navigating Finland’s dynamic immigration rules can find practical assistance through VisaHQ, which maintains a dedicated Finland portal (https://www.visahq.com/finland/). The platform consolidates visa requirements, document checklists and real-time regulatory updates, helping applicants stay compliant—especially valuable when policy shifts, such as the 2024 reforms, occur with little notice.
For employers, the numbers highlight the importance of robust background checks: a criminal conviction can now result in the loss of both the employee and any family members holding linked residence permits. Companies sponsoring work-based permits are advised to keep compliance files up to date; immigration lawyers expect more frequent spot audits as Migri refines its risk-scoring model.
Looking ahead, officials hinted that electronic monitoring of foreign offenders on probation may be expanded, potentially feeding real-time alerts to immigration databases. The government will assess the impact of the 2024 reforms later this spring and could propose further changes before the summer recess.
