Migri to speed up residence permit processing

The Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) on Monday launched a project to speed up and streamline the processing of work-based permits and residence permits for international students, said Migri in a press release.

The aim of the project to issue customers with a work permit on average within a month by 2023. Another goal is to achieve a processing time of two weeks for permits for specialists, start-up entrepreneurs, and their family members in 2021.

“The project focuses heavily on the customer. We will listen to the views of our customers, of employers and of our interest groups on how to develop our operations and customer experience,” said Migri Director General Jari Kähkönen.

Work-related permit processes are streamlined in cooperation within the immigration administration.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment is leading an ongoing project to develop legislation concerning foreign nationals as well as the permit processes. The Finnish Immigration Service has a central role in the project as the authority responsible for issuing the permits.

Last year, Migri issued more than 8,500 first residence permits on the basis of work. When the number of employees who arrive in Finland with a certificate for seasonal work is included, a total of 20,117 permits were issued on the basis of work.

A total of 8,592 residence permits were granted on the basis of family ties (2019: 10,251) and 3,225 on the basis of studies (2019: 5,246).