Finland has always attracted people from all over the world with its high quality of life, complete social welfare and livable environment.immigrantsIn 2024, Finland made some adjustments to its immigration policy, providing more opportunities for applicants while also putting forward new requirements. This article will comprehensively interpret the 2024 immigration policy from the aspects of visa categories, policy changes, application conditions, etc.Finnish immigration policy, providing you with authoritative reference.

One,Immigration to FinlandOverall trends in policy 2024

1. Strengthen the introduction of high-skilled talents
   The Finnish government continues to give priority to recruiting highly skilled personnel in the fields of science and technology, healthcare, education, etc. to cope with the domestic labor shortage.skilled migrantThe approval time is further shortened, providing a faster entry channel for foreign talents.
2. Supporting international students’ employment and settlement
   To encourage international students to stay and work in Finland after graduation, the 2024 policy will allow for a more streamlined process for converting student visas to work visas and extend the residence period for job hunting after graduation to two years.
3. Green channel promotionbusiness migrant
   Entrepreneurial immigration has become a policy highlight in 2024. Finland provides innovative entrepreneurs with more relaxed funding requirements and faster approval processes to attract global entrepreneurs to Finland.
4. Family reunification policy is more flexible
   For family reunification immigration, the policy has relaxed the income requirements to help more family members reunite in Finland.

II. 2024Immigration to FinlandInterpretation of key changes

1. Adjustment of Residence Permit for Work

• Shortened approval time：The application process that used to take 2-3 months can now be completed and approved in just 1 month.
• Fast Track：Provide priority approval services for high-demand industries (such as IT, engineering, and medical).
• Enhanced spousal rights: The spouse and children of a work visa holder can apply for residence at the same time and enjoy the right to work legally.
• Requirements for application::
  • Formal employment contract
  • The position must meet Finland’s skill shortage list (focused on AI engineers, nurses and teachers in 2024)
  • Proof of adequate financial support

2. Changes to Residence Permit for Studies

• Extension of residence period for job hunting: The post-graduation job-seeking residence period is extended from 1 year to 2 years, providing students with more employment opportunities.
• Adjustment of part-time work restrictions: The weekly working hours limit is increased from 25 hours to 30 hours to ease the pressure of living costs for students.
• Requirements for application::
  • Acceptance letter from a Finnish university
  • Proof of financial ability, at least 6,720 euros per year for living expenses
  • Certificate of health insurance

3. Improvements to the Start-up Residence Permit

Finland's startup ecosystem ranks among the best in Europe, and the 2024 policy has optimized the application conditions for startup visas:

• More flexible business plans: Applicants can submit a preliminary business plan first and then complete the details after approval.
• Lower funding requirements: In the initial stage of starting a business, you only need to prove that you have 6 months of living expenses.
• Fast Approval Mechanism: Applicants can obtain a start-up visa within 4 weeks.

Target group: Entrepreneurs with innovative business ideas who want to expand into the European market.

4. Relaxation of the Residence Permit for Family Members policy

The 2024 policy has made significant improvements to family reunification:

• Lower income requirements: In the past, family reunification required applicants to provide proof of higher income, but now the annual family income requirement is closer to the average living standard.
• Enhanced residence continuity: The residence permit of family members is synchronized with the permit of the main applicant and no additional renewal is required.
• Convenience of online application: Family reunification applications can be submitted online through the Enter Finland platform, reducing offline processing time.

III. Changes in the immigration application process

1. Higher degree of digitalization
   Finland will vigorously promote the electronic application system in 2024, and all visa categories can be processed through the Enter Finland online platform. Applicants only need to upload materials and pay fees online, which greatly shortens the waiting time.
2. A friendlier immigration service
   Immigration to FinlandThe Bureau has added multilingual support services, including English, Chinese, Arabic, etc., to provide convenience for applicants around the world.
3. Bioinformation collection is more convenient
   Applicants only need to submit their fingerprint information once at the embassy or immigration bureau, without the need to make repeated appointments.

4. How to adapt to policy changes and improve application success rate?

1. forward planning
   The new policy changes have put forward new requirements for material preparation, language proficiency and financial proof, and applicants need to plan as early as possible.
   
   • If you are applying for a work visa, make sure the job position is on the Finnish shortage occupation list.
   • Student applicants should prepare health insurance and bank deposit certificates in advance.
2. Take advantage of the fast track
   Highly skilled talents and entrepreneurs should actively take advantage of the fast approval policy to shorten the application time to 4-6 weeks.
3. Focus on Language Learning
   Although Finnish is not a compulsory requirement, mastering basic Finnish will help you integrate quickly into society after immigration. Applicants are advised to learn Finnish at the A1 level in advance.

5. 2024Immigration to FinlandOpportunities and challenges

favorable circumstance

1. Faster approval processes provide a convenient immigration channel for technical talents and students.
2. The optimization of the startup visa will attract more innovative talents and help international entrepreneurs enter the European market.
3. Family reunion policies have been relaxed to help more families reunite.

challenge

1. The cost of living is high, especially in large cities such as Helsinki, and applicants need to make financial plans.
2. The winters are long and cold, so you need to adapt to the Nordic climate.

VI. Conclusion

2024Finnish immigration policySignificant progress has been made in terms of convenience and flexibility, providing more opportunities for skilled workers, international students, entrepreneurs and family reunion. Whether you are looking for career development or pursuing a high quality of life, Finland provides you with a good platform. With proper planning and adequate preparation, you will create a bright future in this country with the highest happiness index!