Finland intends to tighten the requirements for foreigners to obtain residence permits

Finland plans to tighten the requirements for obtaining a permanent residence permit (PRP) for foreign citizens. This was announced by Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen on January 27.

"The aim of the government program is to encourage those who have immigrated to the country to follow the rules of Finnish society, work and learn the language. Successful integration will be a prerequisite for obtaining a permanent residence permit," her words are quoted on the website of the Finnish Foreign Ministry.

It is planned that to obtain a residence permit in Finland will be increased from four to six years of stay in the country. At the same time residence permit can be obtained even after staying in the country for four years, but on condition of annual income of at least € 40 thousand.

Also for residence permit will be required to speak the state languages - Swedish and Finnish, two years of employment.

In addition, it will be necessary to have higher education confirmed by the Finnish side or completed postgraduate studies in Finland.

Earlier, on July 4, 2024, it became known that on September 1, legislative amendments will come into force in Finland, which will tighten the rules of entry into the country. This will make it possible to more effectively prevent circumvention of entry rules.

Finland since June 24 opened shipping traffic on the border with Russia Saimaa Canal. It was noted that it will be allowed until December 31. The movement of recreational vessels along the canal was restricted from April 15, as indicated by the Finnish side, in order to prevent illegal migration by sea.

In addition, on April 18, it became known that the Government of Finland submitted to the Parliament a bill that would tighten the requirements for obtaining citizenship of the country. It is proposed to increase the period of residence in Finland, required to obtain Finnish citizenship, from the current five to eight years.

Prior to that, on March 1, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Finland reported the beginning of work on tightening the procedure for obtaining a permanent residence permit in accordance with the government's program to encourage those who immigrated to the country to follow the rules of Finnish society, work and learn the language. It was noted that in order to obtain the document, in particular, it will be required to prove knowledge of the Finnish or Swedish language by means of a special test, as well as to have two years of work experience.