Finland Sets €1,600 Minimum Salary Requirement for Skilled Workers' Residence Permits Starting January 2025

Key Points:

1. From January 2025, foreign workers applying for residence permits in Finland must meet a monthly income threshold.
2. The €1,600 minimum salary requirement primarily affects skilled workers.
3. Income limits are set by a government decree and vary by profession and location.

Finland to Implement €1,600 Minimum Monthly Income Requirement for Skilled Workers’ Residence Permits

The Finnish government has announced that starting January 1, 2025, foreign workers seeking residence permits through employment must earn a minimum of €1,600 per month. This new income threshold, set by a government decree, primarily targets skilled workers from non-EU countries.

According to the Finnish Ministry for Economic Affairs and Employment, the threshold applies exclusively to income from primary employment, excluding supplementary earnings. Skilled workers across sectors, including agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and administrative support services, are expected to meet this standard.

Objective: Financial Self-Sufficiency for Foreign Workers

The Ministry emphasized that the income limit is intended to ensure that foreign workers in Finland can financially support themselves. This measure aligns with the government’s broader aim of increasing the number of full-time employees in the country.

A ministry report suggests that the €1,600 threshold will have a limited impact on overall labor availability but could influence specific sectors.

Varying Income Thresholds for Specific Roles and Locations

Income requirements for residence permits differ based on occupation and region. For instance:

• Specialists must earn at least €3,638 per month.
• Seasonal workers need a minimum monthly salary of €1,399.
• Helsinki residents face higher income requirements than those in less populated municipalities.

Exceptions to these thresholds may be granted for compelling reasons or cases involving children’s best interests, as noted by the Finnish Immigration Service.

Exemptions from Income Thresholds

Certain groups are exempt from the income requirement, including individuals granted residence permits on compassionate grounds, asylum seekers, quota refugees, and family members of Finnish citizens or former Finnish citizens.

This policy aims to strike a balance between supporting Finland’s labor market needs and ensuring economic self-reliance for foreign workers.