Foreign Berry Pickers to Arrive in Finland as Seasonal Workers Going Forward

Key Highlights

1. Foreign berry pickers from non-EU countries must now enter Finland as seasonal workers.
2. The change aims to protect worker rights and prevent human trafficking.
3. Thai nationals are among the most common foreign berry pickers in Finland.

Finland Requires Foreign Berry Pickers to Enter as Seasonal Workers

Due to ongoing issues in the wild berry sector, Finland has introduced new regulations requiring foreign berry pickers to enter the country under a seasonal work permit instead of a Schengen visa.

According to the Finnish Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, this decision ensures that berry pickers receive fair wages and improved working conditions while reducing the risk of exploitation.

From February 17, 2025, Finnish companies must provide formal employment contracts for foreign berry pickers to enter the country.

New Measures to Prevent Exploitation

Previously, foreign berry pickers could work in Finland with a short-term Schengen visa, typically issued for tourism purposes. However, reports of poor working conditions, low wages, and human trafficking led Finnish authorities to take stricter action.

In 2023, Finland suspended visas for berry pickers from Thailand due to human trafficking concerns. This suspension also applied to applicants from Cambodia and Myanmar, preventing them from obtaining Schengen visas for the 2024 harvest season.

"The suspension applies to all applicants under the jurisdiction of the Finnish Embassy in Bangkok, meaning wild berry pickers from these countries will not be granted Schengen visas for the summer 2024 harvest season."
— Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs

900 Residence Permits Issued to Thai Berry Pickers in 2024

Despite visa restrictions, 900 residence permits were granted to Thai berry pickers in 2024. The first group of workers arrived in Kainuu in mid-2024, though their entry was delayed as they negotiated improved conditions with Finnish authorities.

"This is a complete mystery. We were under the impression that Thais wouldn’t be there because Thailand has been very vigilant in preventing pickers from leaving their country until now."
— Detective Inspector Nina Similä, Oulu Police Department

Thailand Among Top Schengen Visa Applicants

According to SchengenVisaInfo, Thai nationals submitted 7,657 Schengen visa applications to Finland in 2023. Thailand ranked ninth in terms of visa applications, contributing to a total of 270,504 Schengen visa requests globally.