Tight immigration policy suicidal for Finland where birth rate declines

The four-party alliance government led by Kansallinen Kokoomus (National Coalition Party-NCP), on October 15 further tightened the immigration law to make Finnish citizenship tougher, especially for low-income and poor people.

The coalition government, which assumed office in June 2023, has taken various anti-immigrant policies since then, which made the residence permit process difficult for immigrants, including students, employees, asylum seekers and their families.

Although experts in various sectors, including academicians, business leaders and politicians, warned the government against anti-immigration measures, the government did not pay heed to the warnings.

Moreover, the government is stiffening immigration rules one after another, ignoring the demands of the ordinary people, who protested the anti-immigration moves on several occasions.

What is alarming is that the government is tightening the immigration policy when the birth rate is normally low compared with the death rate.

According to Statistics Finland, the fertility rate in 2024 was 1.25, which is the lowest birth rate since statistics compilation began in 1776.

In March 2025, a ministerial working group on the population policy proposed a range of measures expected to support people in their fertility plans and, thus, halt the declining birth rate.

The group submitted the report on “Measures to boost the birth rate and support people to have children” to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.

The report has, however, said that there is no clear reason for the recent decline in the birth rate. There are, therefore, no easy ways to halt the declining birth rate.

Considering the circumstances and sensing the possible risky situation, immigration could be the effective way to keep the demography of Finland stable.

Moreover, in the 21st century, internationalization is very important for the overall development of any country.

When the government needs to take pro-immigration measures, it is going in the opposite direction, which is not only wrong but suicidal for both the government and the country.

If Finland fails to attract more immigrants, quality people will not come here and immigrants could soon be dominated by the people forced to come here and have no option but Finland.

The declining population and a tight immigration policy may push the country into a risky situation from the perspective of demography.

If the government does not come out from its conservative, anti-immigrant frame of mind, it is not unlikely that the country may suffer in the near future.

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On June 16, 2023, leaders of the ruling parties announced the programme, which included tougher immigration, residence and citizenship laws.

The four-party alliance government on October 15, 2025 further tightened the requirements for acquiring Finnish citizenship.

Earlier, in July 2024, the parliament passed the government proposal to bring legislative amendments extending the period of residence required for Finnish citizenship to eight years from the existing five years.

Stricter immigration policy worries Helsinki University Rector.

Separate demonstrations were held in Helsinki on June 27, 2023 and June 18,2023 protesting against the immigration policy taken by the government.

Several hundreds of people went on demonstrations in Helsinki in August, 2023 protesting against the move.

Finland sees ever lowest birth rate in 2024.

Wide range measures proposed to halt falling birth rate in Finland.